NAME¶
backgammon
—
the game of backgammon
teachgammon
—
learn to play backgammon
SYNOPSIS¶
backgammon |
[ - ]
[-nrwb ]
[-pr ]
[-pw ]
[-pb ]
[-t
term ]
[-s
file ]
|
DESCRIPTION¶
This program lets you play backgammon against the computer or against a
"friend". All commands are only one letter, so you don't need to
type a carriage return, except at the end of a move. The program is mostly
self-explanatory, 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, instructions 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¶
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¶
Alan Char
FILES¶
- /usr/games/teachgammon
- rules and tutorial
- /usr/share/misc/termcap
- terminal capabilities
BUGS¶
The program's strategy needs much work.