BACKGAMMON(6)

NAME

backgammon − the game of backgammon

USAGE

/usr/games/backgammon [options] [file]

DESCRIPTION

This program lets you play backgammon against the computer or against a “friend.” All commands only are one letter, so you don’t need to type a carriage return, except at the end of a move. The program is mostly self documenting. Typing 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, instruction 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.

OPTIONS

−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.

Several arguments may be concatenated together. If your terminal has capabilities for direct cursor movement, backgammon “fixes” the board after each move so that you need not reprint the board each time (in this case, too, all −pr, −pw, and −pb options are ignored.)

QUICK REFERENCE

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 move, 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.

/etc/termcap terminal capability database