                  BG.EXE        VERS:2.3   MAY 1994
                  BACKGAMMON FOR IBM-PC COMPATIBLES
                                BY
                    C  U  S  T  O  M  A  T  I  X

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WHAT YOU NEED TO RUN BG.EXE
You need an IBM-PC compatible and a Microsoft compatible mouse. A colour VGA
display is best, but EGA displays also work. You also need at least a basic
beginners knowledge of backgammon.

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HOW TO RUN BG.EXE
You should copy the following files into a directory on your hard disk (e.g.
your 'games' directory):
          BG.EXE
          EGAVGA.BGI
          README
For example, to copy into the GAMES directory of your hard disk C:
C:
CD \GAMES
COPY A:*.*
Make sure that you have copied ALL THREE FILES.

To run the program type BG at the DOS prompt from the directory where
you installed the program. For example:
C:
CD \GAMES
BG

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COPYING:
You can give copies of this game to your friends on condition that you keep
all the files togther, intact, and unchanged (including this document file)
and do not ask money for the copies.

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HOW TO USE BG:
I assume you know the basics of the game.
After you have replied to the (4,7)=? question the top level menu appears:
     TO PLAY A GAME:       hit   ENTER
     TO CHANGE SETUP:      hit      F3
     TO EXIT BG:           hit     ESC

The SETUP menu allows you to choose:
  1) your colour (red or white)
  2) your opponent (you have a choice of four opponents)
  3) the speed of the display of the opponents moves
  4) the language of the help messages (English or Italian)
  5) automatic or manual dice throwing
  6) the points to which you want to play to.

Help appears on a single line at the bottom of the screen.

If you are RED then you are moving in a clockwise direction from the "inner
table" at top left, through the "outer tables" on the right, to finish in the
"inner table" at the bottom left.

If you are WHITE then you are moving in an anti-clockwise direction from the
"inner table" at bottom left, through the "outer tables" on the right, to
finish in the "inner table" at the top left.

The dice are shown at the top right of the screen, and the first time they are
thrown to see who starts. The highest score starts. So if the red dice is 6
and the white dice 1 then red starts with a move of 6 and 1.

Under the dice appear the moves you still have to do. For example if you have
moved the 6 and still have to use the 1 the display under the dice will be
like this:  -1------. And if you throw double six then the initial display
will be like this -6-6-6-6-.

If you are red then the dice will be red with white spots when it is your turn
to go, if you are white then they will be white with red spots.

You use the mouse to move the pieces. The cursor is initially outward pointing
arrows to select the piece to move, it changes to inward pointing arrows when
you have to select the place to move it to. Click on the point where you want
to move a piece from, then click on the point you want to move it to. Remember
that you cannot move the sum of the pieces in one go. For example 6,1 has to
be moved as a 6 and a 1, or a 1 and a 6, but not as a 7. Instructions are
given (in the language of your choice) at the bottom of the screen.

If you make a mistake the computer will burp at you and you'll have to redo
your latest set of moves. The computer will not allow illegal moves. You must
make the most moves possible with the dice you throw. This means that in a
situation where you only want to make one move, but are able to make two, you
MUST MAKE TWO MOVES, there is no choice. You must make the moves in a legal
order (only really important when bearing off or re-entering from the bar).

When you have made all the moves possible (usually 2 or 4, but sometimes 1 or
3) the cursor changes to a question mark '?'. Click to confirm you choice of
move, or hit ESCAPE to restart the move. In fact you can hit ESCAPE at any
point while you are selecting your move to reset your pieces.

If you want to abandon the game hit F10, this will take you back to the top
level menu.

BEARING OFF: You bear off by moving your pieces from the inner table on the
left to the tall rectangle on the extreme left of the screen. Bear-off in the
correct order.

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EMERGENCY EXIT:
By hitting Control-C followed by ESCAPE you can exit the program straight
away.

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SPEED SELECTION:
The speed selection (in the SETUP menu) affects how fast the computer displays
his move, not how fast he plays.

When you are learning backgammon you may prefer to use the PAUSING speed
selection. This will cause the computer to draw the paths of the move he will
make. Then you to click on the left mouse button and he actually moves the
pieces. The next two speed (SLOW,MED) selections also show the paths, but
there is no wait for a click. The FAST speed selection does not wait and does
not show the paths.

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OPPONENTS:
The four opponents play with different styles and levels of ability. I leave
it to you to discover who is best.

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SCORING AND THE POINTS SYSTEM:
The points system follows normal backgammon practice. You get:
    1 POINT if you have won and the opponent has taken out at least one piece
from the board.
    2 POINTS if you have won and your opponent has not taken any pieces of the
board, this is called a GAMMON.
    3 POINTS if you have won and your opponent has not taken any pieces off
the board AND he still has one or more pieces in your inner table or on the
bar. This is called a BACKGAMMON.
The two columns of numbers at the bottom right of the screen gives statistics
about the total dice scores and how many points you and your opponent have
won.

Usually you decide to play to an odd number, i.e. the first player who
reaches 5 points (or 3 or 9 or 11 or...) has won.

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DOUBLING:
The D square in the middle of the board represents the doubling cube. You
can choose to raise the stakes of the game by offering the doubling cube
to the computer. He will accept or reject the double. If he rejects then you
win the game, if he accepts then the value of the game is doubled, and
whoever wins gets twice as many points.

You double by clicking the mouse on the doubling cube. You must double
just before you throw the dice. After you have doubled the computer "owns"
the doubling cube and he may or may not double again.

Doubling is rather a difficult subject for beginners, find a book and read
about the NO-CUBE rule, which is also implemented in this program.

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MANUAL DICE:
If you do not trust the dice which are thrown automatically you can select the
DICE MANUAL in SETUP. There is no reason NOT to trust the computer, but this
gives you the option to actually try real dice. It also means that you can
CHEAT, but that will not make you a better player!

If you select manual dice then before each move you will be prompted on the
help line to input the dice you physically throw. Use the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6
and the dice will appear at the top right of the screen as you type the
number. If you want to change them hit BACKSPACE. When BOTH dice have been
entered correctly hit ENTER, and continue playing as normal.

You will be prompted to throw both your own and your opponents dice.

F10 will end the game and return you to the top level menu.

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BLACK AND WHITE DISPLAYS:
You may not have a colour display, or maybe you are using a portable computer.
In this case it MAY be better to run bg with the mono option. i.e. to start
the game type
    BG mono
instead of just
    BG
In this case RED is displayed as BLACK

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WINNING:
If you have read any books on backgammon (beyond the 'how-to-play-for-
beginners' type) you should win most of the time with this version (2.XX) of
the program. If you lose most of the time don't blame the dice, read a book on
backgammon or give up!

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