Backgammon Gym
Train the skills, not just the moves.
iOS (iPhone + iPad)
Free & ad-free
Open Source
In Development
Train the skills, not just the moves.
There are many tools for playing backgammon. There are far fewer for practicing the underlying skills that actually make you better. Backgammon Gym fills that gap: a native iOS app dedicated entirely to structured training, not matches.
The idea grew out of my own return to serious backgammon after a 25-year break. I came back with enthusiasm but without the mental reflexes that take years to build. Decent tools existed online, but nothing felt at home on an iPhone. So I started building one — initially just for myself, but the deeper I got into the material, the more it seemed like something worth sharing.
From guided, step-by-step counting to full-speed drills. Multiple methods, multiple levels.
Pattern recognition for faster, more accurate counts. Trains the part of your brain that matters in real play.
Every board shows its GNU and XG position ID. One tap copies it — jump straight into BGBlitz, XG or GNU for deeper analysis.
Statistics and trends for each training module, so you can see where you're improving and where you're not.
Every match score has a known win probability. Train to recall the right figure instantly, or to reconstruct it on the fly when it counts.
The app is now on TestFlight, and I'm looking for players who'd like to try it and share their impressions. You don't need to be an expert — honest feedback on what feels clear, what feels clumsy, and what's missing is exactly what helps most at this stage.
I'd also really value help with the texts: a critical read to tell me what sounds awkward, what might be plain wrong, or whether something important is missing. English isn't my first language, so a second pair of eyes makes a real difference.
Ideally, feedback goes into the GitHub Discussions — you can post screenshots there too, which makes things much easier to pin down. You can also reach me directly at BackgammonGym@hape42.de.
And if you happen to own more than one iOS device, testing the iCloud sync would be a great help. You don't have to do anything special — just use the app on each device, and let me know if your data stays in sync.
I have the idea, I can code it, I have the time — what I'm looking for are one or more advisors on the backgammon side. Which positions are didactically valuable? Which method to teach first? What makes a good exercise structure?
No deadlines, no commitments. Just sharing knowledge with someone building something for the community.
If you're a strong player willing to spend some time on this, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing from you. Drop a note in the GitHub Discussions, or write directly to BackgammonGym@hape42.de.
The app is written in Objective-C, targeting iPhone and iPad (iOS 18+). The full source code is on GitHub under an open licence.
If you'd like to contribute — whether that's code, positions, or an Android port — you're welcome. Open an issue, start a discussion, or send a pull request.