Backgammon

Backgammon brings the ancient board game into the DOS era with a clean focus on dice, tactics and the eternal hope that probability will suddenly become your best friend. The rules are easy to grasp, but good play requires more than simply following the numbers rolled. Players must decide how aggressively to move, when to expose pieces and how to build positions that restrict the opponent. That mixture of chance and planning is the secret behind backgammon's longevity, and the computer version captures it without unnecessary distractions. The graphics are basic, naturally, but a backgammon board does not exactly demand a graphics accelerator. What matters is the contest itself. It is ideal for short sessions, thoughtful play and those moments when you stare at a pair of dice and briefly consider blaming the computer for your entire strategic career.