App Review – Backgammon for Android not just for nerds and old people

by Jesse Bauer
tagged AI factory, Android, Android Market, backgammon, free, games, market, No ads, paid

Okay, before you start wondering what the heck ‘Backgammon’ actually is, I’ll explain it very briefly for you. Essentially it’s a lot like checkers, except you roll dice to move your pieces around the board, to collect and roll them out the opposite side, while being able to land on your opponents’ markers, thus slowing them down from winning. That’s about it…with a bunch of rules on how exactly to do that.

You’re in luck though, because this Android app knows the rules, all you need to do is hit ‘roll dice’ and tap where you want your pieces moved, as the app shows available open moves. OK, there’s more strategy to it than that, but you’ll get the hang of it. The Backgammon app has different levels of play from beginner to expert difficulty settings, as well as the usual sound on or off options, and colors.

Seriously, this game is a lot of fun, and I encourage you to try it out before mocking me for writing this review and possibly mocking your parents or Grandparents for playing it!

TalkAndroid App Link

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Comments

aggourodolmas

That’s what greeks are made for! The land where backgammon was discovered!
nicky

best.game.ever.
http://www.twitter.com/brumplum Richard

I’ve played backgammon for years and have been through several computer simulations in my time. This one beats them all hands down. This was the third app I downloaded for my new Galaxy S at the start of December and I’ve taught at least three fellow geeks how to play using it! (The two human players mode is terrific for short train journeys!)

The game’s help section includes a fascinating explanation of the rules of random dice throws and how the machine does NOT cheat by offering itself better odds than human players.

Since this review was posted the game has had a major re-write and a new review is perhaps called for. The main difference for players is that there are now not three but FIVE levels of play and the AI of the top level is really quite something to contend with!
Glenn

This backgammon program has the best interface of any of the three Android apps that I’ve tried. I like that it provides stats after every match, and that it provides cumulative stats via its menu.

It allows an unlimited number of undo’s, which could be useful to beginners to try different strategies with the same dice rolls.

Unfortunately, the program is not nearly as competitive as those on my PC (Jellyfish Lite and gnubg), but I haven’t found an Android app that is. If your backgammon skill level is at or above mine, you will beat this engine easily (I am rated 1700 on FIBS and 1800 on Yahoo). Even at its highest skill setting (level 5), according to its cumulative stats page, the app has out-doubled me 226 to 210, but I have won 16 of 18 5-point matches, and outscored this program 108 to 42. It is particularly poor in its use of the doubling cube.

Nevertheless, I have found it a enjoyable enough diversion while waiting in doctors’ offices and auto repair shops.
Ijh

I cannot find a backgammon app that does not allow you to stack , does anyone know of one? I am using android devices, I think it makes the game far better if you can’t stack more than 5 pieces
Guest

Game seems to ignore the rules of statistical probability when played on the highest difficulty setting. Is there an app where difficulty effects only the opponents strategy, not the roll of the dice?