Backgammon Premium 4+

Looking for a great inexpensive backgammon game. Try this one, no need to try any other. The game has been further improved is even more challenging. My last review was in 2022. In an uncorrected recent review sent in error, I mis quoted this date. I promised in that review to send another review when I could regain my status as 5 to one, playing the hardest level against the computer. January 2023 saw me regain my 5:1 position. I am now heading fast to a 6:1 status against. I have reached level #143. The random dice generator is excellent. However, the game is programmed to reward good play and punish bad. One weakness I take advantage of is, if I am about to be gammoned or backgammoned, I simply hit forfeit and lose only what’s on the doubling cube. I avoid losing the gammon or backgammon. After some more study, I am now fast approaching my 6:1 goal against the computer at hardest level. Want a challenge, this is it! (Please pardon any typing errors. Thanks.)

Nice visuals, and accurately responsive to touch. But...As other users have said, on the "Easy" level (the only one I have tried thus far), the proportion of doubles rolled by the AI far exceeds chance, given the proportion rolled by the player. I don't have to be a statistician (although I am one) to know that, if these dice rolls are random, there is a very, very slim likelihood of the AI getting 10 doubles in three games, when I rolled only 2. Is it mathematically *possible*? Of course it is. So is winning the lottery ten times in a row or getting hit by asteroids...multiple times. But given the other comments along this line, the data overwhelmingly suggest a strong bias in favor of the house. To have this bias so blatant at the "Easy" level rather defeats the purpose of an "Easy" level, and would be annoying at all levels. I am an experienced backgammon player and have won enough "real life" games that I'm not whining because I lost a few. I just don't like a blatantly stacked deck! I hope that the developer will adjust the algorithm to give players *on average, across games* as many doubles as the AI receives.

This specific backgammon app was the first I downloaded and it's my go-to game. I've played it for YEARS, first on my old desktop computer, then my smartphone as well as iPad. It's provided countless hours of entertainment while waiting for dr appts, during sleepless nights, riding public transportation, and whenever I need a stress reliever. I'm not a backgammon pro; I don't play this expecting to be challenged in a difficult way nor do play just so I can win every time. While some seem to provide great detail and in-depth reviews regarding the technical aspect, I just know what I like. For many years, through many upgrades, I've enjoyed this particular game of backgammon by the app developer. As the saying goes, don't fix what ain't broke! This is a reliable app, it always works, I've never experienced glitches, so I'm sticking with what I know is a winner.