Wed 29 Aug 2012 08:02:51 PM UTC, comment #1:
I'm not sure where you downloaded or got GNUBG 0.14.3 for windows, but it is very old, and many changes have been made to improve the user interface, and fix bugs. I recommend downloading the latest version from the GNUBG site here (Just click the "Install Archive" link):
http://www.gnubg.org/index.php?itemid=56
Alternatively you can download the latest version directly from here (version as of August 8th, 2012):
http://www.gnubg.org/media/windows/gnubg-MAIN-20120806-setup.exe
Installing this will not solve the "apparent" issue with dice appearing non-random. However it does offer up one new alternative. If you install the newer versions you can change where the dice come from. Go to "Settings" menu, select "Options". Click the "Dice" tab. You should see a selection "www.random.org". Click that. The dice will be generated from a well known site that has had many randomness studies done on it ( find out more at http://www.random.org ) . The randomness is generated from atmospheric noise .
However, the BEST way of generating random rolls YOU can trust is to get a pair of real dice. Then go to "Settings"/"Options"/"Dice" tab and select "Manual dice". Manual dice allow you to enter your own dice prior to each move. So you roll the real dice and enter those into GNUBG prior to each move.
Since the first widely available computer programs using neural networks became available, there has been a general perception among many humans that the rolls aren't random, the computer looks ahead, or the computer will throw a great roll when it needs it just to beat the human. JellyFish, Snowie, XG, and GNUBG (all computer programs that played a World Class game of BG) have had the same complaint lodged against them. I have personally studied the dice from tens of thousands of GNUBG matches (millions of rolls) over many years, and statistically the dice are indistinguishable from properly weighted (precision) dice.
In the case of GNUBG, the source code (the instructions that make up GNUBG) are freely available. In the decade GNUBG has been around, no one has identified code that allows GNUBG to cheat using normal dice generation. There is a dice option called "Dice manipulation" that will make the computer cheat by throwing better rolls than normal.
Good Luck!
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Wed 29 Aug 2012 06:53:04 PM UTC, original submission:
I've recently installed GNU B 0.14.3-Devel, Build Mar 2, 2005
I'm a pretty good backgammon player, having played for 40 years. Expert, no.
I've tried modifying the settings, but no matter what I do, GNUB thrashes me.
I've set the skill level at "Casual Play".
I recently started counting doubles:
28 games: Computer - 189 doubles, Me - 53
I just played 2 games. Computer had 13 doubles, I had 4. .....AND the Computer doubles were mostly much higher values, predominately 4, 5, and 6. I usually get 1, 2, 3, and a very rare 4, 5, or 6.
Additionally, and I'm sure it is not paranoia on my part. If Computer is on the bar, it seldom misses a turn coming in, even if there are only 1, or two openings. If I'm on the bar, even with 3 or 4 points open, I seldom get in. Meanwhile Computer easily fills all the points, and, worse yet, as the 6 point, and each succeeding point becomes clear, Computer keeps throwing succeeding lower dice, INCLUDING LOTS OF DOUBLES. I may not get in until only the first point is blocked.
If Computer is on the bar, and I have only 1 point open, most of the time it lands there on the first, or second try, often with a double, and hops clear across to its home section.
Computer clearly sees exactly where I am vulnerable, and lands there far, far too many times, far exceeding probabilities.
Can you help my with setting up absolutely random dice throws?
Is there a version I can purchase which is totally fair from day one of installation?
Otherwise, the game is magnificent with wonderful graphics, ease of play, and other nice features, but sadly, constantly goes for my throat.
I really appreciate any help you can give me. I really love the game of Backgammon, and have had hundreds, or thousands of delightful human to human games, over many years.
John Boland
3526 S Huntington Loop
Kennewick, WA 99337
509-582-7608
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