● GAME CENTER -- Play online, chat, invite friends, auto-match with random players
{ Real-time } Play online in real-time
{ Turn-based } Play online at your own pace
● VERSATILE -- Play offline vs. computer or against another person in 2-player mode
● CUSTOMIZABLE -- More options than any other backgammon app
● UNIVERSAL -- Supports iPad, iPhone, & iPod touch
Play & learn backgammon at skill levels from beginner to world-class!
Backgammon NJ HD is a full-featured game which uses an advanced, neural network-based, artificial intelligence. Play against a computer AI, another person in 2-player mode on one device, or online against friends & others. Using Tutor Mode & Hints, Backgammon NJ HD can show you how to improve your game.
Discriminating players will appreciate how well the AI plays. It uses a neural network trained on millions of positions, a bearoff database, & a match equity table to achieve strong gameplay that will challenge even expert players.
REVIEWS
"[I] know strong bg play when I see it. This app is the strongest iPhone bg app I've played with by far. It does not cheat period. ...Analyzing these matches with eXtreme Gammon confirms a world class level of play with normal luck factors. If you are losing, get over it. So would 99.9% of the other backgammon players in the world. It is just that good. Learn from it." -Richard Munitz, Giant of Backgammon, #21 world ranking in 2009
"Backgammon NJ plays at an extremely high level with an excellent interface, and I often use it to practice on my iPhone when I am traveling. I recommend it highly to my students & friends." -Phil Simborg, Professional Backgammon Teacher & Player, www.mindgamescenter.com
"I've played over 500 games now; I've checked about 5% of these against World Class Desktop programs (GNU, BGBlitz); and I've actually used some of the competition. NJ has the best interface & has more useful functions than any other backgammon apps out there."
"For serious backgammon players, Backgammon NJ is the way to go." -Macworld.com, May 2012
IS THIS GAME RIGHT FOR YOU?
This game is best for people:
• Who recognize the strength of neural network backgammon bots
• Who want to improve their game by playing against a world-class level AI
• Who will use the in-depth, technical features included in the app to prove that it is honest (https://www.njsoftware.com/note.html)
• Who won't expect to win consistently on the higher skill levels
FEATURES
• Neural network-based AI
• 2 game types: Standard Backgammon or Nackgammon
• 4 skill levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert
• Customizable board design & checker colors
• Mersenne Twister algorithm for random number generation
• Doubling cube
• Single games or match play up to 25 pts
• Crawford rule for match play
• 1-player mode vs. computer
• 2-player mode on one device
• Game Center: Play real-time or turn-based online matches with friends & other players
• Chat with your online opponent
• Online Elo & Experience leaderboards
• Block list for auto-match
• Tap-to-move interface
• Highlighted checker movement options
• Hint & Undo
• Learn with Tutor Mode
• Game & dice stats, including Elo rating & ER
• Match info: GnuBG ID, win chances, equity, top 10 moves, cube decisions
• Email match files
• Practice mode with unlimited undo (1-player vs. computer)
• Manual match recording mode with unlimited undo & speed mode option
• Options to reverse board direction, resign, use one-tap moves, auto bearoff, auto finish, use Jacoby rule, & much more
• Match analysis (in-app purchase): Analyze past match files, view moves & errors for match, step through match, jump to position, play from position, save match files permanently
IMPORTANT
• If an online match ends for any reason, you'll receive the Elo pts you deserve. FAQ: https://gamecenter.njsoftware.com
• Contact us for help: https://contact.njsoftware.com
I’ve been playing Backgammon NJ on my iPhone for 10+ years along with other BG games, this is by far the best! The board and interface are straight forward but also offer in-depth settings, modes and stats that I haven’t found in any other game. After nearly a decade of playing at Medium and Hard skill levels, I forced myself to play on Expert level for the last two years…to say it can be frustrating is putting it mildly. I can see how some people might think this App (and its AI) is somehow cheating, but it’s not. Those false claims have easily been debunked – take a look at the njsoftware web site. The thing about Expert mode is it’s just that. Over time you’ll start to understand how game reacts to the dice rolls and your moves – basically its strategy. Because of BG NJ, my method of play and approach have dramatically changed over the last few years. I’m at a point where I can beat the game nearly half the time on expert level and often, I know within the first 4-6 turns how the game is going to end. Like anything else, if you play on medium, hard and expert level, you will become a much better player…I certainly have.
Developer Response
Thanks for your comments! You must have been one of our first users. =)
Cheats - Here’s how to prove it
AirPrint SchmairPrint
I consider myself to be a very good backgammon player. Made a lot of beer money in college in the early 80's playing gammon for 25 cents a point. Anybody who says this app doesn't cheat is smoking crack. I proved the cheating to myself and you can do the same. I played 10 games on the expert mode with the computer generated dice rolls. I lost EVERY game. Then I changed the option to manual dice rolls, still on expert mode. When I manually rolled the dice and forced the computer to play those random rolls, I won 7/10 games. Unfortunately, manual dice rolling is very tedious, but — it's the only way to ensure that the computer plays fair. The manual dice rolling option is the only reason why I would recommend this app. FYI - I’ve downloaded many other backgammon apps and they ALL cheat. The AI in this app, like in every other app I’ve played appears to be the same for all modes. The only difference between beginner and expert modes is the amount of timely doubles and perfect rolls generated by the computer. Where this app can help improve your play is by learning to strategically use the doubling cube and recognizing pip count advantages. For beginners, looking at the hints might also help improve your game.
Developer Response
The app is honest & has random rolls. Proofs here: https://www.njsoftware.com/note.html
Best iOS BG app I’ve found!
witttiger93
I’m not in any way an accomplished player, but I’m fascinated with the game and this app is the best Player vs AI I’ve found on the iOs platform. I’ve seen the accusations from other reviewers about the AI cheating by looking ahead at the previously generated roll values and adjusting its strategy accordingly. I don’t believe this for two reasons: 1) I’m a novice-level player with poor math skills who’s also hampered by deficient strategic thinking. And yet, through repeated play, I’ve improved and consistently beaten the AI enough to advance to a higher difficulty level. And 2) why would a developer hope to successfully launch an app by deliberately designing it to cheat the player? Especially in this case where there’s no further play-based profit to be made beyond the initial purchase, so why would there even be an incentive to do so? It makes far more sense to go to every length to ensure an unbiased game environment, which is what I believe this developer did. I don’t get to play on a real board against other people very often, so I love playing and practicing on this app!
Developer Response
Thank you for being a voice of reason. After 10 years of this, we know that doubters will never believe you, but nonetheless, thank you for the effort! The proofs (http://www.njsoftware.com/note.html) are there which show that the AI doesn't change its strategy based on dice rolls, but as we all know, doubters don't read proofs.We hope you continue to enjoy the app and improve your backgammon skill. =)
An interesting well-made game with bad dice rolls
Horselover3999
This is a great game. The developer deserves recognition for his amazing accomplishment. However, the dice rolls are not random. When one is playing the computer, one gets better rolls if they play by the computer’s rules. Otherwise one loses. Without question. The worst part is that, that feature spills into online game play. Players complain constantly about it and all the developer will say is that if you use His way to test the dice rolls, you will find the dice are random. I disagree. Over and over, one gets nonsensical rolls. I just got 3 double 4s in a row. Then not a single 4 in all the rolls after that for the game. That happens with other numbers. I’ve been playing for 8 or nine years and that’s a regular occurrence. What are the odds of rolling doubles three times in a row that are the same? It’s a regular feature in this game.Other than obvious flaws like that, I do believe Jimmy has created an incredible game that is much enjoyed by tens of thousands worldwide. He deserves credit for that. But he needs to re-examine his allegedly random dice roll database. And look into why the player is rewarded with better dice rolls for the right computer blessed moves while playing online. That should only be happening when one is learning from the computer. And the player should be able to turn that ridiculous feature off.
v7.0.1:
- Added "Stop Auto Finish When Doubled" option
- Added "Display Statistic/Meter" option
- Added "Match File/Info Export" option (includes Share function)
- Added "Swap Match File Player Position" option
- Added "Analyze Most Recent Match" option to Double Tap & Swipe Left on Status Meter settings (included in Analysis Package in-app purchase)
- Native resolution graphics for iPad mini 6th Gen
- Updated for iOS 18
- Minor bug fixes
v7.0.3:
- Fixed issue where some online play buttons were not being grayed out
Version 7.0.3
The developer, Jimmy Hu, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Jimmy Hu
Size
57.2 MB
Category
Board
Compatibility
Requires iOS 15.4 or later.
iPhone Requires iOS 15.4 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 15.4 or later.
iPod touch Requires iOS 15.4 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 12.3 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
