Backgammon: XG 'How to' Guide

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Another feature I didn't mention for XG (call it Tip 11) is that you can right click on the analysis on the left panel and change "Display Winning % as" to "Values" rather than a "Graphic Bar". This will show net gammon and backgammon wins as percentages.

[@hiker996507]

A feature I use all the time is Flag move/cube action. Every time I get a difficult decision, I flag the move. At the end of the game or match, I then go back and review not just my errors, but all difficult decisions. Another thing about the Flag, when you use the review arrows, they will take you to all errors and Flags. To flag a move, just right click and select Flag Entry.

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Yes, good feature. I use "add note" in a similar way to flag moves that were trickier.

[@DJin757]

Thanks, these tips were helpful. Also, the tip on Crossover was huge - I didn't know it existed.

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sjsphotog]

What tip on crossover? I didn't see any.

[@sjsphotog]

Two things. If you use the play from position do a Ctrl C (copy) BEFORE and Ctrl V (paste) after so you don't have to setup the position each time. Also best to not use those graphical bars in the analysis window on the left side. Most find it useless and confusing. Better to change settings to show winning % along with gammon and backgammon % chances all the time for each player. Much more useful.

[@komoru]

Great tips! Do you have a video going into what the differences are in evaluating a position via 7-ply, 3-ply, ++ , and/or rollout?

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Sorry no video on this particularly, although doing a 1296 (or higher) rollout on a close decision is always a good idea. Any other analysis I would definitely run on a minimum of ++

[@pierreas69]

Very useful, thank you.

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Thanks, glad it helped

[@robertpaquet755]

Thank you for the tip using crossover on a Mac. I just installed xg today (3/3/2022). For you Tip No.4, the analysis values are slightly different, for example the 24/20 move for white gives me a +0.156 instead of your value of +.170?

[@robertpaquet755]

After having inverted the active player and analysed as you show, then inverted the active player back to the white player, I get +0.170: mysterious. Anyway, thanks for these tips to familiarise myself to the software, but also thanks to all your videos: it's very well done and useful. Some of the moves are not obvious and quite contrary to my prudent approach and it's good to hear the reason for such bold moves.

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

@@robertpaquet755 Thank you, glad you find my videos useful

[@birillo2489]

Hi! Great video :) one question though: isnt the dead cube % realitive also when after the cube has been turned the taker has no advantage in turning it back (e.g at 2a-4a and 2a takes)?

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Yes, sure. You can see the differences between dead cube/live cube take point options on XG under "cube information"

[@claudec2588]

Some useful information here but I'm looking for something more basic in "How to". For example, how do I move checkers around a board to set up a position? The natural thing would be to "click and drag" but that doesn't work. Also, having set up a position how do I then set up different rolls, play that roll, then get an analysis of the move I've made? PLEASE HELP. I've been trying to find the answer to these questions in the games help menu but so far without success.

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Hi Claude. When you go into "set up position", you can add checkers with left and right mouse clicks. You remove them by holding down the mouse button and moving up/down. You can also 'clear position' in top menu. You can change the dice by clicking on them also. Then in the top menu you can 'analyse' - make sure checker play is selected on the bottom of the screen, and the relevant match score. You can then see the analysis for the moves.

[@claudec2588]

@@BackgammonisBeautiful Thankyou-Thankyou-Thankyou. I believe being able to set up 'problems' and analyze various 'solutions' is the greatest asset of eXtreme Gammon. Playing against the AI and loosing 95% of the time, though potentially educational, isn't fun. Having said that, after awhile you'll want to test yourself and see if you've learned anything. :)

[@sjsphotog]

@@claudec2588 play at a lower level AI until you start winning more times but is also helpful to learn to correct moves by understanding what the AI is going against you. Learn from the best to become better. Goid lock. If you can beat the AI 10-20 of the time you're really good. Don't feel bad most of us aren't super computers. Use the knowledge to beat your human opps . Even if you lose to the AI is not a big deal ;) even Mochy (#1) loses to the AI.

[@carlossalinero3698]

Nice explained. The grey color what it represents???

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Sorry, where are you referring to?

[@carlossalinero3698]

@@BackgammonisBeautiful Oh!! Forgive me. I refere where you talk about the dice distribution, the colour of the columns

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

@@carlossalinero3698 that shows the negative positive equity of the next rolls. Pretty useful function

[@carlossalinero3698]

@@BackgammonisBeautiful but sometimes appears a column in grey. What's the meaning of that grey color?

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

@@carlossalinero3698 the actual dice roll

[@BeniaminoFiorito]

How do I get a checker on the bar in XG while setting up a position to analyse it ?

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Set up position, then click on bar to add checkers

[@Merdan_Ali_Asker]

I don't have Windows. Can I play on Mac mini m4?

[@BackgammonisBeautiful]

Yes, through Crossover