![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
I'll play first move when I get some beers.
I'm going to play first to 11 I think, will probably take a few days. Or it could all be over in 1 game lol
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
I'm going to ignore where it autodoubles if you roll a double for deciding who goes first (very nonstandard optional rule that, you can't turn it off though). So the actual match score may get out of sync if that happens.
Skill level 4 is the highest. Let's go! Let's see how this will work. I expect a lot of arrows will be drawn in MS Paint.
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/xTG2Qp9v/backgameon.png)
Not rolling my own dice so I skip that part.
I have the cyan pieces and am moving anticlockwise. My home board is in the bottom right. Need to get all my men in there before I can start bearing off. Opponent moves clockwise.
First roll is a 5-1, I rolled the 5, CPU rolled a 1 so I have 5-1 as my first move.
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/MTsCPXJX/game1roll1.png)
Opening moves are well studied strategically so there should not be much debate.
I'll play the first move once I get some beers.
Doubling cube is on 64 in the middle of the board, which means the game has not yet been doubled. Once someone doubles (can only do that before you roll the dice) the opponent takes the cube (if they accept the doubled stakes, otherwise they resign), and only they can double afterwards (so doubling alternates between players after someone doubles for the first time).
There's no beavers (immediate redoubles), that's a silly (optional) rule anyway, only used in games for money, not matchplay
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
EDIT: Got beer. Not going to draw any arrows yet
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Only real playable moves are:
A-G running 6 with one of the back men
L-Q, A-B (pile 6 on the Q (7) point), split the back men
L-Q, S-T, again to the 7 point (Q) but slotting the 4 point in my inner board
L-R, running 6 from the 13 point to the bar point (7 point, point R as it says in this version of the game).
All those moves leave a blot (piece on its own) somewhere on the board. If opponent lands on your piece you are off to the bar in the middle and can't move again until you get all your pieces off the bar (they start coming in from top left for me, bottom right for CPU).
I don't have to take the 5 first if I don't want you can press Z to change the dice order btw.
Rules that I think the game knows but many people do not know:
* If you have a legal move you have to play it, can't pass
* If you can move both dice rolls you must do that, even if there is a situation whereby taking one of the dice rolls would mean you couldn't play the other, that is not allowed. I think Psion backgammon knows that rule.
* If you can only use 1 of the dice rolls, you must take the highest roll if you can.
Those last 2 rules are ones people often do not know.
EDIT: Right, gonna play my first move. Generally accepted best move with 5-1 is put 6 men on the 7 point (Q) and split your back men, I believe. That's how I play 5-1 opener anyway. It's not a great opening roll. (3-1 and 6-1 are the best opening rolls)
Right, forgotten how this plays, you don't type where you want to move to, you type the place you move from, that's a bit strange lol
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/zXDsmCGv/game1move1.png)
Going to play that then.
CPU rolls 5-3 and makes his 3-point, so he has a blocker in his inner board. (That is the move I would have made too in his position)
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/zvzcrN56/game1cpu1.png)
I roll 5-2
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/CL66W92r/game1roll2.png)
So lots of choice what to do now.