4.4BSD/usr/share/man/cat6/backgammon.0
BACKGAMMON(6) BSD Reference Manual BACKGAMMON(6)
NNAAMMEE
backgammon - the game of backgammon
SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
bbaacckkggaammmmoonn [ - ] [ n r w b pr pw pb t_t_e_r_m s_f_i_l_e ]
DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
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 pro-
gram, 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 unneces-
sary but some are very convenient) consist of:
nn don't ask for rules or instructions
rr player is red (implies n)
ww player is white (implies n)
bb two players, red and white (implies n)
pprr print the board before red's turn
ppww print the board before white's turn
ppbb print the board before both player's turn
tt_t_e_r_m terminal is type _t_e_r_m, uses /etc/termcap
ss_f_i_l_e recover previously saved game from _f_i_l_e. (This
can also be done by executing the saved file,
i.e., typing its name in as a command)
Arguments may be optionally preceded by a `-'. Several
arguments may be concatenated together, but not after `s'
or `t' arguments, since they can be followed by an arbi-
trary string. Any unrecognized arguments are ignored. An
argument of a lone `-' gets a description of possible
arguments.
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BACKGAMMON(6) BSD Reference Manual BACKGAMMON(6)
If _t_e_r_m has capabilities for direct cursor movement (see
_t_e_r_m_c_a_p(5)) _b_a_c_k_g_a_m_m_o_n ``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
/etc/termcap data base.)
QQUUIICCKK RREEFFEERREENNCCEE
When the program prompts by typing only your color, type a
space or carriage return to roll, or
dd to double
pp to print the board
qq to quit
ss to save the game for later
When the program prompts with 'Move:', type
pp to print the board
qq to quit
ss to save the game
or a _m_o_v_e, which is a sequence of
ss--ff move from ss to ff
ss//rr move one man on ss the roll rr
separated by commas or spaces and ending with a newline.
Available abbreviations are
ss--ff11--ff22 means ss--ff11,,ff11--ff22
ss//rr11rr22 means ss//rr11,,ss//rr22
Use `b' for bar and `h' for home, or 0 or 25 as appropri-
ate.
AAUUTTHHOORR
Alan Char
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BACKGAMMON(6) BSD Reference Manual BACKGAMMON(6)
FFIILLEESS
/usr/games/teachgammon - rules and tutorial
/etc/termcap - terminal capabilities
BBUUGGSS
The program's strategy needs much work.
4.2 Berkeley Distribution May 31, 1993 3