I agree. GNU will be a good opponent. In the meantime, study Robertie's 501 Essential backgammon problems, Backgammon Bootcamp by Trice and Kit Woolsey's stuff and you'll be a good player. I use GNU and a online program called Motif. I will soon get XG just to have a different program, but I'm pretty happy with GNU ........... have fun

I don't think motif plays any better than advanced checker play, about equal to Gnu's expert or one level below. I definitely seen it make huge errors with the cube. Don't get me wrong, I taught myself backgammon playing with motif and think it's a great browser based flash program but I'd stick with Gnu or one of the other bots for serious practice.

A good browser based backgammon bot is GamesGrid.com "probot". I'd bet $50/pt. that probot would wipe the floor with motif

Ah, thanks Realnick. Yeah, Motif has made a couple of weak cube decisions. I agree that GNU is stronger. Sometimes I may be at a public computer or a friends computer so I will use Motif then. I will check out this probot that you mentioned. Once again, thanks and if you are ever in Connecticut, look up CT backgammon Club in google and contact one of the players there for a match

You probably have Analysis or Evaluation on a different setting from Players.

If I may chime in on Motif, I'm pretty sure it cheats in that it already knows what it has rolled before it offers you the cube. It'll offer you the cube in positions where it's slightly behind and then magically roll the best roll in the dice.

Not another "bot is cheating claim?"

Two things are possible here:

One: Motif -- as some have suggested -- has some cube problems and may be doubling when it should not -- although I would be surprised if it did so when behind.

Two: You have misjudged the correctness of Motif's double.

Either way, lets some evidence. Post a few of these positions and lets see what the right cube action really is.

I don't think it cheats but since you can download Gnu for free you really have no reason to waste your time playing it. Gnu is WAY stronger, you can analyze your play, practice your opening sequences, etc. If you want to pay for a bot buy one of the others available after doing some research here and the web. (you'll find plenty of strong opinions right here for either one of the commercially available frontrunners).

Motif's game is soft, if it jokers you drop, or better yet, get into a backgame with it and watch it implode Don't waste your time trying to learn from it when a tool as strong as Gnu is free.

Problem with GNU is you have to download it and i'm playing at work (downloads blocked) on the overnight shift.

That's a problem...try this:

http://www.gamesgrid.com/

Runs in a browser but has cookies and pop-ups, and you have to register with a user name/PW. If you can get your work rig to cooperate there's a few bots and live people on that site that you can play matches with for free. Check out probot.

Finally I got one of these postitions where there's no question (they don't occur very often). I wish I knew how to post a position but here's the summary. It's a pure race, everything is passed except we each have 2 men on the mid point. I have:
1pt --1
2pt --2
3pt --3
4pt --3
5pt --2
6pt --2
13pt --2

Total of 71 pips and a really nice setup

He has:
2pt --2
3pt --2
5pt --3
6pt --6
13pt --2

Total of 87 pips. He offers me a double!! I, of course, accept. He then rolls a 6-6 and takes the lead. This removes all doubt in my mind. Motif knows what it rolls before it offers the double.

ETA: I wrote this all up and Motif then rolled another 6-6, then 5-5, then another 5-5. My new theory is motif cheats worse when you make an internet post proving that it cheats.

I dont think Motif is cheating, it just has awful cube handling. The trick to beat it is to double extremely early. Motif routinely drops when actually the position isnt close to a double.

That is certainly a bad double, followed by a joker. But one example is hardly proof. Unfortunately you cannot set up a position in Motif. To begin to constitute proof you would have to show that Motif does not double position when its next roll is something that does not lead to a win.

which one is the best backgammon bot
XG better or gnubg?
and if you can tell me best setting. when i'm playing with grandmaster or xg r++ i won very easy its make many mistakes