sol8034m.htm | Gammonline - Backgammon Resources

Chuck Bower: 13/7, 8/6.
There's too much happening on the homeside to jump off the anchor. 8/2* will be hard to clean up. 13/5 is worth consideration butI like putting the checkers where they belong with 13/7, 8/6. Both checkers are aiming at the low points while making a 5-prime becomes a possibility.

George Klitsas: 13/5.
I wouldn't move the back checker. The theater of the action is Blue's inner (and, at some extend, outer board). Actually, with the cube in the center, Blue should try to guarantee in the majority of cases, an efficient double with minimum risk. With this in mind, slotting the bar point (13/7 8/6) looks like overplaying the position [White has many shots from the bar], along with 8/6 8/2*, flexible but somewhat committal (I would probably go for the throat and make that move is I had already cubed). If I chose to hit the second blot (8/2*), I would probably play the quiet 13/11 as the second part of the move, keeping the 8 point and planning to make eventually my bar point, if everything else failed. But, under the circumstances (centered cube), I think that the even more quiet 13/5 is best of all and that is my choice.

Laila Leonhardt: 13/7, 8/6.
No cube turned and the aggressiveness and potential of this play will hold White's fingers of the cube while still on the bar.As it looks much like and all or nothing play, it does have additional rescue by Blue being able to hit back or cover the bar point.Blue must make the prime or close White out to win this game. He has much work to do getting the 2 back checkers around, and will only succeed in this if he gets White contained.

Mary Lee Pinkney: 13/5.
I would definitely move 13/5. This move places another builder to cover my blot on the ace point, secure another inner board point, or for an additional return shot if I happen to get hit next roll.

Snowie: 13/5.
White's board must be shown some respect. Any play which breaks theanchor is fraught with danger. My play leaves only one blot and bringsin an important builder. Since White's position is somewhat advancedwith the third checker on his three point, I'm not very concerned aboutthe danger of being stuck on his ace point. I just want to minimizepotential damage while giving myself ways to improve.

Marty Storer: 13/11, 8/2*.
Tough one. Since Blue probably has time to recover after being hit,and since the potential gains when White misses are very big, thedouble shot looks like an acceptable risk. Substantial but probablyacceptable! But I'm really torn between the loose hit and the simple13/5. I don't like breaking the 24 anchor yet; White has many shotsand leaving the 24 point activates White's dilly builder. I thinkBlue should try to take advantage of the momentary tactical edge.

Bob Stringer: 13/5.
I kept going back and forth on this. Running with 24/16 may beappropriate while White is on the bar, but if he hits my blot onthe ace point I could be in real trouble, what with no anchor anda blot under attack in the outfield. 13/5 strips the midpoint andleaves me with the problem of escaping two back checkers, but Ithink that the downside of 24/16 ultimately outweighs the upside.

Casper van der Tak: 13/5.
A builder for the ace, and an additional attacker. I am not sure about the alternatives; hitting on the 2 leaves 2 blots with little opportunities to cover, and seems to overplay the position, while giving up the ace anchor seems too dangerous.

Kit Woolsey: 13/11, 8/2*.
13/5 seems too passive and anything I do is going to leave someshots, so why not put a second checker on the bar? There is potentialfor big gain if White flunks, and if White hits at least he may stillhave a checker on the bar so I will have stalled him for a roll.Running to White's outer board just looks too risky right now.

Chris Yep: 13/11, 8/2*.
Blue's back men are not in too much danger of being trapped at the moment; White has lost has outfield structure, has an open 4 point, and has a dilly builder on his 3 point. I believe Blue should concentrate on a possible blitz. 13/11 8/2* puts a second checker in the air (also 13/11 is productive) at the cost of 9 extra shots from the bar (20 shots instead of 11). It looks like a worthwhile trade to me.

Summary: The panel firmly agreed that it was not right to touch the back checkersdue to the blot on the ace point and White's advanced position. That muchseems clear to me. The majority chose the quiet approach. I'm not at allsure which approach is best.