Saitek Electronic Backgammon

Demon

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Apr 1, 2003, 6:05:51 PM4/1/03

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Been looking everywhere for a review of this machine. Does anybody have it?
Is it any good? Would it help me improve my game (I'm a beginner).

Thanks!

Dan.

Frank Berger

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Apr 2, 2003, 2:59:49 AM4/2/03

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"Demon" <sp...@spam.com> wrote in message news:<104923836...@eunomia.uk.clara.net>...

> Been looking everywhere for a review of this machine. Does anybody have it?
> Is it any good? Would it help me improve my game (I'm a beginner).
>

Hi Dan,

all electronic Backgammon gadgets play a mediocre or worse game. Maybe
you learn a bit from them when you are a very beginner, but the danger
ist you wont learn much and probably some wrong things.

Nowadays you can have world class trainer:

Two choices I would recommend:
- my Software BGBlitz (http://www.bgblitz.com, various editions: free,
$23, $46)Lot's of features which help to learn (replay matches from
experts, position quizzes for various skill levels - both in the free
edition) and a very strong player, runs on Windows/Linux/MacOS

- GNU-BG, free, brutally strong, lots of features, a little more
difficult to operate, but Albert Silvers documentation and Achim
Müller's FAQ should help here (Windows/Linux)

There are two further alternatives: Jellyfish and Snowie which have
either limted features (Jellyfish light) or have a much higher price.

ciao
Frank

Stephan Protogerakis

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Apr 2, 2003, 7:53:02 AM4/2/03

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fr...@bgblitz.com (Frank Berger) wrote in message news:<aab8a7e5.03040...@posting.google.com>...

Hi,
I agree to what Frank says. My pocket Saitek Backgammon is a quite
nice tool to learn the first steps but after a while you begin to beat
him - even on highest level. Only advantage is that you can take it
with you and won't need a laptop to play bg.
Besides, the way it plays isn't nearly that dynamic and up-to-date -
after a couple of matches you learn that its style of play repeats.
ciao
Stephan

Albert Silver

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Apr 2, 2003, 6:22:53 PM4/2/03

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protog...@gmx.de (Stephan Protogerakis) wrote in message news:<ff899a9d.03040...@posting.google.com>...

I believe ther are two versions of GNU available for the Pocket PC,
and although they only play at 0-ply, that's still at a solid 1900+
FIBS level. That would make it by far the best pocket BG option.

Albert Silver

tanglebear

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Apr 3, 2003, 4:36:04 AM4/3/03

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Demon said

> Been looking everywhere for a review of this machine. Does anybody have it?
> Is it any good? Would it help me improve my game (I'm a beginner).

The computer games the others mentioned can help you improve your game,
but not unless you've read at least one good book for beginners (like
Backgammon by Magriel). If you only play a computer you will have no
context to understand why it is doing what it is doing, and you can end
up emulating its moves in the wrong places.

lymph

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Apr 3, 2003, 2:09:45 PM4/3/03

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>
> I believe ther are two versions of GNU available for the Pocket PC,
> and although they only play at 0-ply, that's still at a solid 1900+
> FIBS level. That would make it by far the best pocket BG option.
>
> Albert Silver

Another option is SlapGammon for Palm OS. It's quite good and has
move analysis, rollouts, tutor mode, etc. You can probably pick up a
used palm handheld cheaper than the stand-alone backgammon computer.

Stephan Protogerakis

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Apr 7, 2003, 1:31:26 AM4/7/03

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tanglebear <tangl...@the.den> wrote in message news:<MPG.18f5a060...@news.compuserve.com>...

With reading a book like the one Demon mentioned you learn more about
cube handling than the saitek pockets ever will play. Cube play is
very important and saitek is here worse.
Stephan