BACKGAMMON(6)

NAME
backgammon - the game of backgammon

SYNOPSIS
backgammon [ - ] [ n r w b pr pw pb tterm sfilename ]

DESCRIPTION

backgammon 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. backgammon is mostly self documenting, so that a q ? (question mark) will usually get some help. If you answer y when backgammon 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 backgammon, and a tutorial consisting of a practice game against the computer. A description of how to use backgammon 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

    tterm
        terminal is type term, uses /etc/termcap, otherwise uses the TERM environment variable.

    sfilename
        recover previously saved game from filename. This can also be done by executing the saved file, that is, typing its name in as a command.

Arguments may be optionally preceded by a - sign. Several arguments may be concatenated together, but not after s or t arguments, since they can be followed by an arbitrary string. Any unrecognized arguments are ignored. An argument of a lone - gets a description of possible arguments.

If term has capabilities for direct cursor movement. backgammon `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.

QUICK REFERENCE

When backgammon 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 backgammon 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.

FILES
/usr/games/teachgammon
    rules and tutorial
/etc/termcap
    terminal capabilities

BUGS

backgammon's strategy needs much work.