So the answer to the question in the OP is *drumroll*
No, I can't beat Psion Backgammon on the hardest level.
It tonked me 16-1.
I shouldn't have accepted the double at the end of course but didn't fancy being 10-1 down needing to win all games from then on, and the next game was the Crawford game so it would be only worth 1 point (or 2 for a gammon, 3 for a backgammon).
It was jammy getting a double 6 nearly as soon as it started bearing off of course. And then a 33! When it had loads on its 3 point.
Might have a rematch at some point because I know I can beat it in a match to 11, have done so before.
Won't be a rematch soon though lol
NOTE: I don't think the dice are rigged in its favour, that's just how backgammon goes sometimes. Important thing is not to get tilted when your opponent is lucky.
There's a match I played ages ago on WoS where I won (no screenshots that time though) I will find out what the score was.
EDIT: Wow, I played 28 games against it last time (was no fixed match score looks like). And I think I let the extra doubling for ties at the rolloff stand? (Thinking about it, I remember not letting the extra doubles stand, I kept my own score in this match like I did in the match just played)
Here was my after match report from WoS
Match scores, 28 games in total played. Looks like I decided to play to 25...
Game 1: Race game, I doubled early and brought it home 2-0 to me
Game 2: It made some questionable plays not hitting me on my home side when it could have. Won a lucky backgammon (triple game) 5-0 to me
Game 3: Doubled after an early 66, CPU hit me when I was bearing off. Held on for the win 7-0
Game 4: Close game, I double and it is taken. I win in the end 9-0
Game 5: To and fro early after a CPU 66 early on. I sneak ahead and double it. Both ended up with primes in inner board and he got me first and doubled, which I took since I still had my prime. CPU won with the doubling cube showing 4x. 9-4
Game 6: Uneventful. I offer a double when a bit too strong, CPU declines. 10-4 to me
Game 7: CPU hits my first move runner (was a 64 I rolled I think) then I dance on the bar. Turns into a blitz (both sides hitting each other game). CPU doubles and I accept. I make a good recovery and win: 12-4 to me
Game 8: CPU in good position and doubles, full of confidence I take in a bit of a risky situation. In the end I had 1 roll at double 6 to win, got 65, lost. 12-6
Game 9: Lots of counter hits, CPU went ahead but then I hit several times and was ahead again. I doubled -> CPU declined. 13-6
Game 10: CPU rolled double after double. When it doubled me I declined. 13-7
Game 11: I was in too strong a position to double (was looking like a gammon) so didn't, in the end CPU got lucky and only lost a single game. 14-7
Game 12: CPU got 66 first roll it had then went on to make a lot of hits. When it doubled I declined. 14-8
Game 13: Similar to last game, CPU big lead, when it doubled I declined. 14-9
Game 14: I get the upper hand and double, CPU declines. 15-9
Game 15: CPU leaves a lot of hittable targets so I double -> taken. I hit 2 of his but when he returns hits one of my runners. Interesting game. I get well ahead but then when about to start bearing off he has a lucky hit and also has a 5-prime in his inner table. I can't get back on quick enough, CPU doubles, I drop with the doubling cube on 2x. 15-11
Game16: I was in a good position and double -> taken. Then it has a hot streak and wins the game. 15-13
Game 17: CPU keeps rolling doubles again. I drop when it doubles. 15-14
Game 18: Another race, CPU rolls lots of doubles again and doubles -> I drop. 15-15 even stevens
Game 19: CPU leaves a lot of men unsafe and I hit, then refuses to make my 5-point when it could have, so I double -> taken. Lots of questionable moves then from CPU, like refusing to hit my advanced runners on my side of board. It sneaks a gammon save 17-15
Game 20: Failed to hit CPU on its own 1-point, then get hit back immediately. CPU then gets in a good position and doubles, I drop 17-16
Game 21: I was a long way behind again so decline a double. 17-17 now
Game 22: Straight race, I won, 18-17 to me
Game 23: Try and play a back game, took a double I shouldn't have, got gammoned. Speccy takes the lead 21-18
Game 24: I get ahead early and double, CPU declines. 21-19 behind now
Game 25: I go ahead in the game and double -> taken. CPU hits me just as I was about to start bearing off and wins a gammon because of it CPU leads 23-19
Game 26: CPU well ahead, offers a double which I decline. CPU leads 24-19, one away from winning.
Game 27 (Crawford): I play a bit of a back game which confuses it and win a gammon. 24-21 to CPU
Game 28: Aggressive back play from me again, it does not like that. I double and it takes and win a gammon, I win 27 to 24!!!
So I see CPU got to 24, one away from winning. I double gamed it in the Crawford game and the next game (where I could double).
So that was a very close match. Unlike this one lol
I played all the Backgammon games on the speccy to test them out. Psion one was the only one which was any good and knew the rules properly. All the others are terrible for one reason or another and I hardly played any games against them.
EDIT:
Game 28: Aggressive back play from me again, it does not like that. I double and it takes and win a gammon, I win 27 to 24!!!
That suggests I won a backgammon there (triple game), otherwise I would not have scored 6? Even if I won a gammon with cube on 2 I would have still won 25-24, so dunno what went on with my after match report there lol
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Was probably well after beer o'clock when I typed up my report.
EDIT: No I backgammoned it, I did take a screenshot of that lol
I'm off even with a 21 and it has no pieces off and one in my inner table = backgammoned for a triple game with cube showing 2 for 6 points total.
I remember making notes about how each game went though lol so I could do that good summary of the games. They sounded more exciting than these ones which were just frustrating for me!
No idea why I decided to play up to 25, I don't even think the final of the Backgammon World Championship in Monte Carlo they play that many (I think it might be up to 17 games???).
EDIT: Looks like I was wrong about that!
The World Championship of Backgammon is held each year at the Loew's Hotel in Monte Carlo. Typically 200 to 250 people participate in the Championship section. Matches begin at 17 points in the early rounds and increase to 25 points in the finals.
I think I had been watching the World Champs in Monte Carlo (on Youtube) when I played the match then
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
EDIT: Looks like they only played to 21 last year though???
Spoiler alert: I'm not going to try going to Monte Carlo to qualify/play in the World Championship if I can't consistently beat Psion Backgammon of course
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)