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This file documents the most frequently asked questions. Source are the newsgroup rec.games.backgammon, the gnubg-mailinglist and the bulletin board of Kit Woolseys online magazine GammOnLine.
Copyright © 2002 Achim Mueller.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
1. General questions 2. How to install 3. Starting gnubg 4. Playing backgammon 5. Settings 6. Analysing 7. Databases 8. Abbreviations 9. GNU Free Documentation License
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1. General questions
1.1 What is GNU Backgammon?2. How to install
1.2 What operating systems are supported?
1.3 Where do I get it?
1.4 What do I have to pay for GNU Backgammon?
1.5 This GNU stuff sounds interesting.
1.6 I want to learn more about backgammon.
1.7 Though I really read all the documentation I still have questions.
1.8 I want to make a few proposals. I have new ideas.
1.9 This F.A.Q. is full of typos and in bad English.
2.1 Where do I find an installable version for my operating system?3. Starting gnubg
2.2 Do I need some other software to run GNU Backgammon?
2.3 I want to install a newer version.
2.4 I would like to compile it from the source code.
2.5 What software do I need for compiling under GNU/Linux?
2.6 What software do I need for compiling under MS Windows?
2.7 It does not compile.
3.1 I get an error message when starting.4. Playing backgammon
3.2 GNU Backgammon complains about missing files.
3.3 Starting from the WinXP menu she plays like a beginner.
3.4 My screen mixes up while starting GNU Backgammon.
3.5 I only get a command-line interface. Where is the nice Board
3.6 When I restart GNU Backgammon all my settings are gone.
3.7 I do not need this graphical stuff. Where is the terminal for commands?
4.1 What is the difference of a new game or match or session?5. Settings
4.2 What the heck is a beaver in Backgammon?
4.3 How do I move the checkers?
4.4 Why am I allowed to place more than 5 checkers on a spot?
4.5 GNU Backgammon plays poorly.
4.6 GNU Backgammon is to strong for me.
4.7 I think the bot is cheating. She always gets good dice.
5.1 Where can I change the name of the human player?6. Analysing
5.2 How do I change the colours?
5.3 How do I stop the annoying beeps?"
5.4 What are "Plies?"
5.5 What is "noise?"
5.6 What is "reduced evaluation?"
6.1 What are these funny letters at the right bottom?7. Databases
6.2 How do I set up a position manually?
6.3 Which formats must I use to import positions?
6.4 Which formats must I use to import matches?
6.5 How can I switch the players sides?
6.6 What does "!" and "?" mean?
6.7 How is the error rate determined?
7.1 What is the `Database' menu for?8. Abbreviations
7.2 "There are no target evaluations in the database to train from."
7.3 What is `Train with TD(0)'?
8.1 "gwc"?9. GNU Free Documentation License
8.2 "mwc"?
8.3 "dp"?
8.4 "tg"?
A.0 ADDENDUM: How to use this License for your documents
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GNU Backgammon (gnubg) is for playing and analysing backgammon positions, games and matches. It's based on a neural network. Though it already plays on a very high level, it's still work in progress. You may play GNU Backgammon using the command line or a graphical interface (based on GTK+).
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Currently GNU Backgammon is actually designed for GNU/Linux. It also compiles and (hopefully) runs under *BSD, IRIX, Solaris and True64 Unix. Last but not least there are frequently binaries for MS Windows and MS DOS. Porting to MacOS is planned but not yet released. When you successfully port GNU Backgammon to other operating systems you are welcome to give us a note at bug-gnubg@gnu.org.
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The official website is http://www.gnu.org/software/gnubg/gnubg.html. You can get daily snapshots at ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/gnubg/snapshots/. MS Windows binaries are available at http://home.online.no/%7Eoeysteij/. GNU/Linux-Rpm's are (hopefully) soon available at acepoint's home.
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GNU Backgammon is Open Source Software and belongs to the GNU Project. You may download it for free. For more information see the GNU General Public License. But be aware that GNU Backgammon is not public domain software or shareware as you perhaps know from MS Windows.
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Take a look at the GNU's homepage.
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A good place to start is The Backgammon Galore. For an extensive link collection go to Gammon-links.
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Send an email to the gnubg-mailinglist. If it is a bug, be sure to include a reference of your operating system, the version of gnubg you use and possible error messages you get. Try to describe exactly what happens, before the error occurs.
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You're welcome! Send an email with your suggestions to gnubg-mailinglist.
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Probably you are right. But you are cordially invited to send corrections to acepoint@deltacity.net. And keep the following quote in mind ;-):
Documentation is like sex: when it is good, it is very, very good, and when it is bad, it is better than nothing.
[ Dick Brandon ]
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For MS Windows go to this place. GNU/Linux-Rpm's are (hopefully) soon available at acepoint's home.
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No. All stuff you need is included in the binaries.
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If you are using a MS Windows operating system make a copy of either `.gnubgrc' or `.gnubgautorc' and `.gnubgmenurc'. You will find them either in `c:' or the home directory of your GNU Backgammon (for instance: `c:\program files\gnubg\'). After you have installed the new version, copy them back.
If you are working with GNU/Linux these files are probably in your home directory (`~/'). They won't be overwritten by installing a new version of GNU Backgammon. But it's always a good idea to have a backup of them.
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Good luck to you! Download the source code and make sure to read one of the following two items: 2.5 What software do I need for compiling under GNU/Linux?, 2.6 What software do I need for compiling under MS Windows?.
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Depending on the distribution you are working with:
Unpack the GNU Backgammon snapshots and follow the instructions of the file `INSTALL'.
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Nardy Pillards has published a fine instruction guide at http://users.skynet.be/bk228456/GNUBgW.htm. Go to this page and follow the steps shown there.
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Check that you have installed all necessary development packages. For
GNU/Linux:2.5 What software do I need for compiling under GNU/Linux?,
and for
MS Windows:2.6 What software do I need for compiling under MS Windows? should be listed all you probably want.
Look for warnings or errors during compiling. If you still don't get a clue, send a message to the gnubg-mailinglist.
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Well, your computer wants to communicate with you. Give him a chance and read (and try to understand) what he is telling you. Then read the next items carefully ....
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GNU Backgammon is probably either missing the file `gnubg.weights' or `gnubg.bd'. `Gnubg.bd' is the bearoff database that gnubg uses to evaluate endgame positions.
The file `gnubg.weights' contains the trained neural net weights for most of gnubg's position evaluators. Like `gnubg.bd', it should be kept in either the current directory or the installed directory.
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Open the MS Windows menu and go to the entry of gnubg. Right-click with the mouse and choose `properties'. Check, if the `working path' is the same directory as the `*.exe'-file one line above. If not, adjust the working path.
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Install the newest driver for your graphic card. Be sure that you have chosen at least a desktop resolution of 65535 (16 bit colour depth). If your card is a ATI Rage "somewhat" there still might be some problems with the graphical interface (GTK+)and MS Windows.
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Using MS Windows just click on the correct menu entry (`GNU Backgammon for windows'). If it still doesn't work, check whether `c:\[path-to-your-gnubg]\gnubg.exe' exists or not.
GNU/Linux users should check if GTK+ is installed.
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Did you save your settings (menu `Settings, Save settings') before? If you have just installed a newer version of GNU Backgammon go to 2.3 I want to install a newer version.
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For GNU/Linux users: open a terminal and start gnubg with the option `-t'.
MS Windows users: Look for a file called `gnubg-no-gui.exe' in gnubg's directory or open the MS Windows menu `execute' and type `c:\[path-to-your-gnubg]\gnubg-no-gui.exe'. There is also a menu entry `GNU Backgammon Command Line Interface'.
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When you start a new match you will be asked to play to a certain amount of points (for example: 7 points). The player who firstly reaches this amount wins the match.
Starting a new session means playing to an infinite amount. Be aware that the rules do slightly differ then. You may break this session at every point and save it.
If you choose to play a new game, GNU Backgammon will open the last saved match or session you quit. When there is no saved match or session you will start a new infinite session.
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A beaver is only allowed in a moneygame session. To beaver means redoubling (and keeping the cube) directly after your opponent doubled. For more information go to Backgammon Galore (Glossary).
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The easiest way to move chequers is to "drag and drop." Put your mouse pointer to a chequer you want to move, press the left mouse button and drag the chequer to the desired point (hold down the button while dragging).
If you want to use mouse clicks you have to know, that the left mouse button is for the left die shown on your board. Right click your mouse for the right die.
For always getting the higher number on the left go to the menu `Settings, Appearance, General' and activate `Show higher die on left.'
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The official backgammon tournament rules allow to put all 15 chequers on a pip (spot). If you want to play with a maximum of 5 chequers, go to the menu `Settings' and activate the `Egyptian Rule.'
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Are you sure? If the answer is yes you should think about going to Monte Carlo this summer and win the Backgammon World Championship.
If this plan fails, check whether `gnubg.weights' is correctly installed. See also 3.2 GNU Backgammon complains about missing files.
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Go to the menu `Settings, Players' and change the values of `Player 0'. There is also a set of predefined settings you may choose from.
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In the menu `Settings' you may choose between different random dice generator. If you still think GNU Backgammon is cheating, program your own dice generator or roll manually.
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Go to the menu `Settings, Players ...' and click on `Player 1'. At the top there is a field to change the human players name.
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Go to the menu `Settings, Appearance' and click on the card `General' at the right. Disable the option `Beep on illegal input'.
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A ply describes how far GNU Backgammon evaluates the position. "0-ply" means, GNU Backgammon estimates the worth of the position as it is. A "1-ply" evaluation looks one step deeper. GNU Backgammon also evaluates positions that may occur one roll further. "2-ply" is another roll further and so on.
The more plies you choose the more you strengthen GNU Backgammon. But keep in mind that it will also decrease her playing speed.
Note also that "0-ply" in GNU Backgammon is equivalent to the "1-ply" evaluation of Snowie.
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Noise is nothing but kind of disturbing GNU Backgammons 0-ply evaluation. Rising the noise decreases her playing strength.
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Reduced searches only work with 2-ply evaluations and deeper. It somehow cuts the searching for candidates to increase speed.
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You will find two small windows titled `Position' and `Match ID' at the bottom of the GNU Backgammon window. Here you may use the `position_id'- or `match_id'-format for setting up or copying positions.
An explanation of both formats will follow in GNU Backgammon's documentation (hopefully soon).
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Open a new game, match or session. If gnubg already rolls the dice, don't bother. Press `edit' and either type the position_id and press Enter at your keyboard. Or use the mouse to set up the chequers.
A mouse click at the border of the board empties the pip. A left (right) mouse click sets up a certain amount of chequers depending on where exactly on the pip you click. Set up the cube with a right mouse click on it.
At last go to the menu `Game, Set turn' and choose the player on roll. The dice will disappear then.
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Currently only `*.pos' by Jellyfish are supported.
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You may import `*.mat' by Jellyfish or `*.ssg' by Gamesgrid. Also supported is the oldmove format used on Fibs.
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Go to the menu `Game and click on Swap players'.
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After analysing a game or a match GNU Backgammon is able to do some comments on chequer play or cube decisions. Open the menu `Window, Game record' and you will see a list of the moves. If the actual move or cube decision differs from the best, GNU Backgammon will put a comment on it.
The default settings are:
+0.040 (very good): | Not in use yet |
+0.020 (good): | Not in use yet |
-0.040 (doubtful): | ?! |
-0.080 (bad): | ? |
-0.160 (very bad): | ?? |
You may change these comment in the menu `Window, Annotation' choosing another comment for moves and/or double.
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GNU Backgammon determines the players strength as follows: If a player has an average error (per move) of:
< 0.005 ---> | Extra-terrestrial |
< 0.010 ---> | World class |
< 0.015 ---> | Expert |
< 0.020 ---> | Advanced |
< 0.025 ---> | Intermediate |
< 0.030 ---> | Novice |
> 0.030 ---> | Beginner |
After analysing a game, match or session you can see the summary in the menu `Analyse, ... statistics'. Note that you can't change the ranges of these values.
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7.1 What is the `Database' menu for? 7.2 "There are no target evaluations in the database to train from." 7.3 What is `Train with TD(0)'?
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In the menu `Train, Generate database' GNU Backgammon will play against herself (0-ply with `gnubg.weights') generating a position database. This database will be automatically saved as `gnubg.gdbm' when you press the button `stop' at the left side.
After the database is generated you may use `Train, Rollout database' to do a 36-trial rollout of all positions. Then you may train `gnubg.weights' with the new evaluated positions using `Train, Train database'.
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You have forgotten to rollout the database before. See 7.1 What is the `Database' menu for?.
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This will train the network by TD(0) using zero-knowledge self-play.
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8.1 "gwc"? 8.2 "mwc"? 8.3 "dp"? 8.4 "tg"?
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"gwc" is an abbreviation for game winning chances.
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"mwc" is an abbreviation for match winning chances.
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In the menu `Analyse, Game/Match/Session statistics' you will see a window with some statistics. Near the bottom you'll see four lines beginning with `Missed ... and Wrong ...'. "dp" means "doubling point" and describes a situation in the game, where you probably should have doubled your opponent.
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"tg" is an abbreviation for "too good". It points to a situation in the game, where you probably should have kept the cube (mostly because of huge gammon chances) rather than doubling out your opponent.
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