What is JellyFish ?

JellyFish is a neural net based backgammon program that plays at a very high level. On the highest playing level it matches the best humans in the world, and on the very fast level 5 a top human will hardly win more than 55% of the time. Also, its use of the doubling cube is outstanding. JellyFish is able to play matches of any length, or 'money games' where each point is equally valuable.

JellyFish uses artificial neural networks, trained to play backgammon from self play. An artificial neural network is a model of how the human brain works on the level of individual brain cells. Fredrik Dahl developed the neural nets of JellyFish, and used the neural net compiler nn from Neureka ANS.

This program can be used for fun, for testing your game, for analyzing recorded matches, or most importantly: To improve your game.

JellyFish can give a running commentary on the moves and cube decisions you make. You may play against JellyFish, or use the "2 Players" mode to have JellyFish keep track of the score and comment on both opponents play. It's almost like having your own private professional to comment on your game.

Why did it call "JellyFish"?

The name JellyFish comes from the neural net that the program is build over. A neural net is a simulation of a biologic brain, and like a human, JellyFish has learned the strategy of backgammon by experience, by playing itself a very large number of games.

The human brain, however, contains more than 100.000.000.000 neurons, and this is not possible to include into a computer program. The size of JF´s programs "brain" is more the size of some of the lower organism - like a jellyfish.

But - our JellyFish is hopefully a better backgammon player than the jellyfish you find in the sea...

System requirements:

JellyFish requires a PC running Windows 95 / 98 / ME / NT / 2000 or XP
8 MB RAM
Pentium
2 MB Disk space