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Chuck Bower: 22/16, 21/9*, 8/2.
This roll has put Blue back into the race. Hitting on the 9-point putsBlue into the race lead. Covering the deucepoint trys to maintain that lead.This play seems too simple for a quiz problem. If this were some supercontest I'd be tempted to second-guess and choose another, more complicatedplay like 21/9*(2). The 9-point is a solid asset and the anchor can beremade with an ace. As it is, I'm going to go with the play I would makeover-the-table.

Steve Clark: 22/16, 21/9*, 8/2.
I want to escape and make points and hit something. 22-16, 21-9, 8-2seems to do it all. Is there any alternative that seems to come closeto accomplishing all this? I could escape three men with 21-15(3) butthe last play just leaves a very loose position with no racing lead.21-9(2) is closer. This builds important parts of a prime but otherwiseis also very loose. I will stick with what appealed to the eyeinitially. 22-16, 21-9, 8-2.

George Klitsas: 21/15(3), 8/2.
With this roll (6-6), Blue almost equalizes the race, so he has no reason at all to stay back, behind White's prime. This is a golden opportunity to move his three checkers from the 21 point [21/15(3)]. Blue's checker on the 22 point is not of much danger at the moment, so the fourth six should be played covering the two point and awaiting the unfolding of the game (15/9* is awful in my opinion). My full solution is 21/15(3) 8/2.

Rob Maier: 22/16, 21/9*, 8/2.
Hit, cover, get out, duplicate, and keep the anchor in case of accidents.

Snowie: 21/15(3), 8/2.
This roll just about catches me up in the race, so there is no need tostay back in White's board. I need as much outfield presence as I can get,since otherwise my plays will be awkward. Hitting the blot on my ninepoint really doesn't gain me all that much. After my play it will be up toWhite to get his checkers safe. The spare on the 15 point will allow meto handle awkward rolls, and making the two point prepares me for latercombat.

Bob Stringer: 21/15(3), 8/2.
I don't like leaving that checker on the 22 point, but after this roll the race is roughly even, and threecheckers on the 15 point give me a bit of an offenseand more flexibility than I have at present. Becauseof White's 4 point prime, I'm wary of plays that leaveblots lying around. 22/16 21/9* 8/2 isn't too bad, andI'd place it second, but even that makes me hold mybreath.

Casper Van Der Tak: 21/9(2)*.
Escape from behind the prime, builds a block, gains in the race, sends an opponents checker back. Second choice 22/16 21/9* 8/2, but hey, I like to actually have the 9 point.

Kit Woolsey: 22/16, 21/9*, 8/2.
My play springs two back checkers, hits a key blot, and covers the bloton the two point. None of the alternatives appear to accomplish as manygood things at once.

Chris Yep: 22/16, 21/9*, 8/2.
White's 20 point anchor leaves one thing clear: Blue can't expect to win a priming game. He'll need to win some kind of racing or holding game. With this in mind, making his inner board points in order isn't so important. Blue should just make the 2 point if he can do so conveniently. I believe Blue should play 22/16 21/9* 8/2. This move accomplishes just about everything that Blue could want. It hits, taking away half of White's roll, reducing White's outfield presence, and gaining 9 pips. It makes a new inner board point. Finally it fights for the outfield. No other move accomplishes all these things. Note that coming out to the 16 point is relatively safe since White's midpoint is stripped. Also the blot on the 9 point is relatively safe since White will have to break his anchor if he wishes to hit.

Summary: How bad can a play which does three good things be? That'sthe way the majority of the panel felt. Sure seems reasonable.