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BSD 4.2

BACKGAMMON(PUBLIC)           8/19/83           BACKGAMMON(PUBLIC)


NAME
     backgammon - the game of backgammon

SYNOPSIS
     _b_a_c_k_g_a_m_m_o_n [ - ] [ n r w b pr pw pb t_t_e_r_m s_f_i_l_e ]

DESCRIPTION
     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  unnecesary
     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)
        _p_r      print the board before red's turn
        _p_w      print the board before white's turn
        _p_b      print the board before both player's turn
        _t_t_e_r_m   terminal is type _t_e_r_m, uses /etc/termcap
        _s_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  ar-
     guments  may  be concatenated together, but not after `s' or
     `t' arguments, since they can be followed  by  an  arbitrary
     string.   Any  unrecognized arguments are ignored.  An argu-
     ment of a lone `-' gets a description of possible arguments.

     If _t_e_r_m has capabilities for  direct  cursor  movement  (see
     ttycap(VII)),  _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/htmp
     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

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BACKGAMMON(PUBLIC)           8/19/83           BACKGAMMON(PUBLIC)

        _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 _m_o_v_e, 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-_f_1-_f_2   means _s-_f_1,_f_1-_f_2
        _s/_r_1_r_2    means _s/_r_1,_s/_r_2

     Use `b' for bar and `h' for home, or 0 or 25 as appropriate.

AUTHOR
     Alan Char

FILES
     /_m_n_t/_a_l_a_n/:_t_o_y_s/_t_e_a_c_h_g_a_m_m_o_n- rules and tutorial
     /_e_t_c/_h_t_m_p                - data base on user's environment
     /_e_t_c/_t_e_r_m_c_a_p             - terminal capabilities

BUGS
     The program's strategy needs much work.

     /mnt/alan/:toys/teachgammon was removed to preserve space in
     /usr/public

COMMENTS
     The program is still under development, so a description  of
     any bugs found should be mailed to _a_l_a_n.

     Because of the dynamic  state  of  the  program  (constantly
     changing),   the   file   /_m_n_t/_a_l_a_n/:_t_o_y_s/_g_a_m_m_o_n._n_e_w_s  lists
     current modifications to the program.















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