bgblitz.com

What It Is

BGBlitz is professional backgammon software for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Its core positioning is not as a general-purpose AI, but as a high-level backgammon opponent, analyzer, and training tool. The official site highlights that its AI has won the backgammon event at the Computer Olympiad multiple times, and that version 3.4.0 offers a consumer-facing “superhuman” AI.

Core Capabilities

Its AI engine is the neural-network-based TachiAI, supporting play against the computer, online games, position evaluation, best-move display, game replay/import, plus rollouts and tutor commentary in the Professional edition. The newer version also adds flashcards, which turn user mistakes into training cards, and includes 500 classic positions from backgammon literature, making it well suited to turning post-game review into structured training. The software also supports move/roll analysis diagrams, themes, red-green color-blind support, and other usability features.

Pricing and Licensing

BGBlitz uses a free version plus one-time purchase model. The free version includes earlier features and contributed content; the Player edition costs US$23 and adds play, online features, evaluation, and best-move suggestions; the Professional edition costs US$46 and adds rollouts and coach commentary. Upgrading from Player to Professional costs US$23. One license can be installed on multiple computers and across different platforms, but only one copy may be running at a time. Minor updates and one major version upgrade are free.

Pros and Cons

The advantages are its strong vertical chess/backgammon AI capability, competition-proven track record, low price, friendly cross-platform licensing, and support for multiple languages including Chinese. It can serve as a sparring partner while also supporting review, analysis, and mistake-based training. The drawbacks are that the product format is more like traditional desktop software; the crawled text does not show details for a modern web version, mobile app, or API. On privacy, only a GDPR entry was visible, without specific policy content. Some legacy-format imports may also be limited by the need for reverse-engineered parsing.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for intermediate and advanced backgammon players, competitive players, coaches, and anyone who needs long-term game review and training. It may also interest server operators looking at BGBlitz Server. The main text does not provide information on access from China, and payment methods are not disclosed. If purchasing is inconvenient, alternatives such as GNU Backgammon and eXtreme Gammon may be worth comparing.