backgammon

backgammon [ -ad ] [ -p program ]

-a
    Starts the game in automatic mode, potentially skipping initial prompts or accelerating certain game phases.

-d
    Enables debugging mode, providing verbose output that can assist in understanding game logic or troubleshooting issues.

-p program
    Specifies an alternate backgammon playing program to be used as the opponent's AI, instead of the default internal logic.

The backgammon command provides a classic, text-based interface for playing the traditional board game of backgammon against a computer opponent. It is typically found as part of the bsd-games package on Unix-like operating systems. The game board, checkers, and dice rolls are represented using ASCII characters in the terminal, offering a minimalist yet functional gameplay experience. Players take turns rolling dice and moving their checkers according to standard backgammon rules, with the objective of bearing off all their checkers before the opponent. This utility serves as a historical example of early interactive computing entertainment, suitable for environments without graphical capabilities.

This command is a very old, text-based implementation, which lacks modern graphical interfaces and advanced AI found in contemporary backgammon applications. Its display relies purely on ASCII characters, and its appearance and functionality can be dependent on the terminal's capabilities and font settings.

Once the game starts, users interact with the backgammon command using specific text-based commands. Common commands include:
roll: Rolls the dice to determine valid moves.
move from to: Moves a checker from a specified point to another.
double: Offers a double to the opponent, raising the stakes.
save [file]: Saves the current game state to a specified file.
restore [file]: Restores a previously saved game from a file.
quit: Exits the game.
print: Redraws the board display on the terminal.
t: Displays information about the current game rules and settings.

The backgammon command is a venerable component of the Unix/Linux ecosystem, tracing its origins back to early Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) releases, where it was a staple of the bsd-games package. It reflects an era when text-based games were a common form of interactive computing on operating systems. Its continued presence across various Unix-like distributions for decades underscores its status as a classic piece of computing history, offering simple entertainment without demanding graphical resources.

games(6), fish(6), trek(6)