Pythagoras: Thank you for your reply. I'll keep in mind what you have said and see if Reinhard is up for another game with the SMIRF and me. Perhaps I'll check over my 30 odd games against the SMIRF and see what went right or wrong in them against it and see how it applies when comparing your anti-computer play. Perhaps I did some of that just using my usual plan of always trying to make the best move no matter what the goal is, long term or short term. Thinking horizon, eh? Yes, us humans can see the big picture and miss all the details. It's an idea. That SMIRF sure is strong in the tactical department. Alway leaving bait or blazin' in with something that looks bad and then you've lost the game.

What you say seems to hold for Backgammon, and that explains a big difference in the nature of the two types of games. Alas, I've stopped playing Backgammon until a couple of features are added, but I'll keep it in mind if and when the time comes. playBunny has lots of Backgammon ideas and knows some of these programs quite well. I think he argues with them too! :) Backgammon isn't as cut and dried as Chess is.