This well-presented version of the popular board game follows standard rules and offers fifteen levels of play.

The game takes place on a pleasing combination of black and white points against a magenta background. Counters are red and green.

The computer's response is fast, and the program shows a reasonable degree of tactical sense. Over a series of ten games it beat me sufficiently often for me to suspect it of cheating.

Hardened 'gammon addicts will find the roll of the dice a little too leisurely in the final stages of the game, Another annoyance is that the input routines do not include a delete facility. If you've typed in a move and decided before entering it that you would rather do something else, tough luck - you can't change it!

If you have a man on the bar waiting for a chance to re-enter the game, but all points on the inner table are blocked, the computer will rub salt into the wound by throwing the dice as usual and asking you to move. You then have to waste time and patience telling it that you can't!

There is a double stake facility, and the usual rules for doubles and bearing off apply.

I like my backgammon to be fast and furious and this version was slightly too subdued for me, but it plays a good game and I can see myself returning to the board on long winter evenings when speed is not so important.