Ubuntu Manpage: makebearoff - generate a GNU Backgammon bearoff database

NAME

       makebearoff - generate a GNU Backgammon bearoff database

SYNOPSIS

       makebearoff [-HCcgnvh] -f filename [-t PxC] [-o P] [-s cache-size] [-O filename]

DESCRIPTION

       makebearoff generates GNU Backgammon bearoff databases, which are used to improve play in
       the endgame.  It can generate either two-sided (exact) databases that tell precisely the
       chance of winning or one-sided (approximate) databases that provide a variety of
       probabilities looking at each side independently.

       Bearoff databases can get quite large and can take a significant amount of time to
       generate for large numbers of chequers and/or points.

OPTIONS

-f filename, --outfile filename
Write the bearoff database to filename. This option must be given.

-t PxC, --two-sided PxC
Generate a two-sided bearoff database for P points and C chequers for each player.
Be warned that the size of the database grows rapidly with larger numbers of points
and chequers.

-o P, --one-sided P
Generate a one-sided bearoff database for P points. One-sided bearoff databases
are always generated for up to fifteen chequers.

-s N, --xhash-size N
Use a memory cache of size N while building the database. If the cache is smaller
than the database size, database generation will be slower due to disk writes.

-O filename, --old-bearoff filename
Reuse an already generated bearoff database. Any needed data already in this
database will just be copied without regenerating it.

-H, --no-header
Do not write the normal bearoff database header.

-C, --no-cubeful
Do not calculate cubeful equities for two-sided databases.

-c, --no-compress
Do not compress one-sided databases.

-g, --no-gammons
Do not include gammon distributions in one-sided databases.

-n, --normal-dist
Rather than storing exact probabilities, approximate probabilities in a one-sided
database with a normal distribution.

-v, --version
Show version information and exit.

-h, --help
Display usage and exit.

EXAMPLES

       To generate a two-sided database for up to eight chequers on six points:

           makebearoff -t 6x8 -f gnubg_ts.bd

       Note that this database is 72MB in size.  To generate a one-sided database for up to
       fifteen chequers on ten points:

           makebearoff -o 10 -f gnubg_os.bd

       Note that this database is 118MB in size.

AUTHORS