What is Gnu Backgammon?

GNU Backgammon 0.14.2 (current pre-release version) is a neural net software program that plays and analyzes a backgammon game and also backgammon matches. Its neural network training was done using temporal difference learning. This was applied to data generated from self-play to minimize the error margins.

Neural network research has come up with modern commercial backgammon software like Jellyfish, Snowie, Shareware BGBlitz and free software GNU Backgammon. GNU Backgammon has been developed as playing software that also analyzes the players’ moves and offers comparisons on these moves for its own training.

Although in the developmental mode, it is able to play matches and tournaments, evaluate roll out positions and can tune its evaluation moves and functions. It uses TD or other supervised training to maintain databases of its positions for training and other purposes. GNU Backgammon displays ASCII code of a backgammon board, if on a text only terminal.

GNU Backgammon has been developed on the basis of command line interface in the initial programming. Though it allows users to play games and maneuver positions on platforms that support Guile or Python, it can also be played at various other online gaming sites that support backgammon games.

This backgammon software plays better than the expert human player. It is currently on the level of programming that it can play a championship tournament and is among the top 5 in all the 6000 rated players in FIBS or first internet rated server. Through artificial intelligence and learning, it is still evolving.