This is the user guide for Cunning Fox Backgammon (FoxBG) version 1.01 for mobile phones and PDAs.
FoxBG has a context sensitive “Help”
menu. This shows what options are
currently available to you. The “Hint”
menu will show you a suggested move.
The main screen of FoxBG is a representation of a backgammon set. It contains points, the bar, pieces, dice and, (optionally) a doubling cube.
When a user is moving, a triangular Caret is shown. This indicates
the currently selected piece and points in the direction in which that piece
may move.
A game of backgammon can be played using only the Select button which combines direction movement and selection. This can be fiddly, so in this guide it is assumed that the keypad alternatives are being used.
<5> or <Select> is used to progress the game. Press this to roll the dice, to complete your move, or to accept a double.
<7> or <1> works the same way as <5> except that it has a slightly different effect on the movement of the Caret (see below). On most phones the <7> key is used, but on Motorola phones use <1>.
<directions> or <2,4,6,8> move the Caret, changing the currently selected piece (see below).
Playing Cunning Fox Backgammon with a touchscreen or mouse is quite intuitive. You can ignore the references in this guide to specific keys and the movement of the caret. Once you are familiar with the game you can turn off the current point indicator by unchecking the “Show caret” setting.
The screen is divided in to 3 hotspot areas; the dice, the bar, and, the points. Click on the dice area to roll the dice, to switch the order of the dice, or, to end your turn (pick up the dice). Click on the bar to offer a double, or, to move a piece from the bar. Click on the points to move the pieces.
If your opponent is doubling, then, clicking anywhere on the
screen will accept the double. To
decline the double, use the “Pass” menu.
Backgammon is basically a race. The players take turns to roll dice and move their pieces accordingly.
When it is your turn (you are “on roll”) press <5> to roll the dice. The triangular Caret will appear on one of your pieces. Use <2,4,6,8> to move the Caret changing which piece is selected (see below).
Press <5> to move the piece. The piece will move by the number of points corresponding to the first die. If it is not legal for the piece to move there, then the dice will change places (“switch”) and the piece will move using the new first die.
If the currently selected piece is able to move using either of the dice, but you want to use the second die, use the “Switch” menu. The dice will change places.
When a die is used it changes to the “ghost” colour. The Caret will disappear when the move is complete. You can take back the move using the “Takeback” or “Undo” menu.
When you are happy with your move, press <5> to accept it (equivalent to picking up your dice). The game moves on to your opponent’s turn.
If the doubling cube is in use, then players may double on their turn, before they roll the dice. If the doubling cube is in the centre or at the bottom of the screen, then you may double by using the “Double” menu. If you do not want to double, press <5> to roll the dice.
If your opponent doubles, then your options are to accept (play on for twice as many points) or pass (concede the current number of points). Press <5> to accept or use the “Pass” menu to pass.
The triangular Caret will only go to pieces which may legally move. If you have a piece on the bar (the middle vertical stripe), then you must move that piece before you can continue.
<2> or <8> moves the Caret between the near and far sides of the board. The Caret goes to the nearest moveable piece on the opposite side of the board.
<4> and <6> moves the Caret left and right. The Caret goes to the nearest moveable piece on the same side of the board. This wraps around.
<5> moves the currently selected piece. The Caret follows the piece. The Caret goes to the moveable piece which is closest to the moved piece. This can give the illusion that the piece did not move the expected number. The Caret is not attached to the piece.
<7> or <1> moves the currently selected piece. The Caret does not follow the piece. The Caret goes to the nearest moveable piece. Use this key when you want to move from the same point twice.
Very rarely you may reach a position where you have moved one piece, the Caret has disappeared, but when you press <5> the game does not progress and “No” is displayed on the board. This means that the whole move is not legal.
The rules of backgammon state that you must use both dice if you can. If you can only use one die, then you must use the larger die if possible.
Use the “Hint” menu to see where you could have moved.
The menus in FoxBG are context sensitive. That is, only the menus which are relevant to the current situation are shown.
The “Help” menu explains what options are available to you.
When you are moving, the “Hint” menu shows you where FoxBG would move. You can accept the move by pressing <5> or make a different move by using the “Undo” or “Takeback” menu.
For doubling cube decisions, the “Hint” menu suggests whether you should double or accept a double. The estimates FoxBG used to make this decision are shown.
When you have moved a piece, the “Takeback” or “Undo” menu will revert the position to the beginning of the move, i.e. to the position when you had rolled the dice but not yet moved any pieces.
The “Switch” menu swaps the positions of the dice. This enables you to use the second dice
first.
The “Game” menu contains options which are relevant to the current position. These are:
The “File” menu has options to start a new game or match, and to store positions. The “Save Game” menu saves the current position, including the match scores, with the name you provide. The “Load Game” menu lists previously saved positions. You can delete a position from the list, or, load a position to replay it.
On Windows devices, you can also export the current position in .pos format.
The current position, including the player scores, is saved
on exit. Choose “Resume” from the FoxBG splash screen to continue the game.
When you change a setting, use the “Save” menu to apply the change.
The “Look & Feel” screen contains appearance and sound
options.
On Windows devices, “Store matches” logs your moves in the file FoxBG.mat in the indicated “Data folder”. When you select “New Game” or “New Match”, or complete a match, FoxBG.mat is copied to a timestamped file, and FoxBG.mat is emptied. Note that the first .mat file produced will be incomplete. If you use this option, be sure to clear out the .mat files regularly.
The “Players” menu lets you set the player names and computer opponents (robots). “Robot skill” is from 0 (weakest) to 9 (strongest).
The “Colours” menu shows a preview of the colour scheme and allows you to select each element of the board. Use "Edit" to set the colour of the selected board element. N.B. on Siemens phones the preview picture is not displayed.
"Themes" offers some preset colour schemes. Select a theme and press “Preview” to return to the preview screen. Use the “Save” menu to keep the colour scheme.
The “Speed-Ups” screen contains options to make the game flow more quickly.
Use the “Rules” screen to set optional game rules.
