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Best Backgammon mobile app?

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04-24-2015 , 04:37 AM

Arctic Jack

stranger

Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 14

I'm going to purchase an app to play on my iPad out and about. Backgammon XG and Backgammon NJ seem to be the two apps getting the most attention.

I'm not really looking for the strongest player as I won't be able to compete with either, though I' am looking for the one that will give me the best advice. The one with the most useful options for a beginning player looking to improve.

Any advice or opinions on either would be great.

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04-24-2015 , 09:22 AM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

There are plenty of threads on this forum about the merits of the various mobile apps. Scroll down and they won't be hard to locate.

Apps don't give you advice or instruction; they highlight your mistakes and show you what their algorithm says is the best play. You'll need to fill in the reasoning.

Books, coaching, and the discussions on this forum can also prove helpful in learning the game.

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04-24-2015 , 09:45 AM

Arctic Jack

stranger

Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robertie

Thank you for the reply. Yes I know I'm not going to be getting an expert talking me through each move. I probably worded my post poorly. I've bought a couple of books to get me started. My laptop has just broke so for the next couple of months I'll be limited to the iPad otherwise I'd be getting one of the full programs XG or GNU Backgammon. Until then I just need something to practice playing and help me spot the errors of my ways.

Do you have a favourite?

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04-24-2015 , 10:48 AM

peachpie

centurion

Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 182

I like XG mobile, and I suspect this will be the preferred choice for most good players.

You can set it to tell you when you are making an error, or give you hints as to the best move. It can't tell you why that is the best though. "Why" is a human perception and no bot will answer that for you. Mr Robertie and others sometimes will though, if you ask nicely

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04-24-2015 , 01:49 PM

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

The most popular choice on the Forum seems to be XG mobile. Backgammon NJ is the runner-up.

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04-29-2015 , 07:21 PM

NoChinDeluxe

enthusiast

Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 78

I started with Backgammon NJ, which is a great app. But then I got XG Mobile and haven't gone back to NJ. I bought the full version and use the highest AI on XG, and I feel like tutor mode gives me more accurate guidance, which may or may not be true. But honestly, XG has a great interface, a lot of nice custom settings, it runs quick, the AI plays fast, and you're getting the industry standard in bot accuracy and performance. Not much more to say about it.

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04-30-2015 , 01:47 AM

bleep69

grinder

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 483

XG Mobile is great, but doesn't have the functionality to play against other people, which is where NJ trumps it for me.

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06-09-2015 , 03:48 PM

Bigdogs

stranger

Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 14

There are many solid ones, but I personally prefer backgammon masters. Quite good online, lots of modes. Could use some tweaking here or there, but they seem to be updating from time to time.

Website: http://www.mastersofbackgammon.net

My nick there is "Snappy", add me if you find me in game.

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06-10-2015 , 08:09 AM

peachpie

centurion

Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 182

Is there a way to get XG mobile to show me equities? It will tell me when I am making an error, and tell me the best move, but I can't seem to get an actual equity comparison for the two, or other candidate moves.

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06-12-2015 , 10:54 AM

#10

I.E.

stranger

Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 12

Quote:

Originally Posted by peachpie

Is there a way to get XG mobile to show me equities?

Settings --> Extended Hints "On"

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06-12-2015 , 03:33 PM

#11

peachpie

centurion

Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 182

Quote:

Originally Posted by I.E.

Settings --> Extended Hints "On"

Perfect! Thank you sir.

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07-23-2015 , 07:35 AM

#12

THAKID

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 9,873

The NJ app is perfect correct ?
No errors ever, all calculations of equity and best move always correct ?

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07-23-2015 , 09:47 AM

#13

bleep69

grinder

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 483

No complaints from me. When I analyze an NJ game in XG, the same errors and blunders are highlighted that the analyze feature in NJ has picked up. They use different mechanisms for scoring these, so I don't know if they agree on the severity.

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07-23-2015 , 10:01 AM

#14

Robertie

old hand

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,954

Quote:

Originally Posted by THAKID

The NJ app is perfect correct ?
No errors ever, all calculations of equity and best move always correct ?

All backgammon apps make some errors. None are perfect, just better than the best human players. If you want the very best answers available, get XG version 2 for the PC.

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02-22-2017 , 01:54 PM

#15

samanthany

stranger

Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 3

I played many backgammon iOS apps and only Backgammon Live fulfilled expectations. it's the only one where i can play live backgammon tournaments + looks really great on both, iPhone and iPad.

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03-06-2017 , 11:13 PM

#16

Hindoo

stranger

Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctic Jack

I have been tortured with multiple crashes using XG Mobile on my iPad. I have Emailed Xavier several times and he responds with the same message "we're working on it." Been going on for weeks with zero results. As it stands XG Mobile is a waste of time & money. Sorry to be so critical because I'm a big fan of XG, but enough is enough.

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