Play65 is continuing to improve its backgammon software for the benefit of the millions of dedicated players. Now, in addition to the new backgammon board and community features added about a month ago, there is a new "Automatic Moves" option, which, similar to the automatic Bear Off, moves the checkers automatically (whenever a move is obliged); plus the latest addition of the BGblitz has been updated, cleared off its bugs and adjusted to Play65 needs, i.e. to solve backgammon disputes.

The new Automatic Moves option actually replaces the former Bear Off option, but once you check the Automatic Moves box, the bearoff will be executed automatically along with every other forced move during the backgammon game.

It’s not an extraterrestrial being it’s an automatic move

BGblitz is the backgammon bot used by Play65 when a game ends prematurely leaving the identity of the winner is in dispute. Most recently, Play65 has updated BGblitz to its latest, bug-free version, and added some unique adjustments of its own, so the new BGblitz will serve as a better, more accurate arbiter in judging the estimated end of a game and splitting the prize between the two contestants in cases when, for example, one of the players disconnects from the server in the middle of the backgammon game.

The backgammon boards exhibition "Art of Reconciliation", sponsored by Play65, was opened last week in Israel, at the municipal art gallery in Givatayim in the presence of the participating artists, the mayor of Givatayim and other respectable guests.

Originally raised for Israel’s 60th anniversary, the backgammon boards that served as the platform for the art pieces mostly did not ignore the exhibition title, nor the symbols attributed to the game, especially here in the Middle East, where backgammon was first introduced to the world.

For many of the 60 artists who gave their personal interpretation to the backgammon board, it was the first opportunity to see the exhibition live, since for the last year and a half, the Art of Reconciliation was exhibited in Washington DC and other locations in the US.

Here are some pictures from the opening night:

KevinJessup of Australia won Play65 ProGammon tournament held last night, the opening event of this week’s Knockout Weekend (formerly Supernatural Weekend). By following Play65 on Twitter, you could have get updated in the whole procedure that preceded the moment of winning, from the players’ enrollment to the first five rounds, quarter finals, semis and the suspenseful final.

By doing so, you could have learned that KevinJessup was not the immediate favorite to win the toughest backgammon tournament on Play65 schedule. Among the 73 entrants, there were 3 players with over 2000 rating, but an 1800+ rated player nicknamed Friznir of Israel climbed his way to the top, but dropped in the semis after losing to golfto, who eventually lost to KevinJessup in the 7-point match. By the way, KevinJessup, despite his down under location, is not new to Play65, nor to Play65 winning, and last year we posted an interview with the Australian backgammon champ, who is also a collector rare backgammon boards.

Play65 Knockout Weekend continues today with a six hours marathon of backgammon tournaments with total prizes ranging from €2750 to €5750, but I will be busy washing my hair, who is willing to twit one (or all three) tournaments in real time?