Minimalist Backgammon Trainer

About Minimalist Backgammon Trainer

### 100% Free, no ads, and no data collection.

Minimalist Backgammon Trainer (MBT) is a simulator powered by GNU Backgammon (GNUbg) designed to isolate the essentials: the movement of your checkers and cube strategy. Its goal is to improve your ability to choose the perfect move or make the best decision in realistic game situations. No stakes, no stress, just you facing the best possible decision.

### Why MBT

MBT was born from the observation that online training tools are often limited to quizzes or selected positions. Nothing offers training covering all phases of a game in a modern and responsive interface. MBT was designed to fill this gap and refocus training on the essentials: improving your accuracy and your decisions.

### How to play

Start a simulation by pressing 'Play'. GNUbg will simulate a realistic game that freezes on a position. Use the virtual keyboard or tap directly on the board to propose the best move or make the best cube decision. Submit your answer. You made the best choice, well done! Otherwise, see the type of error you made and try again to find the best move.

### Main Features

Checkers and/or Cube: Freely switch between targeted training and the complete mode.
Mode: Choose 'Mix', 'Opening', 'Middle', or 'End' for checker play. Choose 'Mix', 'Money Game', 'Match to 5', or 'Match to 11' for cube play.
Hints & Analysis: Best moves according to GNU Backgammon's analysis and equity loss compared to the top move.
Error type: If the move you submitted is not the best move, MBT will indicate the type of error you made.
Evaluation: Whenever you like, run an evaluation based on 20 simulations to track your actual progress using the trend graph.
Blunders: wait ten days to replay your biggest mistakes. MBT saves up to 100 blunders.
Statistics: Find your performance level for each type of game as well as your Error Rate for all games played.
Custom Position: manually enter a backgammon position, for example from a real game, to understand what you could have played differently.
Sharing: generate an image including the board and GNU Backgammon's analysis or share a link to the simulation.
Settings: checker color, board orientation, light or dark theme (compatible with E-Ink), probability detail level, export/import your statistics, etc.

### Technical data - Checkers

Each simulation is a unique game without the Jacoby rule or doubling cube. The number of moves is determined randomly within the chosen range (Opening, Middle, End, Mix). The dice roll is managed by GNU Backgammon. The evaluation performed during the simulation to decide on these moves is based on a depth of 1 (ply 1). The final evaluation, which will be used as a rating, is performed at a depth of 3 (ply 3).

### Technical data - Cube

The match score is defined randomly for matches to 5 and matches to 11. A number of moves to play is defined randomly between 8 and 20, the range where cube decisions are most relevant. Each simulation starts a new match (beaver and Crawford rules not activated). The Jacoby rule is only activated in money games. The evaluation during the simulation is based on a ply 1. The cube analysis is performed at a depth of 2 (ply 2). To ensure relevant puzzles, MBT analyzes the equity in the background and excludes situations that are too obvious to force stops where the decision is most difficult.

### Privacy and Transparency

Minimalist Backgammon Trainer does not collect, store, or share any personal data. All game statistics and preferences are saved exclusively in your browser's local storage, on your device only, and are never transmitted. No account is required. No data leaves your device.