# iGammon > Digital backgammon game for solo or multiplayer play with advanced rules. (iPhone/iPad app by Tom Keith.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igammon/id323886416 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Tom Keith](https://appshunter.io/developer/323886419) - Category: Games, Board, Strategy - Price: Free - Rating: 1.90/5 from 84 App Store ratings · 220 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 8.0 · 32 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2009-07-30 - Data updated: 2026-06-09 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igammon/id323886416/reviews.md ## What is iGammon? Play backgammon against the computer or your friends. You'll have a lot of fun and you'll see your backgammon game steadily improve! "The interface in iGammon is clean and easy to use. Best of all, it just works." ---------------- FEATURES: • Large board and checkers • Fast animation • Autoplay forced moves • Fast-forward plays both sides to the end of the game for you • Undo button lets you to take back moves • Running pip counts • Choose direction of play and checker colours • Human-vs-human play. Use your iPad or iPhone as a traveling backgammon board! • Hint feature gives you a suggestion if you can't decide what to do *** Try the Hint feature! Just watch the lightbulb (hint indicator) to see if it disappears when you finish your move. If so, you can pick up the dice knowing you've make the best move. Otherwise, try something else or tap on the lightbulb to see the computer's suggestion. ---------------- MODES OF PLAY There are two modes of play: "table stakes" or "match play". In TABLE STAKES, you and your opponent start with an equal number of chips. The goal is to collect all the chips before your opponent does. Use the doubling cube to increase the stakes. If you play with the "Jacoby rule", gammons and backgammon don't count unless the cube has been turned. If you play with the "Beavers rule", a player who accepts a double may immediately redouble and still keep the cube. In MATCH PLAY, the goal is to be the first player to reach a specified total number of points. Use the doubling cube to increase the stakes. The "Crawford rule" takes the doubling cube out of play for one game when a player gets to within one point of winning. You offer a double by sliding the cube over to your opponent's side of the board. Opponent can accept the double by pressing "Take" (the game continues at twice the previous stakes), or reject the double by pressing "Pass" (he loses the game and must pay the previous stakes.) ---------------- COMPUTER PLAYER The computer AI is VERY strong. There are two levels of play: Average and Strong. Both are fun and challenging. ---------------- Thank you for all the suggestions. If you have a feature you'd like to see, please email me at tom@bkgm.com. Many user suggestions have already been incorporated into this app. I hope you enjoy iGammon. Thank you for playing! Tom Keith, August 2017 ## Key features - Play against AI or friends - Table stakes and match play modes - Doubling cube with Jacoby and Beaver rules - Undo button and hint feature - Autoplay and fast-forward options - Choose direction and checker colors ## What do users think of iGammon? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 👍 Excellent app - 👍 Great for training - 👍 Glad iGammon is still available - 👍 Does not cheat - simply tough to beat! - 👍 Great backgammon app - 👍 Nailed it! - 👍 Absolutely Brilliant - 👍 Keeping it simple and smart - 👍 Thank You - 👍 Addictive - 👍 I love it - 👍 best backgammon app **Cons** - 🐛 PURE TRASH - 🐛 Stacked Against You - 🐛 Sorry Mairzyd - 🐛 Rigged - 🐛 No Chance - 🐛 Unfair - 🐛 Terrible - 🐛 Algorithm is rigged - 🐛 Cheat! - 🐛 Bad for your mental health... - 🐛 Cheating - 🐛 Incredibly Annoying!!! - 🐛 Still Completely Unplayable!! - 🐛 The new version is setup game for the computer - 🐛 Computer Absolutely Cheats! - 🐛 Thanks for free game, but...... - 🐛 Biased dice - 🐛 Fun until it cheats - 🐛 Horrible game. - 🐛 Took a great app and killed it - 🐛 Omg shocker - 🐛 Nope - 🐛 Terrible - 🐛 Sad - 🐛 Downgraid needed !!! - 🐛 Game is rigged - 🐛 Worst update ever! - 🐛 Ugly update- hate it - 🐛 Terrible - 🐛 Poor update - 🐛 Terrible Design/Experience - 🐛 Disappointed with this update - 🐛 Worst update ever! - 🐛 Ugly update- hate it - 🐛 Terrible - 🐛 Not very fun - 🐛 Terrible - 🐛 Rigged - 🐛 Unfair - 🐛 Cheat!!! - 🐛 Frustrating computer cheats - 🐛 Unfair dice - 🐛 Not random - 🐛 Fixed & predictable - 🐛 Unfair - 🐛 Cheating! - 🐛 Dice not random - 🐛 Extreme frustration. - 🐛 Cheating - 🐛 Unfair **Commonly reported bugs** - Dice disappear as soon as they are rolled - Incompatible with older devices **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - Advanced analytics dashboard - Ability to play matches (7-point etc) with appropriate cube play from the program - Option to reverse the board - Sound - Ability to change the board or the color of the checkers ## Recent user reviews (10 of 220) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/igammon/id323886416/reviews.md ### 1/5 — PURE TRASH *2025-09-06, version 5.0* This app is so blatantly obvious in it's cheating that it literally makes me laugh. It's also a poor opponent, so you can still beat it - if the cheating doesn't frustrate you too much. Overall, a waste of time and not worth the price ($0). The author of this app should be ashamed of himself. ### 5/5 — Excellent app *2025-08-01, version 5.0* This is uncomplicated easy on the eye and a pleasure to use. There is a plethora of gimmicky trash about . Stick with this 👍 ### 1/5 — Stacked Against You *2024-08-05, version 5.0* I’m an excellent player of more than 30 years, but it’s impossible to have a fair chance. The computer seems to always get JUST the right roll combo, or series of doubles when it’s behind, etc. It used to be fun and competitive; now frustrating and unfair. ### 5/5 — Still great *2023-10-30, version 5.0* I’ve used this for years Got used to the upgrade Can’t beat it , no frills 👍 ### 1/5 — Sorry Mairzyd *2023-03-05, version 5.0* Sorry pal, but this game is a total fix, and I don’t whine. Just would like to find a game that isn’t fixed more than 75% of the time. Just give me a fair game, not too much to ask for. ### 2/5 — Rigged *2022-12-11, version 5.0* I don’t know why I keep this app! If I got 4 doubles in a row or just the exact roll to knock me off the board when I’m way behind I’d win, too! Plus, if I need to get back on the board I will roll a dozen times before being able to only for the computer player to get just the number to knock me off again! When the computer player is trying to get back on it will get on with one roll. So rigged. ### 5/5 — Great for training *2022-08-05, version 5.0* I find this the best backgammon apps for practicing.. clean and simple .. much fun. ### 1/5 — No Chance *2022-05-30, version 5.0* If you’re looking for a gammon game that cheats, where you have no chance to win, because all the rolls are stacked in favor of the computer, this is the game for you. I took 2nd place in the Mississippi Backgammon Championship, but didn’t stand a chance against this cheater. ### 2/5 — Unfair *2021-12-13, version 5.0* Love this app and I am a hard core player BUT it is frustrating to see the badly written algorithm - meaning as soon as the app feels like it wants to win there are unusually great number combinations coming up where you have no chance or the other way around you get only bad numbers until the app has put all its pieces in security then you get again a chance to move. Dear developer - great app but you need to put a bit more efforts into this to make it a fantastic game….. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2021-09-07, version 5.0* If I could give no stars I would. This game is always in favour of the computer. As soon as I have a single it seems to alway roll to remove it. ## Frequently asked questions about iGammon ### What is iGammon? iGammon is a digital application that allows you to play the classic board game backgammon. You can play against a computer opponent with strong AI or challenge your friends. The app offers a clean and easy-to-use interface for an enjoyable gaming experience. ### What are the main features of iGammon? Key features include playing against AI or human opponents, two distinct modes of play (table stakes and match play), a doubling cube with advanced rules like Jacoby and Beaver rules, an undo button for correcting moves, and a hint feature to suggest optimal plays. It also offers autoplay and fast-forward options for convenience. ### Is iGammon free to play? Yes, the application is available for free. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned, suggesting a completely free gaming experience for users. ### What are the different modes of play in iGammon? iGammon offers two primary modes: 'table stakes' and 'match play'. In table stakes, players start with chips and aim to collect them all, using the doubling cube to increase stakes. Match play involves reaching a specified point total first, also utilizing the doubling cube, with the 'Crawford rule' potentially affecting its use near the end of a match. ### Can I play iGammon on multiple devices? The description mentions using your iPad or iPhone as a traveling backgammon board, indicating compatibility with Apple mobile devices. It is designed for play on these platforms. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 5.0 — 2017-08-02 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. This version is totally rewritten in Swift. Try it out and let me know of any new features you'd like to see. Happy backgammoning! ### 4.2 — 2010-08-03 Fixed bug where a checker is flipped on edge at the start of a new game. ### 4.1 — 2010-06-14 • Added native support for iPad. • Refined the graphics to look good on a larger screen. ### 4.0 — 2010-05-28 • Hint feature. Can't decide what to do? Just ask, and iGammon will show you step by step. It's a great way to learn! • Tutor mode. Tells you when you've made a mistake. Then you can go back and think some more, ask for a hint, or make your own play anyway. • Orientation lock. Keeps the board from rotating when you turn the phone. ### 3.0 — 2009-12-30 * Table stakes. You and your opponent start with an equal number of chips and keep playing until one player collects all the chips. Use doubling cube, optional Jacoby rule, or optional Beavers rule. Start with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 100, or 500 chips each. * Match play. Be the first player to reach a specified number of points. Use doubling cube and optional Crawford rule. Match lengths can be 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 25, or 99 points. * Choose direction of play. Bear off to the left side or to the right side. * Reverse colors. Play using either the red or the yellow checkers. * Human-vs-human play. Use your iPhone or iPod touch as a traveling backgammon board. * Auto finish game. Have computer finish the game for you. ## Apps similar to iGammon | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Showdown Of Generals](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/showdown-of-generals/id1457958540) | 2.3 (4) | Free | Games | | [Gomoku Five in a Row](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gomoku-five-in-a-row/id6444699700) | 4.7 (3) | Free | Games | | [Snake N Snake-Greedy Snake](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snake-n-snake-greedy-snake/id6444639460) | 3.4 (64) | Free | Games | | [Pocket Wars Protect or Destroy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket-wars-protect-or-destroy/id1118130200) | 4.5 (2) | Free | Games | | [Jewel Match Blast](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jewel-match-blast/id1458071820) | 5.0 (101) | Free | Games | | [Fanorona for iPad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fanorona-for-ipad/id642363480) | 1.3 (3) | $0.99 | Games | ## Related topics [igammon](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/igammon) · [keiths](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/keiths) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-09.*