sol4038m.htm | Gammonline - Backgammon Resources

Alan Alsop: 24/21, 13/10(3).
It is not clear which is the best move to make. It is not a smooth double to play, however. I am not to happy pushing forward my prime up on White, exposing the back. I would prefer to try and extend the prime if possible. Running from the back is not achieving a great deal. Moving down from the midpt early on has drawbacks but I think it will have to be in the circumstances. White has little threat at present so I will prepare my escape now by bringing up a man now.

Chuck Bower: 24/21, 8/5(3).
This problem leaves me the most uncomfortable. 3-3 isusually a great roll but here Blue can make no new points -- the best he can do is trade. I don't like the runningplay, which gives White easy targets with minimal threatof retaliation. The main choice is between trading the13-point for the 10-point or the 8-point for the 5-point.(Making both the 4- and 5-points looks way too front-loaded.)The 8-point does a better job of blocking White's anchorthan the 5-point, but the 5-point is better if White getssent to the bar. The plan after 13/10(2) is to buildthe 5- and 4-points with the checkers on the 6-point,plus spares on the 7-, 8-, and/or 10-points. The 10-pointis an OK blocking point right now but it can be tradedup later if the opportunity presents itself. I think thefinal two 3's are 13/10 and 24/21. I don't expect givingup the midpointto be a popular choice, but I have a reputation to uphold.

Doug Doub: 24/21, 13/10(3).
It is no bargain to give up the midpoint, butshifting from the 8pt to the 5pt looks too awkward to me. The 8pt is notnearly as good as the 5pt, but it is still a valuable point. If we make the5pt, then we would have four spares on our 6pt and 5pt who would have veryfew decent places to go. I would rather hope to make the 5pt (or 4pt) usingone of those men on the 6pt.
After moving down from the midpoint, 24-21, aiming to make an anchor orescape is a greater improvement than 10-7.

Oystein Johansen: 24/21, 8/5(3).
I find this problem really hard. I think the best move contends either8/5(3) or 13/10(3) and 24/21 for the last 3. I guess I rather prefer 8/5(3) 24/21, since it keeps the midpoint, and I don't have that much use for the 10-point.

Neil Kazaross: 24/21, 8/5(3).
I regect any play giving up the midpoint here as it seems too soon.24/15, 13/10 looks like it leaves too many shots. So do we play 8/5(3) or make two points in our board ? If we make two points in our board we leave an unbalanced position with a big stack on the 6 that has no good place to go. I might try it at GG, but not here. 8/5(3) seems better and after that 24/21 is my 3, noting that we are 20 pips ahead and want to leave White's board or make an advanced anchor somewhere for a few turns.

George Klitsas: 24/21, 8/5(3).
A tough choice. Almost any alternative has merit. I am reluctant to break the midpoint and I think that making the 5 point in a position like that, can't be bad. With this in mind, I will slightly prefer 24/21 8/5(3) over 13/10 8/5(3).

Laila Leonhardt: 24/15, 13/10.
A point is a point is a point, but the 5-point is The Golden point! And Blue will have to make at some point :-)Blue should aim for a holding game, each party with their advanced anchor looking for the little edge to run for it, hit a fly shot or roll the lucky and finalizing big set of doubles

Achim Mueller: 24/21, 8/5(3).
Oh,oh ... did I say the last one was the most difficult? Live would beeasier, if doubles were not allowed in backgammon ;-). On the one hand Ilike 24/21, 13/10(3). On the other hand making the 5-point can't be thatbad: 8/5(2). And now? 24/21 is the same, a bit dangerous, but not thatmuch. The checker is still 7 pips away from Whites builder on the11-point. And the remaining 3? I don't see anything but saving the lastchecker on the 8-point.

Snowie: 24/21, 8/5(3).
There is almost sure to be plenty of contact before this game is over, andI want my five point when that contact occurs. I can't find any otherplay which is attractive anyway, so I improve my inner board and wait.

Marty Storer: 24/21, 13/10(3)
Clearing the midpoint is the most racing-oriented idea. Blue isahead in the race, so either 13/10(3) 24/21 or 13/10(2) 13/7 isconsistent with a running plan. After 13/10(3), Blue may aswell race to the max rather than add a builder for blocking.So 24/21, though exposing a checker on a point White wants,seems like the best final 3. At least it's consistent.

Bob Stringer: 24/21, 8/5(3).
I'm torn between this play and 8/5(2), 7/4(2). I'll keep the 7point for a better blockade.

Kit Woolsey: 24/21, 8/5(3).
A surprisingly awkward roll. The eight piont is a nice blocking point,but the five point is the five point. Since nothing else appears to beparticularly constructive, I prefer to switch to the strongest innerboard point in the hope that this point will come in handy for futureblot-hitting.

Chris Yep: 24/21, 8/5(3).
Blue's front position has gotten a little ahead of itself. While he would like to use his 6-point spares to build points in front of White's anchor, this will be a difficult task due to White having grabbed the 22-point anchor. Realistically, some of the spares will have to be used to make point behind White's anchor. I believe Blue should play 24/21 8/5(3). 24/21 guards the outfield and prepares to either make an advanced anchor or run with one back man on future turns. While 8/5(3) does break the 8 pt. it keeps the midpoint and makes the 5 pt. Blue definitely needs the 5 pt. in order to bring the position home safely; it may not be easy to make the 5 pt. later if Blue doesn't make it now. In addition, immediately making the 5 pt. protects Blue from White's attacks.

Summary: It looks like the five point is the five point, saysthe panel. This makes sense. With nothing else particularly attractive,how bad can making the five point be?