Re: [Bug-gnubg] on adding backgammon variations

[Ian Shaw]

Hi Sultan,

 

None of the gnubg developers play the variants, as far as I know, and don’t have the knowledge to implement it. Unless some enthusiast joins the project, I suspect it’s unlikely to happen.

 

I know that others have done some work on variants. The author of Palmedes posted on this forum a few times. Palmedes plays Plakoto and Fevga, but I don’t know how well. http://ai.uom.gr/nikpapa/Palamedes/. There was some suggestion that he incorporate his efforts into gnubg, but he chose to go alone.

 

I also found Leon, http://www.tournavitis.de/leon/purchase.html, but I don’t know anything about it.

 

You CAN play gnubg without the cube. Go to Settings/Options/Cube. Turn off “Use doubling cube”,  “Use Crawford rule”. Unfortunately, there is no way to turn off backgammons counting 3 points.

 

This will be fien for Unlimited (Money) games, but matches might be a different matter. I don’t know the rules for play matches without the cube, either. I did once construct a Match Equity table for cubeless play, but I can’t find it now. I also don’t know how implementation of the Jacoby rule would affect cubeless match play.

 

I hope this helps somewhat, even if it’s not the answer you were hoping for.  Thanks for your kind words about gnubg.

 

Regards,

Ian Shaw

 

 

 

 

From: bug-gnubg-bounces+address@hidden [mailto:bug-gnubg-bounces+address@hidden On Behalf Of sultan ratrout
Sent: 16 January 2015 01:51
To: address@hidden
Subject: [Bug-gnubg] on adding backgammon variations

 

hello sir,

I would like to thank you very much for your gnubg software. In Jordan we play backgammon but without doubling. We also play the Greek variants, Plakoto, Gul Bara and a game similar to Fevga. There are many sites dedicated to backgammon,but I havent come across softwares allowing users to play more than one variant. Now here it goes.Your software is the strongest till now.I have tried other sofwares, but foud yours stronger. Because many people from all over the world use gnubg, isn’t it time to add more backgammon variations to the GNUBG ? It's time for the whole world to try your great software since your engine is extraordinary. Let the people appreciate your programming and know we humans can come up with something that surpasses their expectations.I am not praising your software just to convince you of adding the other variants. I am speaking the  truth. I have benefited a lot from your software. We really feel that we are playing against strong human beings when we play against your engine. Could you please add other backgammon variants to your software if possible? There as follows :- Longgamon, Plakoto , Fevga , Narde  , Gul Bara and Acey Deucy ?

 

Looking forward to hearing your reply soon.

 

Sultan Ratrout
University of Jordan
Department of Linguistics