Backgammon Galaxy: Play Online

The game play is really good, and the post-game analysis is helpful, once you figure it out. On iPad, the lessons are utterly non-functional in landscape orientation. The answers are all off screen, and one can’t scroll to see them, or even know that they are there. I only figured that out by chance, otherwise I’d have given up on them. The lesson material is weird, too. The questions come before facts or knowledge or terms are introduced. You often have to just guess, then you can find out afterwards what the question was about. This is a minor quibble, but it’s hard to get out of the lessons before finishing a whole section, because the button to confirm disappears very quickly. What is going on with ratings? I was at 900, then jumped to 1500, then jumped back to 900. Exactly those numbers. Nothing in between. UPDATE: now my analysis history says my rating has been 915 for the last 53 games, even though it has been 900 for most of that span.

There are a lot of backgammon apps available to play online but this one has been developed by Grandmaster, Marc Olsen, and has a unique learning section. This feature inspired me to sign up for the pro version. There are a series of questions about BG moves at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels with the best answers demonstrated on a BG board. However, on my iPad (and iPhone), I can’t see the entire question which limits the value of this learning section — and there’s no way to minimize the screen so that one can see the entire question (so half the time, I have to guess about what the question is really about). Also, when you get to the more complicated questions like cube decisions, there’s no formal teaching section beforehand, there’s just the question and answer portion (and subsequent explanation section) which leaves a lot to be desired for someone who is less experienced. This is where BG Galaxy could really excel because cube decisions can really make or break a player’s game. If BG Galaxy could help players make better cube decisions, it could be the best online BG app.

2025 UPDATE: There is nothing comparable to Backgammon Galaxy and they have fixed many of the issues that plagued the app when first introduced. Great to be able to play backgammon at any time with players from around the globe. You can now set the player level you are willing to play against which needed to happen. Like any online game there are a few bad apples that let the clock run down when they are beat or endlessly send annoying chats but by and large a great community of backgammon gamers. Update: Tired of playing low ranked players - has to be a better way to pair matches. Inevitably I play worse against unskilled players. Complete waste of my time - need to be able to play against comparable opponents or there is no joy in winning and my play just gets sloppy as it doesn’t matter! Been a long time player on Galaxy and completely disappointed in the new version. I understand what they are trying to do to make it profitable and sustainable which we all want but this app is half baked. Really was not ready for release. Needs much improvement. The PDF instructions release would have been nice before release. Would prefer to just pay annual fee than deal with coins. The emoji chat is aweful. I understand there are idiots who will make stupid comments but far outweighed by the meaningful banter and advice I’ve experienced in the old version. Most of the games I have played have been pretty close in level but I fear I will end up in a game with a beginner. Won’t drop game as I don’t know where else to go but needs major improvement.