sol8032m.htm | Gammonline - Backgammon Resources

Chuck Bower: 13/9, 6/2*.
Normally a very good roll, but not here due to Blue's awkwardspare placement. I don't like giving White an easy escape bygiving up the 8-point. Waiting patiently with 13/7, 11/9 couldbe right, but with White 2-to-1 to add a fifth point tohis prime, I'll go with the tempo hitting play. I still havemy broken prime if this ploy doesn't work, and with luck Imay even score a G.

George Klitsas: 13/11, 8/4, 6/4.
Hitting on the 2 point is out of the question. 13/7 11/9 looks slightly better than 13/5. Comparing the two plays, after 13/5, seemingly there is a builder added on the 5 point, but this is done at the cost of an active builder on the bar (7) point, say the two plays are about even on this aspect. 13/5, compared to 13/7 11/9 is actually weaker, mainly because it leaves an indirect shot and fails to make a five point prime as 13/7 11/9 does. 13/11 8/4 6/4 is better than 8/4(2), leaving less good numbers for White and an easy encore for Blue, if White fails to roll a 6. The real choice, therefore, is between 13/7 11/9 and 13/11 8/4 6/4. I am not at all sure, but it seems to me that the position of the cube favors the bold play (13/11 8/4 6/4). If White does not roll that 6, Blue is in the driver's seat (distracting hits on the guff with 5's, work both ways). If White rolls the 6, in most cases he will lose his market by far, but not so much that he will play on for the gammon. A few sequences in which hewill be right to play on for the gammon, will be balanced by the few cases, where Blue finds a lucky return hit from the bar.

Laila Leonhardt: 13/7, 11/9.
Nice and snuck and in waiting position for if White will succeed making the bar point or not.The back checkers of the prime works as timing as well as builders for the 6 point primewhile Blue will try to escape from White's homeboard. Hitting doesn't seem to be accomplishing anything,There are no good duplications, then cube is already on White's side and being hit would be divesting for Blue given White's timing.

Mary Lee Pinkney: 13/7, 11/9.
I prefer 13/7, 11/9 over 13/5 because it's time to pick up my blots and counter prime.

Snowie: 13/7, 11/9.
No need to panic. White can't make both his bar point and his five pointat the same time, so I am guaranteed to have at least one escape valvewhich is all I need. I have a solid five-prime and builders in goodposition to either make my four point or attack White's blot. The timingfor a priming battle may be slightly against me, but as long as White hashole in his prime the timing won't matter.

Marty Storer: 13/7, 11/9.
Safe and promising. There's no need to play precipitously by makingor slotting the 4 point. Blue has the blocking advantage and the safeplay, making the 9 point, adds to it. 13/5 is better for attacking,but I think it's slightly too big. Blue's back checker isn't in muchdanger yet. However, attacking chances are helpful, so I won't be verysurprised if 13/5 turns out best.

Bob Stringer: 13/7, 11/9.
I don't see any point in vacating the 8 point, which preventsWhite's escaping with a 6. My choice is between 13/5 and 13/7,11/9. I prefer the solid 5 point prime, hoping to roll a 4 andsomething (or a 6 and something if White fails to make his barpoint) to run the last back checker. If White makes his bar pointmost of my 6's will play poorly, but that's true regardless of howI play the current roll.

Casper van der Tak: 13/7, 11/9.
Safe and sound - a strong block with some opportunities to make the 4-point, while White is well hemmed in. Other plays leave White with shots or opportunities for direct escape.

Kit Woolsey: 13/9, 6/2*.
White is threatening to make a big improvement by either making hisbar point or his five point. I don't think I can afford to give himhis full roll to improve. The loose hit will be great if Whiteflunks or rolls badly from the bar, and even if White hits back I willstill be in decent shape with my solid five-prime and White notat the edge.

Chris Yep: 13/7, 11/9.
I don't like breaking the 8 pt. since it gives White very strong 6s (hitting is much better than covering the bar point for White). Hitting loose is plausible, but it strips the 6 point and forces Blue to break-up his pretty prime (the strength of his position) in the follow-up. 13/7 11/9 looks like the natural move. It cleans up his position, establishes a 5-prime in front of the open 4 pt., and gives him good 2s, 3s, and 5s to make the 4 pt. next turn (these numbers are blocked on the other side of the board). Blue has the advantage in a prime vs. prime game (due to having the better prime) and this move plays to that strength.

Summary: The panel went for the pure play, hoping to win thepriming battle. I guess Blue's structure may be good enough thathe can afford to give White a free roll.