| 133 135 |                           | White money game Blue |
Problem #3 Play Votes Score24/20, 12/9 10 10012/8, 9/6 2 7012/9, 8/4 0 408/1* 0 40
Alan Alsop: 24/20, 12/9.
Blue has a lot of blots to clear up and is in danger of getting in a bit of a squeeze. What is the best use to be made of this move with the back men also looking to escape as well. Clearly White is looking fairly good on making a good home board if he rolls low. But he also has to extricate his back man. Blue does have a stronger home board. Perhaps utilising this, a hit is a possibility but with no immediate follow up Blue would be looking for White to flunk his next roll. I think the best situation is to force Whites hand with the above move. Blue needs to challenge White, by moving up a back man and with 12/9 this will also duplicates one's.
Chuck Bower: 12/8, 9/6.
Splitting is tempting, but not with other blots. Blue has the better board and outfield control. The pressure is on White to perform. That usually means "don't give opp opportunities." I'm making the quiet play and waiting to see what White counters with.
George Klitsas: 24/20, 12/9.
In this position that resulted, in all probability, after an all-out effort by Blue to close out White and then extract at his ease his back checkers or win with the cube - but White entered, Blue is caught with three blots strewn around and the problem of extracting his back checkers, intact. Should Blue continue his attack with the plan we just figured he was following a few moves ago (by playing 8/1*)? Maybe, if Blue had a direct cover. It's extremely difficult to evaluate positions of this kind and the position of the cube seems to favor this play, but I will say no and I will try to find the solution among the thematic 24/20 12/9 and the consolidating and more (seemingly, at least!) safe 12/8 9/6. I say thematic, because 24/20 12/9 is a play "under the gun", when White will make his five point whether Blue is there or not, if he rolls a suitable roll. This play is attractive, because White has the stronger board in case of hits or return hits from the bar. The consolidating move (12/8 9/6) avoidsthe immediate catastrophe and reckons on White's difficulty in clearing Blue's bar point. I know that on the table I would play 24/20 12/9 (that's my vote for the quiz, as well) but 12/8 9/6 is a move I would not object for in a chouette and could well be objectively better.
Laila Leonhardt: 24/20, 12/9.
Blue has to ensure his flexibility. It will not take much for him to end up in a very gammonish position if he gets stuck behind whites prime and have to break off his contact points in the mid board.
Duplicated 1's for hitting and challenging white to get into a hitting exchange is blues strength here. White will not be happy to risk getting on the bar.
Mary Lee Pinkney: 24/20, 12/9.
I think it is important to move 24/20, 12/9.
I�m worried about Blue�s two back men becoming trapped behind White�sgrowing prime if he doesn�t move forward now to either secure an anchoror to escape! Also, Blue has the stronger inner board so now is a goodtime to attempt moving in a forward direction.
12/9 tidies up the blots in the outer board and also duplicates 1�s forWhite (from the 7 point to hitting Blue on the 8 point, and from the 19point to hitting Blue on the 20 point.)
I briefly thought about hitting White�s blot on the 1 point but thennoticed how awkward and dangerous the next couple of rolls look forBlue! White could enter and hit one of Blue�s two outer board blotsand/or Blue could become trapped behind White�s growing prime.
Snowie: 24/20, 12/9.
I am running out of time. It is vital to split the back men before theyare trapped. I have the stronger inner board, so the danger of leavingblots and shots is minimized. Timing is my main concern here, andconnecting my back checkers with the rest of the position.
Marty Storer: 24/20, 12/9.
It's time to do something precipitous before Whiteimproves. 8/1* qualifies as precipitous, and so does24/20 12/9. But 8/1* leaves three blots with nodirect covers, so it's a little loose for my liking.Splitting to the 20 point threatens to anchor orescape, and the time is ripe to try that.
Bob Stringer: 24/20, 12/9.
Too many blots for 8/1* to be good. On the other hand, 12/8, 9/6and 12/9, 8/4 look too cautious. Something has to be done aboutthe checkers on the 24 point. I don't want them to be buriedthere, so I'll cross my fingers and step up to the 20 point. It'sdangerous, but better to do it now while I have the advantage of a4 point board to his 2 point board.
Casper van der Tak: 24/20, 12/9.
The routine play is 12/8 9/6, safe, putting a spare on the 6, and preparing for the attack. But that play does not address the main feature of the position: White is doing much better in the priming game; only one checker back and the bar anchor. Therefore, Blue should prevent white from steering towards a priming game. Another key feature is that Blue outboards White; therefore, Blue is likely to do well in tactical variations. Both features of the position call for a play that is tactically oriented.
8/1* is an option. The problem is that getting hit is costly, and that Blue has no covers in position, meaning that if White dances, White is very likely to get more shots at the blot on the ace. Also, 8/1 leaves Blue with a lot to do in short time - bring in builders for the ace, cover, move up with the back checkers.
24/20 12/9 uses Blue's board advantage to protect the back checkers, and increases board coverage. Unless White rolls a joker, the advantage will shift to Blue.
Kit Woolsey: 12/8, 9/6.
I believe it is necessary to button up for now and hope to fire someguns next turn. Splitting with 24/20, 12/9 is pretty rich, and theloose hit 8/1* leaves a ton of blots. My stronger inner board says tomake a bold play, but none of the bold plays work too well.
Chris Yep: 24/20, 12/9.
8/1* looks a bit too loose. Blue doesn't have any direct covers and with his extra blots he could soon find himself with 3 or more checkers behind White's growing prime. White has the better timing as a result of his advanced anchor. If Blue doesn't escape a back checker soon he could find himself having to break his midpoint soon. Thus, 24/20, preparing to either make an advanced anchor or to leap with one checker looks attractive. I believe Blue should play 24/20 12/9. This looks like an ideal time to step up, while Blue still enjoys a 4 to 2 board advantage. At the same time Blue cleans up 2 of his front blots while creating some structure up front.
Summary: The panel felt that the main priority was tosplit the back checkers, despite leaving a few shots. In retrospect, Ican be convinced that this is correct. Even though we have checkerson the midpoint to play with, those back men can get into trouble ifthey aren't split quickly.