BGBlitz has the by far strongest gameplay of all commercial Backgammons on the Mac, is the winner of the 2003 Computer BG World Championship and is the winner of the 7th Computer Olympiad 2002. Play against BGBlitz, with it's top neural net technology. Play over TCP/IP against a opponent at a different computer. Let the tutor improve your play. Train your skill with position quiz databases. Analyze interesting positions. Train your cube handling in matchplay.
It doesn't freeze and have to be rebooted too often (although it happens a bit). Graphics are relatively good compared with many other programs.
Cons
First, Frank Berger says he will eventually get an analysis feature. Absolutely convinced he won't. If you've got a pc, GNU BACKGAMMON is the way to go. If you've got a mac, there may be other programs, but the free version of this program may be your best option. But there will never be a proper analysis feature on this -- I know when someone is full of it. Second, the built in "random" generators are so cheap and flawed, an easy statistical test can show it. For example, the number of doubles following an opponent's doubles are way above statistical probability (at alpha=0.05). This program has a fancy exterior, and Frank Berger talks a lot of nonsense (salesmanship I guess) about this program, but underneath it all -- it's a tin can.
Summary
For goodness sake, don't believe any hype about this program and don't pay for it. Free version only!
Say Goodbye to Random
trbartel
Pros
Aesthetics, interface, options fine.
Cons
As you level up to the most basic levels it becomes obvious the dice are no longer random. The more you level up the worse it is. I even compared to odds of certain moves and it's astronomical. So, unless you are content with basic level and blowing out the computer every time, you will hate this. You end up changing your strategy because you know what the computer will be able to do with the dice. NOT a smart way to get better at Backgammon.
Summary
Cheater central
miloastoria
Pros
You would be better off in vegas playing roulette
Cons
The author claims this game does not cheat, but play it for yourself and see.
Summary
Watch and see how many double and just perfect rolls this things gets. Sure does not cheat...
TERRIBLE DESIGN & IT CHEATS BLATANTLY
JAMIEANIO
Pros
Absolutely none.
Cons
Design is very poor; dark stones the exact color of the bar. Position colors are almost identical; very hard to differentiate when moving stones. AND, need I state, it CONSISTENTLY cheats. It fills the combinations it needs again and again.
Summary
Don't waste your time on this - it is a real loser and a fraud.
Excellent App!
vanrey
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Very good Backgammon implementation! The KI is extremely strong, like Snowie and GnuBG, but much easier to install and runs on different OS. The tutor will help you to find the best move and improve your skills.
Forget any other app without an artificial intelligence. Their skills are more on a beginner level.
Rock solid gameplay
stam66
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Very nice game play. Graphics are OK, no fancy animations or 3D perspective, but to be honest, that's OK (although would be nice), because it plays so well. Recommended.
Was going to give it 4 stars for lack of eye candy, but decided to give it 5 instead to offset some of the more curious reviews that recommend a competitor's product by "phantom" reviewers.
A+
simonm1
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />BGBlitz is an excellent Backgammon with a really tough AI that is hard to beat and will force you to play better. Unfortunately, 16% of the games will end prematurely until you pay the shareware fee, which I think puts it into the category of "ransomware". But if you're a backgammon fan and like a challenge then look nowhere else than BGBlitz.
Amazing
mail117
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I have t admit to being possibly yhe world's worst player of Backgammon so after loads of thought I went straight to the Pro version.
Now the author promises us that this application does not cheat. I am now sitting closer to the computer hoping that some of its dice throwing luck manages to rub off on me. I can be trying to roll a 1 to get back into the game. 10 throws later I still haven't thrown one, whereas if the computer needs a 1 to get back into the game it is uncanny how easily it manages to get one. Just luck?
I have noticed that it throws an uncanny number of doubles right at the end of the game too.
Perhaps I am just being bitter and twisted!!
World Champion of the 7th Computer Olympiad
vanrey
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />
BGBlitz is a world class player and the tutor a great tool to improve your skill.
It's also the only tool to convert between the different match-formats. This and it's many other features makes it the swiss army knife of Backgammon and an indispensable tool for any serious Backgammon player.
I agree with Michael
Domino_k
Pros
Cons
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />After trying both Ultimate Backgammon and BGBlitz, I feel that BGBlitz plays better and has more options than Ultimate Backgammon.
UB has a nice interface though and plays ok but that's about it.
BGBlitz Pro version is still in the making and I hope that the author will come with more features added to it. At the moment, the extra $ for the Pro version aren't that justified. But I have good hope that Frank, the author, will stand by his product and delivers the extra features he promised.