Getting started with GNUBG – A Guided Tour
by Robert-Jan Veldhuizen

Introduction: What is GNUBG?
GNUBG is a program to play and analyze backgammon with, at a world-class level. It is free software (under the GPL from the FSF), which is still under development. GNUBG is designed for GNU/Linux, but runs under many other operating systems as well, including Mac OS X. This tutorial will focus on the Microsoft Windows version. Here is what it looks like:

While GNUBG is still a work in progress, for most people the program is quite stable and relatively bug-free. GNUBG is great tool for backgammon enthusiasts offering such things as:

• World-class playing engine
• Play, tutor and analysis mode
• Import matches from backgammon servers
• Fully customizable looks with 2-D and 3-D boards
• Rollouts, cubeful and according to score
• Evaluation and rollout settings fully configurable
• Race and bearoff databases included and extendable
• Can load any match equity table you like; 12 included
• Temperature map (check equities for all possible next rolls)
• Comprehensive theory panels for race (Thorp, Kleinman, EPC) and doubling strategy (gammon values, market windows)
• Export in various formats, such as HTML and PDF

Next follows a guided tour, covering the basic features of GNUBG to help you get started:

• Get GNUBG!
  • Download GNUBG
  • Install GNUBG
  • Run the program
• Playing a game against the computer
  • Asking GNUBG for advice
  • Saving your efforts
• Match analysis
  • Saving your on-line matches
  • Importing your matches
  • Analyzing your matches
  • Reviewing analyzed matches

Take the GNUBG Tour, Part 1

Copyright © 2006 by GammonLife.com and Robert-Jan Veldhuizen