Backgammon Pro

This program is so predictable. Play in hard mode. As others have mentioned …. WAY Too many doubles. Unrealistic. We paid money for this game. Why is it programmed to cheat so openly? What is the point of putting games out to cheat? Probably would sell a lot more if done fairly. If checking the previews it is clear this is an ongoing issue for YEARS. FIX IT! I have played from several hours at a time. Computer will almost always open, the 3rd to 5th play will usually be a large double and player will get stuck with repeat plays totaling less than 7 points 4/3, 6/1/, 5/2 whereas computer will consistently get 10’s, 11’s or doubles. It is PREDICTABLE. Even working around the cheating I am usually able to win…..except when bearing off and computer gets THREE doubles in a row. Worst case I saw was doubles used back to back 7 times between both players. Insanity. Yet I play because I paid….only slightly better than free version, but no ads.

This game has a nice interface and is easy to work. There are two things that need to be added/changed. First, and this one is minor, is there needs to be a conceded button. As it is, you have to go back to the menu or play out the game. Second, and this one cost it two stars, is the dice rolls. They are nowhere near random. Playing against the computer, the computer gets many more doubles and in numbers that best benefit it. When you get doubles they tend to be less useful, like many times you get doubles you cannot use when you are on the bar trying to get back in. Also, when a marker is on the bar, the computer gets in much quicker than you do. Finally, the number of times that the computer rolls just what is needed is astronomically off the charts statistically. Fix these two issues and this is a world class app. Until then, it’s a dog.

It is a fun app, you can choose your difficulty levels. The part that gets tiresome is when playing the computer in a "hard" setting, they constantly roll doubles beyond anything you would see in normal dice rolling. Also, when your in the bearing off mode and there is no danger of hitting or being hit by another pip, this game has no automatic roll-off, in other words, you must tirelessly keep rolling and removing your men and waiting for the computer to so the same when at that point it should just be automated bearing off. I'm sure there are some apps that have that, I just don't know which ones do. In the meantime, this is a fun free app that will keep unnecessary occupied for hours.