This program lets you play backgammon against the computer or against a "friend". All commands are only one letter, so you don't need to type a carriage return, except at the end of a move. The program is mostly self-explanatory, so that a question mark (?) will usually get some help. If you answer `y' when the program asks if you want the rules, you will get text explaining the rules of the game, some hints on strategy, instructions on how to use the program, and a tutorial consisting of a practice game against the computer. A description of how to use the program can be obtained by answering `y' when it asks if you want instructions.

The possible arguments for backgammon (most are unnecessary but some are very convenient) consist of:

-n

don't ask for rules or instructions

-r

player is red (implies n)

-w

player is white (implies n)

-b

two players, red and white (implies n)

-pr

print the board before red's turn

-pw

print the board before white's turn

-pb

print the board before both player's turn

-t term

terminal is type term , uses /usr/share/misc/termcap

-s file

recover previously saved game from file

Any unrecognized arguments are ignored. An argument of a lone `-' gets a description of possible arguments.

If term has capabilities for direct cursor movement (see termcap(5) ) ``fixes'' the board after each move, so the board does not need to be reprinted, unless the screen suffers some horrendous malady. Also, any `p' option will be ignored. (The `t' option is not necessary unless the terminal type does not match the entry in the /usr/share/misc/termcap data base.)

When the program prompts by typing only your color, type a space or carriage return to roll, or

d

to double

p

to print the board

q

to quit

s

to save the game for later

When the program prompts with 'Move:', type

p

to print the board

q

to quit

s

to save the game

or a which is a sequence of

s-f

move from s to f

s/r

move one man on s the roll r separated by commas or spaces and ending with a newline. Available abbreviations are

s-f1-f2

means s-f1,f1-f2

s/r1r2

means s/r1,s/r2

Use b for bar and h for home, or 0 or 25 as appropriate.

/usr/games/teachgammon

rules and tutorial

/usr/share/misc/termcap

terminal capabilities

The program's strategy needs much work.