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Enjoy this Classic Board Game

Ratings

Age

4+

Category

Board

Languages

English

Screenshot
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Ratings & Reviews
One of the best on iOS
Thu Mar 30 2023 David1105

True Backgammon is absolutely one of the best backgammon apps on iOS. I would rank this one right up there with Backgammon NJ and XG Mobile. This one has the cleanest interface of the three, best boards, world class AI and fair dice. No glitzy graphics and ads. The in app purchases are totally worth it and if you want to play on the same device or online against others that is all there. I would like to see a clock option to simulate matches irl and like online on Galaxy and perhaps a real time evaluation engine option but even if these things aren’t implemented it is a near perfect app. Icing on the cake would be a built in clock and score card to use for live backgammon matches but this is probably outside of scope of what this app is trying to be. Developer support is up to date and communicative too. In any case I highly recommend this one. I only have 5 BG apps on my phone after sifting through the sea of apps out there. True Backgammon is on par if not a notch above NJ for general play and features. XG is probably best for analysis. Galaxy best for online timed matches against strong opponents and BG Buddy for my scorecard and clock.

Everything is perfect except for…
Wed Nov 08 2023 fcb2012-backgammon

This backgammon game could be the best one if it weren’t for one small detail: moving the checkers requires pointing to a specific checker rather than just the whole point (triangle) where the checker is. This makes it cumbersome to use. It requieres too much fine motor coordination. It is especially tricky to use on a small screen or on a triangle that has many checkers. I think the solution is simple, when using the high-low move mode, the interface should work by just clicking on the triangles (this is the same way in which Backgammon NJ operates and it’s much easier to use). But apart from this interface issue, I really like True Backgammon: it plays very well (particularly with the BGBlitz extension), the interface is simple and well thought out, and analyses and recommendations it provides are strong and useful. If the interface was fixed in the way I mention, this would be the best backgammon app for the serious players, above NJ and XG.

Challenging but fair
Wed Nov 14 2018 Lts15

I’ve been playing this version for years and consistently winning matches, either 100 points and the more statistically significant 1000 pointers. I generally win between 65% to 70% of the points. The programmer is definitely an expert player and his/her expertise is reflected in the strategies the program employs. The previous version had a definite weakness with regard to when it would accept a double and it was possible to trick it into multiple doubles when it did not have the advantage. This problem was eliminated entirely. That said, the program still has a weakness that you can exploit for extra points. It will not accept a double in most cases when you have a pip count of 8 in your favor. That said, the programmer’s expertise is so good that if you have to play expertly and avoid mistakes. In the past I’ve read reviews where the reviewer felt the game cheats. Yes, it looks that way sometimes but the law of large numbers prevails and in the end the dice favor neither side.

Dice don't seem right, but great game
Wed Jul 15 2020 SFLDMN

Great game. Simple and clean. No ads. Tutor function is great. This was perfect for me. However... I know the developer is likely doing all the right things, but the dice do not seem 100% right. I am tempted to record the dice rolls over the course of 100 games or so to see if I can "prove" this, to myself mostly (and my doubting spouse too). The "problem" I notice is repeat rolls. I somewhat frequently (1-2x per game, maybe more) get the same roll repeated 2-3x. So my rolls will be 1-6, then 1-6, then 1-6 again. I was never good at likelihoods/stats, but I understand there is a good chance of this occurring - it's not as rare as one might think. (Maybe 12.5% chance?) It just doesn't seem like it should happen quite as much as it does. I know how this sounds, but I swear it happens too frequently for the randomizer to be working correctly. Ok, ok, I'm probably wrong. It could be what is frustrating is just how frequent dice rolls can screw up a well-played strategy. This isn't much of a game of strategy - it is both some strategy and chance. I've never played on the most difficult setting, but I'm sure it would trounce me, even after a few hundred games using the tutor function. (Tutor function is like 90% great, 10% overly intrusive.) Great game. But the dice do feel fishy. I wish they didn't!

Goobob
Thu Jul 24 2025 BauxMtn

It took a while to figure out how to win the game. The game sees all possible moves at the start. The game knows all the ways to get you in a vulnerable position at the outset. It is more like chest than backgammon. No matter how well you play it only takes ONE slip to lose. To win you must use the dice rolls to stay two rolls ahead of all possible moves. Both black and white. Problem here is my brain can’t calculate the moves as fast as the game. Therefore playing the game is no longer fun. I’m playing against the dice rolls not the game. I will continue to play just to past time but playing with real dice is more rewarding. No one read my review. I never accused the game of cheating. WHAT I SAID was the game can use the speed of a processor to calculate possible moves which more often than not will result in the player being trapped usually late in the game but it can occur on the first few moves depending on the players moves. By using the list of moves one can win by making moves with no logic. Leaving men open. Keeping off the bar. Planning more than one move ahead. However it takes all the fun out of the game cause one is not playing the opposing player but trying to beat the processors moves.

All we want are randomized dice rolls!
Sun Sep 05 2021 lopinabqqq

This backgammon is just like the rest of them…laughably predictable dice rolls to the advantage of the computer. If you leave any uncovered, they will get you. If they leave any uncovered, you won’t get them and their next roll will neatly match up so they’re covered. If they get you out in the second half of the game, there is almost zero percent chance you will roll anything to get back in. The computer gets back in on the first or second roll. What’s even funnier is that 9/10 times, you’ll get a high doubles after these little entrapments, after the computer is well on their way to bearing off. Please—just give us randomized dice rolls. Edit (after getting the developers canned response): The AI knows the upcoming dice rolls too. Which is why they know exactly which spaces to leave open because they know the human will not roll the correct dice. This happens often: the AI leaves multiple marks open (even in home) and my dice sold never allow me to hit them. The only explanation is that the program watches the upcoming rolls and adjusts accordingly.

No Nonsense Gem!
Fri Apr 11 2025 Stormrune

We tried several backgammon apps before finding this gem. Most of the others had annoying ads you had to sit through or unnecessary and distracting glitz. My wife and I use this to play face-to-face at a table. The clearly deliberate effort the developer made to create an easily playable backgammon game and nothing more is truly appreciated. We really like the optional settings for movement style and the handful of reasonable gameplay options. It allows us to tweak it so the controls work the way we prefer. We also like the ability to have the game play out the last many moves itself once the outcome is pretty much decided except the last few moves to clear the board. I was a career game developer and I find myself admiring what this developer has accomplished. Well done!

Rigged?
Thu Dec 12 2024 carrsrj

I love this game but I can’t help but feel it is somehow rigged. The computer seems to throw exactly it needs to go out or to land on me. It’s uncanny how often, the computer rolls doubles exactly when needed or the exact count each time in order to land on me. Happens way too often! UPDATE: I appreciate the response; in reality, I realize it’s not rigged…just very frustrating. Thanks. 2nd Update: I have probably played dozens of games with this app and maybe “rigged” is not the correct word but I fund it uncanny that the computer can roll exactly the right number it needs to put checkers in home, the exact number always needed to land on my checker and the uncanny number of doubles the computer rolls, especially when the opponent is in their home court…definitely giving the opponent the advantage. It happens way too often. I am going to find another game to play with the computer and see if I get the same results. Thanks.

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