GAME PLAY

Starting a Match

To start a game you must select one of the four options: Computer (to play against the computer), Pass the Device (to play against another player using one device), Local Network (to play against another nearby FaceMe Backgammon player), and Game Center (to play against FaceMe Backgammon players around the world).

By default, the "Display Match Options Dialog" setting is on, and a dialog will come up to allow you to select the number of games in the match and if doubling will be allowed.

• Computer: Once the game board is displayed, you and the computer roll a die to determine who goes first.
• Pass the Device: Once the game board is displayed, you and your opponent roll a die to determine who goes first.
• Local Network: See the Network Game instructions page.
• Game Center: See the Network Game instructions page.

The match can be one of: first to 1 point, first to 3 points, first to 5 points and unlimited. This means that the player who wins the selected number of points first, wins the match. At this stage, a new match can be started from the main menu. An unlimited match never ends unless one of the players resigns the match.

Resigning a Game

To resign a game, press the Game Menu button on the side of the game board when it is your turn to make a move. Then, select the number of points you are willing to offer to your opponent - the more ahead your opponent is, the more points they will expect to be offered.

A resignation request is then sent to your opponent and they will decide whether to accept it or not. If the opponent declines your resignation request, the game must continue. If they accept the request, the game ends and the opponent receives the number of points offered, multiplied by the number of points currently at play based on the doubling cube.

To resign the match, you can offer ∞ points. Your opponent will be offered enough points for the match to end naturally. This does not require your opponent to accept your resignation.

If you are playing an unlimited length match, you must resign ∞ points to end the match.

Moving Your Pieces

Once a game starts, you may use two different methods to move your pieces. The "One-Tap Moves" setting controls the piece movement style.

If "One-Tap Moves" is ON, you move a piece by tapping it with your finger and it will move the number of spaces specified by the left most unused die (used die are grayed out). You can swap the order of the dice by tapping on the dice.

If "One-Tap Moves" is OFF, you move a piece by tapping it and then tapping again at the destination position. If the "Show Possible Moves" setting is ON, the game will highlight the valid positions where the currently selected piece can move.

• Replay: If you want to see what move your opponent just made, use the Replay button before you tap the screen to roll the dice for your turn. If you wish to see what moves you made, tap the REPLAY button before your tap the board to confirm the end of your turn.
• Undo: If you made a move but want to change it before you confirm the end of your turn, press the UNDO button. It will undo one piece move at a time.
• Piece Animation: If you tap a piece that cannot move based on the dice roll, the piece will shake, indicating that it cannot move. There is also a message at the bottom of the board indicating why the piece cannot move.
If you have a piece on the bar, it must be moved first - this is indicated by the piece on the bar bouncing up and down to draw attention to itself.
• Auto-Play Forced Moves: If there is only one possible move to be made, when this setting is on, the game will perform the move for you.

Doubling

Doubling is used to increase the number of points a player will win at the end of a game. You may only double at the end of your opponent's move, before you see your roll. Once the first doubling has been done, the person who accepted the double is said to "own" the doubling cube, and only they can now double.

Declining a doubling request will result in the player forfeiting the game and losing the current number of points displayed by the doubling cube.

The Crawford Rule: The first time either player is within one point of winning the match, the doubling cube is not available for that game. The cube becomes available the following game if the match is not over.