sol4024m.htm | Gammonline - Backgammon Resources

Allen Adams: 20/9.
Lots of choices to consider. Blue is going to be behind in the race following the move. Most of the move leaves varied amounts of risk. 13/2* seems to be taking more of a bite than is worth it. 24/13 is probably the safest play and helps with outfield control. I'm feeling daring, so I'll select 20/9, although I'm asking for trouble if I'm hit back and flunk on the next exchange.

Alan Alsop: 14/8, 13/8.
There are too many of Blues men in Whites home board for a successful blitz on Whites lonely blot. So this is not an option especially as Blue is behind in the race and lacking in support men. Having Whites 5 pt will influence what's the best game plan. Running from the back will release an additional builder but nothing else. Moving one man from the 5 pt to the 9 pt creates a useful builder ready for the next roll. Indeed alternative moves on this theme will prove a great benefit to Blue. But the stronger move is locking White in by making the 8 pt. Loosing the midpt is not imperative at the moment with the 5 pt still active.

Chuck Bower: 13/2*.
This looks like another "safe vs. bold" type of position. White is on the rail with no anchor. Blue trails in the race, owns an equal board, and holds the best possible anchor. 20/9 is moderately bold. 13/2* is maximally bold. I think the choice is between these two. Blue can smell blood here. I think putting a second checker up is worth the minor risk. If that fails, other gameplans will still be viable.

George Klitsas: 14/8, 13/8.
An instructive problem, for it teaches us to deviate from just following principles, when the ingredients of the position dictate otherwise. One of the principles we usually follow without much thought and lead us to reject a move is "keep the mid". But, does really Blue want to retain the mid in this position by all means? The answer is definitely no. Other points have more impact on the position as a whole and, in any case, Blue seems to have enough control of the outfield (the main argument in favor of keeping the mid) with his twenty point, even with his back checker and the lone checker on the mid, resulting after the best move 14/8 13/8. It's the restoration of the eight point that's more important than anything else in this position.

Laila Leonhardt: 14/8, 13/8.
White is in lots of trouble and it doesn't take that much for Blue to secure the position enough to turn the cube and most likely even get passed.
Building a prime is the long term view, if white fails to make 4 point or hit back, blues potential is so strong holding the 8 point and builders for more priming points that in spite of having 4 checkers back and no midpoint white is often going to drop next turn

Mary Lee Pinkney: 14/8, 13/8.
I like making a fourth prime point by moving 14/8, 13/8.
This move also immediately blocks White�s man on the 2 point for sixes.Blue should be able to remake his midpoint or another outer board pointwithin the next roll or two. This move also leaves a flexible positionfor Blue to play his next couple of rolls.
I noticed the move of 20/14, 10/5 but it definitely looks less flexiblefor Blue to play upcoming rolls.
I like the prime and flexibility that the move of 14/8, 13/8 gives Blue.

Snowie: 24/13.
I don't have the ammunition to carry out an attack, so I must playpositionally. The one thing I can be sure of is that my back checkerdoesn't belong where it is now -- it belongs out in the outfield.I have rolled the number to get it there, and that must be the play.

Marty Storer: 24/13.
Making the 8 point is attractive, but I don't thinkit's threatening enough to justify giving up themidpoint. Either 24/13 or 20/14 10/5 controls a lotof territory, maintaining pressure against White'sback checkers. I think 24/13 is worth the risk of7 hitting numbers; it avoids the frontloading effectof 10/5, and avoids making a second outfield pointthat might be difficult to hold. If it works, Blue'sstraggler is out, and all his checkers are cooperatingvery well. This problem is somewhat similar toProblem3 from the December 2001 quiz, maybe taken from thesame game.

Bob Stringer: 14/8, 10/5.
This game has a ways to go, so the last thing I'm going to do isbreak the midpoint, although 14/8, 13/8, forming a nice brokenprime and blocking the 2 point *is* tempting. One thing thatstruck me right away was that White could be facing a reallyawkward roll here - *if* he enters. With that in mind, I likefirming up the position and setting myself up better to pounce onWhite's back men. 20/14 does the former, 10/5 the latter.

Casper van der Tak: 14/8, 13/8.
This is a useful blocking point whatever happens next, and prepares to continue the attack should White dance. 13/2* overplays the position, putting too much emphasis on the blitz with too many checkers back and too little firepower in place. On the other hand, a play like 24/13 does too little on the offensive side. Making the 8 looks to me like the most balanced play.

Kit Woolsey: 24/13.
The natural play. This consolidates my position and next turn I will beprepared to flood my outer board with builders. Getting that back checkerinto play will make my game flow a lot more smoothly since I won't haveto be worrying about the checker later. Other approaches leave myposition too disjointed.

Chris Yep: 24/13.
The 24-point checker isn't guarding much right now since White has a safe way to play 4s, 5s, and 6s. With a limited number of checkers up front, I believe Blue does better playing positionally. Thus, I don't like attacking now with 13/2*. The game currently hinges on the outfield, so Blue should strive for a strong outfield presence. 24/13 looks best. Since the 24-point checker has only limited value on the 24 point, moving it to the 13 point is a big improvement. 24/13 gives Blue solid outfield coverage as well as keeping spares on important points (the 20 and 13 points). 24/13 leaves more blots than some of the safer plays (e.g. 20/14 10/5 and 14/8 10/5), but the extra outfield coverage is worth it in my opinion. Blue won't like it if White hits from the bar, but he doesn't lose too much since he already has several checkers back. On the other hand, if White misses, Blue will be in a position to improve his outfield coverage or to make an important blocking point. Note that Blue can make a good blocking point right away, the 8 point (14/8 13/8), but it comes at the cost of breaking the midpoint. This is too much of a concession in my opinion since it breaks the link between Blue's 4 back men and the rest of the army.

Summary: A close vote between working on the offense and unitingall the checkers. My experience has been that most players tend tooverdo an attack, and they get into trouble when things go badly. Thisis a good example. I am very comfortable with 24/13.