If you are bored and tired of beating other PocketPC backgammon games and are looking for more of a challenge, then BGLightCE is for you.

The move generation and evaluation engine for BGLightCE is ported from bglight. According to Joseph Heled, the author of bglight and a contributor to GNU Backgammon, its playing strength is equivalent to mgnu_zp playing on FIBS, which is around 1950.

Features:
- The strongest backgammon opponent available for the Pocket PC.
- Match play.
- Multiple board and checker sets.
- Move evaluatation and hints.
- Create your own boards and checker sets.
- Based on Gnu Backgammon.
- Free software licensed under the Gnu General Public License.
- Full sources and graphics are available.

Download link for other processors:
  • MIPS Processors - 0.97 MB
  • SH3 Processors - 0.95 MB

"Quasi-Random Dice are used to reduce the element of luck in rollouts. Instead of selecting purely random dice, gnubg will ensure a uniform distribution of the first roll of the rollout." I quote from http://www.bkgm.com/rgb/rgb.cgi?view+1128 for those who are interested in reading the rest.

*** [Mar 19, 2007] by Zuben using Cingular 8125
Strong game, yes; fair game, no. BGLight makes many apparently risky moves, only to get equally lucky rolls by human or computer. Easy test: Start new games 20 times and see how many the computer wins. Another test: in situations where home is completely covered, see how many rolls it takes for computer vs human to bear off the bar. Very little difference in play from Beginner to Expert. Would recommend if dice rolling were truly random. And, where exactly IS the source code so I can check logic?

*** [Feb 5, 2007] by Grundini using iPAQ
The game has the best interface of all the pocket PC games, but the GNU script has tampered with. Accepting a double, will result in the software rolling a double and closing you out. When it does cheat, the ipaq will slow down as it figures out the best possible roll. Then hey presto a double.

** [Aug 4, 2006] by BGLight using HP6365
Laughable. Especially so when the author's idea of intelligent AI is to rig the dice rolls. C'mon, getting doubles almost every time the computer offers the cube?

***** [Jan 11, 2006] by The Ant using MDA
This is excellent game. It is common for people to feel like the dice rolls are not random with backgammon games (try Jellyfish at level 7!) but the source code is available and it is clear that the game does not give itself an unfair advantage. It does have the advantage of know statistically what the best move to make at every moment is, so when it gets what looks like a lucky roll it is, in fact, by design. Backgammon is by no means a game of luck. Having said that it can be very infuriating at times ;-)

*** [Oct 19, 2005] by David Ulmer using Jornada
Interface is nice. No large complaints. I'm suspicious of the 'randomness' of the AI dice roll. Seems the AI catches the parfect roll very frequently, and I've found that, if the AI doubles and you accept, its roll is very often double 5s or double 6s. Frankly I think it's rigged to punish risky moves.

** [Aug 3, 2005] by Christoffer using IPAQ
Been playing this game during my hollyday, and I'm not impressed. The dicerolling is yes! not at random!! This reduces the fun. Actually my son (age 10) was the only happy one, 'cause he got my Ipaq for himself and could learn the game. I love playing BG, but this program is now removed.

**** [Jun 13, 2005] by JJ Hudson using IPAQ 4515
Definitely the best Backgammon game out there. Only two cons - 3 Skill levels, yet not much difference between them, and dice rolling is anything but random (out of 100 games played, computer averaged 8 doubles per game, mostly near end when clearing the board, while user averaged 1.5)

***** [Feb 11, 2005] by Trevor using ipaq
I downloaded this a week ago and started playing. I thought myself the backgammon champ but the AI in this game proved me wrong. I have it set in Expert mode and am currently averaging only a 50% win. Being GNU software it already rates highly in my book. The only things I would complain about is that every time I start the program it displays the 'about' info which you have to ok to get to the game and the default graphics are a little poor. I checked the developers website yesterday and found three alternative board graphics that are much more pleasing to the eye. I would highly recommend this program. Support GNU!!

***** [Aug 2, 2004] by Maxie using HP iPAQ Pocket PC h1940
If you're looking for a challenge, this is definitely it. Three levels of play, and even Beginner can be tough. This is by far the best backgammon game I've found.