Rob Adams: 22/16, 6/4.
Hitting on the 5pt is usually good. I doubt it's best here, though. Blue is ahead in the race, so being hit from the bar is quite bad. And the midpoint could be important. White has 2 spares on their midpoint, so Blue won't want to lose the midpoint until they get all of their back checkers out. The other 3 choices all look reasonable to me. 22/16, 6/4 is my choice, although I may not have found it if it weren't listed here. The duplication of 4's is very meaningful. Also, this keeps the back 3 checkers "communicating". Blue may be able to make the 16pt next turn and bring their checkers around together. This way Blue can win even if White anchors on the 5pt.
As a side note, the main reason for my choosing not to hit on the 5pt is that Blue is ahead in the race. This is easy to see with the pip count on the side of the board. Without those numbers there, over the board, without the reasonable choices listed, it would have been much more difficult to find this move.

Nigel Alsop: 22/16, 6/4.
If the cube was in the middle I think I might play 13/5 and hope White would throw badly, then double, but its not. As Blue is ahead in the race I would move out with 22/16 giving me an extra man to play with if missed and duplicating four's hoping White doesn't make my 5pt,and moving 6/4 hoping for something better next throw.

John Bakovic: 22/16, 6/4.
Another passive aggressive decision. Ahead in the race with a better inner board, I just keep it simple and play 22/16, 6/4. Let him come after me. Hitting loose on the 5 and losing the 13 point to bold a play. Playing 21/13 exposes me to White attacking my 2 inner board blotters, just what he would like to do. Just running with 22/14 almost as good but doesn't duplicate 4's.

Chuck Bower: 22/14.
How badly does Blue want to keep White from anchoring on Blue's 5-point?If Blue hits loose, White return hits on the 5-point with 17 numbers and2-1 and 1-1 hit on the midpoint. Regardless, Blue has surrendered themidpoint and subsequent outfield control. After 22/14, Blue still hasa huge race lead, has his checkers comfortably guarding all fields, andat worst is in a mutual holding game with the race lead. Besides, Whiteisn't guaranteed to cover his 20-point, and failing to do so will giveBlue more shots at that point next turn. 13/5* is an all-or-nothingplay which isn't called for here, IMO.

Steve Clark: 22/16, 6/4.
The first question to ask is whether we will play 13-5. This is a very bigplay carrying lots of risk but with a big payoff when it works. I have anaversion to big plays when I am already a favorite in the position. Thebest alternative seems to be 22-16, 6-4. This play duplicates a importantnumber for White so I suppose it is better than 21-13 or 22-14, although theall look fairly close. I might be more tempted to go for the big play but Ido rather like the alternative. We seem to be well distributed and Whitemight well have the same poorish position next roll. I will play 22-16,6-4.

George Klitsas: 22/14.
I think that the bold 13/5* is too risky, especially because covering the blot from the eight point would break that point. In any case, Blue loses control of the outfield and a simple calculation shows that he is not even a favorite to make his five point. This play would be better if the eight point were not stripped, still I think I would reject it in favor of the natural 22/14 even then.

Rob Maier: 22/16, 6/4.
I'm not hitting here. I'm not breaking my anchor either. The four duplication looks nice enough to stay a little bit back with the runner.

Snowie: 22/16, 6/4.
Hitting loose is too big. While most players overrate duplication, in thisposition is is quite meaningful. White does want to make my five point,so by leaving him a four-shot I cut down on his good rolls.

Marty Storer: 22/14.
Ahead in the race, I wouldn't risk 13/5*, which doesn't blowWhite away even if he misses. Despite 4-duplication after 22/16 6/4, Idon't like making a dilly builder. 21/13 is OK, but I'd rather keep thevaluable anchor and leave a direct shot outside, so 22/14 it is.

Bob Stringer: 21/13.
21/13 looks counter-intuitive by giving up the anchor, but I do havethe stronger board, and putting a man on the midpoint compensates alittle for the loss of the anchor. In fact, short of being able topoint or hit on my 5 point (out of the question now, since breakingthe midpoint would divide the board in half), my strategy is to run,and breaking the anchor does that. It's uncomfortable giving White 2advanced men to attack, but he's got his own worries, and I'm hopingto run a second man on my next roll.

Casper van der Tak: 21/13.
Hasn't Robertie written "Use a little caution when leading in the race"? Yes, he did, in the solution of 128/501. 13/5*, fighting for the 5-point, would be a logical play with the better board and the many checkers back; but Blue leads considerably in the race, and the play leaves 2 blots and 20 return hits. It might be better for Blue to sit on his racing lead and escape a checker; three plays implement this plan: 21/13, 22/16 6/4, and 22/14.
21/13 breaks the anchor, but as a plus puts a spare on the midpoint, and leaves little opportunity fo White to gain in the race. 22/16 6/4 duplicates 4s, keeps the anchor, and keep the checkers connected; 22/14 escapes farthest, and leaves an extra spare on the 6 point. Of these three plays, 22/14 seems the weakest.
The choice between 21/13 and 22/16 6/4 is difficult. I like 21/13, since the value of the anchor is limited with the racing lead.
Now as the choice between 21/13 and 13/5*, I prefer 21/13, which leaves White with less possibilities to catch up in the race.

Kit Woolsey: 22/16, 6/4.
Hitting loose on the five point is great if it works, but if I am hit backmy position could fall apart because of lack of outfield control. Movingone of the back checkers out looks better. The duplication of foursfrom my play is quite real, since White does want to make my five point verymuch.

Chris Yep: 21/13.
With a racing lead of at least 36 pips, Blue needs to either (1) look for ways to disengage contact or (2) attack, then plan to make a run for it while White is either on the bar or Blue has the security of a 5-prime. The first three moves aim for plan 1 while 13/5* aims for plan 2. 13/5* certainly looks reasonable, especially since Blue has the stronger board and 13/5* fights for the most important point on Blue's side of the board. On the other hand, it has several drawbacks. First it breaks the midpoint at a time when Blue still has three back men. Second, White has a lot of return hits (20 hitting numbers, including 2 double-hitting numbers). Third, while Blue forms a strong 5-prime, it's only a broken 5-prime instead of a solid 5-prime. These factors are enough to sway me toward the running plays.
Of the three running plays I don't have a strong preference. In fact they're all likely to be close in equity. 22/16 6/4, for example, somewhat duplicates 4s, but Blue would rather have two builders on the 6 point (more ammo for the 5 point) than one builder each on the 4 and 6 points. 22/14 runs, but leaves White 2s and 9s to hit. 21/13 puts a nice spare on the midpoint, but breaks the anchor. Thus all three running plays appear to have roughly equal plusses and minuses. I have a slight preference for 21/13 since I believe that outfield control slightly outweighs the other factors in this position. Note also that White's 4s are duplicated (to hit on his 4 point and to make the 20 point), White only has 8 checkers in range, and White is outboarded; thus Blue is not likely to be attacked next turn.

Summary: Not of the panel was willing to hit loose. The vote wasdivided, but most felt that the duplication of fours was sufficientlyimportant to justify coming out to the 16 point.

Problem #6    Play             Votes   Score22/16, 6/4         7      10022/14              3       8021/13              3       80 13/5*              0       40