Board Window Basics

As soon as both players accept an invitation, the Board window will open. (It will also open when you begin watching a match.)

Most game play actions are performed by clicking directly on the board: click the dice to roll, click (or drag) the checkers to move them, click the doubling cube to double, click again on the dice to pick them up.

The Board Window

When you see the white arrow with the question mark on the right side of the board (shown in the picture above), it is your turn. You can offer the doubling cube to your opponent, or roll the dice and move your checkers.

Board window

Moving Checkers

When playing a match, you move checkers by clicking or dragging. Each has advantages, use whichever method is more comfortable and efficient for you.

Clicking a Checker

When you click a checker, it will move the higher dice first if possible, then the lower dice. To move the lower dice first, press and hold the Control key then click the checker (if you have a two button mouse, right clicking is equivalent to control-clicking).

Clicking is very fast, especially when bearing off checkers at the end of a game.

Dragging a Checker

Dragging checkers allows you some additional flexibility. First, you can drag a checker further than a single click, for example, if you roll an opening 6/5, you can drag a checker from your 24 point to your 13 point in one motion (clicking would require you to click the checker on the 24 point, then move the mouse to the 18 point and click again.)

Dragging also allows you to make a move adjustment, for example, if you roll a 4/1, and move a checker 24-23, but realize you wanted to move it 24-20 instead, you can drag the checker from the 23 to the 20 point (this is equivalent to taking back the 24-23 move and then taking the 24-20 move.)

Finally, you can drag a checker to undo a move. In the prior example, you could drag the checker backwards from 20-24 to undo the move altogether. You can also use the Take Back toolbar button to undo a move, or choose Take Back Move (Cmd-K) from the Play menu.

When you have completed your moves, you will see a black triangle over your dice, indicating you have no more moves available. Click the triangle to send your move and complete your turn.

Match History

GridGammon records all moves made during a match, and displays them in the match history (upper right section of the Board window). You can review the match length and other options, and examine the moves in the game.

You can save any match that you play or watch for later analysis. Just click the Record toolbar button anytime during the match to indicate that you wish to save the match when it is finished. At the end of the match GridGammon will ask you to save the file, you can provide a name and location where it should be saved. Matches are saved in a standard text format (JellyFish .MAT) recognized by many analysis programs, including gnubg and BGBlitz.

Match Chat

The chat section of the Board window (lower right) allows you to chat with your opponent or any watchers. It is seen only by players and watchers of the match, it is not seen in the lobby.