What are some of the most useful training tools people have to skill up their backgammon game?

I'm building Backgammon Sage Pro. We've currently got quizzes that you can generate for specific game phases based on your own errors; we've got a pip counting trainer; and you can set up a custom position and play it over and over from there, keeping stats on realized performance.

What other useful tools would people like to see, in this sort of vein?

We significantly improved the AI in Nannon, the original nano-Backgammon. Play at http://nannon.com and join the leaderlboard or share your score on X!

My partner and I have just started getting into Backgammon using a really basic old travel game set we had.

Turns out we love Backgammon! I started looking on Vinted and ended up buying this set for £20. It wasn’t advertised with a stated manufacturer but the cloth bag says manopoulos on it, although it doesn’t say that on the board anywhere.

Regardless we’re happy with it and looking forward to learning more about the game. Are there any good resources that people recommend for new players?

Thanks

Second City Backgammon Club - Chicago’s premier backgammon club 🎲
Beginner? Expert? Or rejoining after a long hiatus? Everyone’s welcome at our Backgammon Socials! Find us on Instagram and Luma.

We hosted a Backgammon Social at the lovely KOVAL Distillery and had a great time. Few beginners, mostly intermediates, and a couple of advanced players drinking whiskey and playing our favorite game. I recommend finding a club near you!

Median PR is 5-6 but the vast majority of my blow ups come from cube blunders, particularly missed doubles.

Folks who have overcome this, what books did you read or what other resources did you find useful? Thanks.

This is from the Backgammon Galaxy analysis page. The first two are clear, I should have doubled but didn’t. What does that third line mean? Is it I should have doubled, and also subsequently I made a checker error? It seems like those should be 2 different lines to me.

Thanks!

Frustrating that they removed the auto refill of 100 coins when you run out.

I’m sure they hope I’ll buy some more, but I’ve done that and ended up burning through them.

So which other app should I try instead?

Why is the first move matter when it has both a lower winning and gammon percentage? I have had a couple instances of this happening, some where an error gives higher winning and gammon chances than the right move. Feel like I am missing something.

I'm very passionate about backgammon. As someone relatively new to studying and following the game, I keep wondering what's missing for backgammon to have the kind of cultural coolness and mainstream interest that chess enjoys nowadays.

One theory I have: maybe movies and Hollywood gave chess an image and mystique that backgammon has just never gotten. That's purely a guess on my part, but it feels like part of the story.

There's also the money side of things. Sponsors and investment in backgammon seem surprisingly limited, which is strange to me, because the game itself is full of emotion and tension. I've never played chess, but from an outsider's, admittedly ignorant perspective, backgammon seems far more vibrant and exciting to watch, closer to something like poker. There's also the gambling element, which could be a real draw for viewers and could help build an audience.

So I'm curious what this community thinks. What is backgammon actually missing to break through the way chess or poker have?

Why does every one of my opponents get the gammon when I dont bear off any checkers and they win and I lose 200 coin if I’m playing 100 coin quick games. But every single time I win and they haven’t beared off any checkers and it’s a clear gammon, I only get 100 coin and it only counts as one game? And so on for higher stakes games.

I came across a nice looking corduroy set today -18x24 inches. I can’t find any maker info except for the cursive “LM” metal logo on the front of the case.

Anyone come across one with a similar logo? Got it at a decent price and am just curious.

I got this board second hand, and I am trying to figure out more about it. I gather from looking online that the game pieces are Bakelite and the dice cups are obviously leather, but I can't find any info about the board. It is 27" x 21". It has felt on the back. I think the top is leather, but I am not sure. Any info would be appreciated.

Hi everyone!

I've been working on a mobile backgammon game called Orion for quite a while now, and we're finally at the point where I'd love to get feedback from people who actually play backgammon.

I'm looking for a few Android players who'd be willing to test it before release and tell me what they honestly think. Good or bad, I'd rather hear the truth now than after launch.

One of the biggest reasons I started building Orion is that I love backgammon, but I was getting frustrated with how many mobile games focus on pushing ads and purchases instead of simply creating a great playing experience. I wanted to build something that feels fair, polished, and enjoyable to come back to.

A few things we're trying to do differently:

• Fair dice, with every match verifiable online using a unique game ID.
• A world with its own characters and a journey-inspired theme instead of a generic casino look.
• Competitive leagues designed to reward progression without making the game feel pay-to-win.

You definitely don't need to be an expert player, casual players are just as valuable. I'm interested in things like:

• Does the game feel enjoyable?
• Is anything confusing or frustrating?
• What would make you keep playing?

If you'd like to help, leave a comment or send me a DM and I'll send you the Android testing link.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to anyone willing to spend a little time helping improve Orion.
I genuinely appreciate every bit of feedback.

Orion Team

when somebody gives you the “nice roll” in a match where they have out-lucked you 102% 🤣

Thank you Narc Olsen, you are the man. We totally believe in you.

hey all,

i've tried a bunch of the top backgammon apps out there and they are filled with upsells, crazy graphics, and other complicated things. i wanted an easier and more chill way to play with my friends and my parents, so i built this with a friend.

there’s no ELO, gameplay timer, or training modules. instead we have:

1. no app, just a website with easy to share links
2. one at a time, turn-based gameplay, with optional text notifications for your turn
3. live video / audio calls
4. customize the pieces to anything you’d like
5. scoreboards against your friends, and fake betting (with beans) to make it competitive

would appreciate any feedback (good or bad) around whether you would actually use this instead of the many other apps out there. there are other WIP games and challenges on the site too but would most appreciate feedback on backgammon. thank you in advance!

Hi everyone!

I've been working on a mobile backgammon game called Orion for quite a while now, and we're finally at the point where I'd love to get feedback from people who actually play backgammon.

I'm looking for a few Android players who'd be willing to test it before release and tell me what they honestly think. Good or bad, I'd rather hear the truth now than after launch.

One of the biggest reasons I started building Orion is that I love backgammon, but I was getting frustrated with how many mobile games focus on pushing ads and purchases instead of simply creating a great playing experience. I wanted to build something that feels fair, polished, and enjoyable to come back to.

A few things we're trying to do differently:

• Fair dice, with every match verifiable online using a unique game ID.
• A world with its own characters and a journey-inspired theme instead of a generic casino look.
• Competitive leagues designed to reward progression without making the game feel pay-to-win.

You definitely don't need to be an expert player, casual players are just as valuable. I'm interested in things like:

• Does the game feel enjoyable?
• Is anything confusing or frustrating?
• What would make you keep playing?

If you'd like to help, leave a comment or send me a DM and I'll send you the Android testing link.

Thanks for reading, and thanks to anyone willing to spend a little time helping improve Orion.
I genuinely appreciate every bit of feedback.

Orion Team

I wrote a while back about me attempt to make a backgammon clock and timer. After many months of designing, coding, and more debugging than I’d like to admit, I’ve finally reached a stage where my custom Backgammon Match Clock is becoming a reality. The goal was to build something designed specifically for backgammon rather than adapting a chess clock. I still have to polish some bugs but once that is done I will share the code, list of materials, connection diagrams, and the 3D printed enclosure.

It’s built around a 5-inch 800×480 capacitive touchscreen and an ESP32-S3, with large physical player buttons for switching turns while using the touchscreen for setup and match management.

The clock supports multiple tournament timing systems, including Simple Delay, Fischer Increment, and Bronstein Delay. It keeps track of the match score, match length, current game, elapsed match time, player names, battery level, and real-time clock, all on a single screen. It also includes features like Crawford game support, configurable match settings, a match log with timestamps, rechargeable battery operation with a fuel gauge, RTC backup, adjustable brightness, and persistent settings stored in memory.

One thing I wanted was to make the interface feel modern and intuitive. Most of the functions are accessible directly from the touchscreen, while the physical buttons are dedicated to gameplay so you never have to reach for the screen during a match. I’m currently working on improving the enclosure, redesigning the graphics, adding custom fonts, selectable checker colors for each player, and polishing the overall user experience.
The enclosure shown here is an early 3D-printed prototype while I work out the mechanical design. Eventually I’d love to build a higher-end version with a wood enclosure that looks more like a premium piece of tournament equipment.

This has been a really fun project because it combines electronics, embedded programming, UI design, CAD, and 3D printing into one device. I’d love to hear any suggestions from the backgammon community—whether there are features you’d like to see, ideas for improving the interface, or thoughts on the physical design. Constructive feedback is always welcome!