FAQ

If your question isn't here, contact us via Developers (B2B) or Telegram on the homepage.

General questions

How much does it cost to play on Nardex?
Playing is free — both in the browser and in the Android app. No micro-transactions, no chips, no premium tiers. Paid products are B2B only (analytics API, engine licensing for embedded apps).
Is there a mobile app?
Yes, for Android — download the app here or via the download button under the lobby on the home page. iOS is in progress.
Are the dice fair?
Yes. Rolls are generated server-side using a cryptographically secure PRNG (system CSPRNG entropy), independent of whose turn it is. The AI gets dice the same way you do. The roll history is signed and immutable in the replay.
Which interface languages are supported?
Russian and English are fully translated. Most European and Turkic languages (German, Czech, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Nogai, etc.) have basic UI localisation, mostly for the lobby. The full list is in the language switcher in the footer.

Game rules

How does long narde differ from backgammon?
Long narde uses one starting head instead of four stacks, unidirectional movement, no hits and no bar, and mars/koks scoring instead of gammon/backgammon. See «Long narde vs short backgammon — 7 differences» and the pillars long narde rules and backgammon rules.
Is the doubling cube supported in long narde?
Yes, in matches of 3 games or more. In match-to-1 the cube is not used. Implementation follows the Russian Ministry of Sports order №347 of 30.04.2025 (Article 23): cube values 1→64, Crawford game, post-Crawford recubes, refusing the cube = losing at the current stake. Cube strategy is covered in the doubling cube article.
What are mars and koks?
Mars = 2 points: opponent has borne off zero checkers. Koks = 3 points: opponent has borne off zero AND has at least one checker still in your starting quarter (or on the head). When it's worth playing for the triple — in «Mars and koks: scoring deep dive».
What's the «no 6 in a row» rule?
You may not build a continuous block of 6 of your own points if the opponent has NO checkers ahead of that block. If even one of their checkers has already passed it, the sixth point is allowed. Full breakdown with diagrams — in the long narde pillar.

AI and analysis

How strong is the AI?
Confidently beats most amateur players and holds its own against strong club-level opponents. For long narde we use phase-segmented networks (blocking / race / X-escaped / O-escaped), which is more accurate than a single one-size-fits-all network. Difficulty levels let you pick a comfortable setting from training-mode to max. Move-selection fundamentals are covered in «Long narde strategy».
Is there match analysis?
Yes. Every finished game opens into a replay with a PR (performance rating) timeline, best-move arrows and per-move equity. Move labels (best / ok / doubtful / blunder) match the standard gnubg/XG conventions. How to read engine evaluation on tricky positions — in «How to analyze a long-narde game».
How does the engine work?
Rust + ONNX runtime + CUDA. Position → network outputs probability vectors (win, win_m, win_k for long narde; win + gammon/backgammon for short backgammon). Multi-phase networks for long narde. Full story in «Why We Built a New Backgammon Engine in 2026».
How do you compare to gnubg or XG?
gnubg is the open-source classic, XG is the closed-source desktop app with state-of-the-art match-equity tables. Our niche: HTTP API, native long narde support (neither gnubg nor XG models it), modern stack (Rust/ONNX/CUDA). For a developer-oriented comparison, see developers/comparison.

API and B2B

How do I get API access?
The API is currently in private beta. Request access via the form on the Developers page. After receiving a token, follow the 5-minute quickstart at developers/quickstart.
How is the API priced?
Tier pricing will be announced ahead of public release. Currently arranged individually through the lead form, depending on request volume and use-case (content product vs coaching platform vs research).
Can I self-host the engine?
Self-host is on the roadmap for customers with regulatory constraints (EU/Russia). Not generally available. If you need on-prem deployment, mention it in your access request on developers.
Is the source code open?
Server code and model weights are private. Some infrastructure (game-logic crate) may be open-sourced over time. Opening older-architecture network weights is being evaluated once v2 stabilises in production.

Technical questions

When is iOS coming?
In progress. We're not committing to dates — the priority is Android stabilisation and server infrastructure. Watch the home page for updates.
Can I play with friends?
Yes — through the real-time lobby or a private room code. Tournaments and Swiss/round-robin formats are on the roadmap.
Can I export my games?
From your account page — export to a PGN-like format adapted for narde. For bulk export, please contact us.