NAME    [Toc]    [Back]

     backgammon - the game of backgammon

SYNOPSIS    [Toc]    [Back]

     backgammon [-] [-nrwb] [-pr] [-pw] [-pb] [-t term] [-s file]

DESCRIPTION    [Toc]    [Back]

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

     -t term
             terminal is type term, uses /usr/share/misc/termcap

     -s file
             recover previously saved game from file.

     Any unrecognized arguments are ignored.  An argument of a lone `-' gets a
     description of possible arguments.

     If term has capabilities for direct cursor movement (see termcap(5))
     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.  (The `t' option is not necessary
     unless the terminal type does not match the entry in the
     /usr/share/misc/termcap data base.)

QUICK REFERENCE    [Toc]    [Back]

     When the program 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 the program 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.

AUTHOR    [Toc]    [Back]

     Alan Char

FILES    [Toc]    [Back]

     /usr/games/teachgammon   rules and tutorial
     /usr/share/misc/termcap  terminal capabilities

BUGS    [Toc]    [Back]

     The program's strategy needs much work.

BSD                              May 31, 1993                              BSD