| 149 138 |                         | White money game Blue |
Problem #6 Play Votes Score24/22, 10/6 7 10024/18 2 7016/10 1 6010/8, 10/6 0 4010/4 0 40
George Klitsas: 24/18.
I have a strong feeling for 24/18. Blue needs all of his outfield points for the moment, in order to bring his position home. Breaking the 16 point would be my second choice.
Laila Leonhardt: 16/10.
Looking a little ahead, this position is likely to turn into a holding game where white will get his back checker out on the bar point and making a stronger board lingering to get the shot. Blue will however run out of timing pretty quick, and left with leaving shots where white's board is stronger. By clearing the 16th point now, he gains flexibility and timing at a point where getting hit, wont damage blue's position.
Mary Lee Pinkney: 24/22, 10/6.
I chose 24/22, 10/6 because I have a stronger inner board compared to White, and White has a weak position on his side of the board.
All of my men are connected, and a blot-hitting contest would be to my advantage.
Snowie: 24/22, 10/6.
I have the big board, and I want to put as much pressure on White aspossible. Let him hit me if he dares. Other approaches simplyaren't as effective for carrying out my goal.
Marty Storer: 24/22, 10/6.
Should Blue keep all of his too many points and try to sneak home,24/18, perhaps whipping up some pressure on White's back checkeralong the way? I think Blue can afford to keep more contact.Immediately pressuring White's back man is a good idea becauseBlue's board is so much better. The risk of being hit on the 10point is very small, with 33 being the only nasty consequenceof 10/6.
Bob Stringer: 24/18.
I don't know that I want to give up any of my current points. I'mnot happy about giving White a double shot, but I'm willing totake the risk since my board is a lot stronger than his.
Casper van der Tak: 24/22, 10/6.
Tough problem. Blue has a nice looking position, but how to build on the advantage? One approach is to bring in builders to attack White's lone back checker. The problem with that approach is that attackers are far away. Another approach is to try to escape the back checker and race home, after all, Blue is ahead in the race.
24/18 best implements the pure racing approach. The problem with the approach is that even if Blue succeeds in escaping without being hit, White remains with a strong holding position. Blue's collection of scattered points will be difficult to clear.
My choice, 24/22 10/6 does a bit of both. It starts moving the back checker, but also brings in an attacker and clears a point that may be difficult to clear later. Duplicates 3s in the process.
Kit Woolsey: 24/22, 10/6.
I would like to attack White's back checker before it gets away, and thisis the way to do it. I'm not too worried about leaving the blot on theten point, since White would be hitting at his own risk. Other choicesallow White to hit with checkers he wants to hit with.
Chris Yep: 24/22, 10/6.
Blue has a much better board than White and has solid coverage of the outfield with all outfield points connected. At the same time Blue has a stripped position so needs to get his back man moving. Blue can play 24/18, but if White hits, Blue could roll awkwardly from the bar and be forced to break an outfield point at an awkward time when White's front position is stronger. On the other hand, if Blue plays 24/22 10/6; he creates a valuable spare on the 6 point. It leaves two blots, but White will not be eager to hit since he will often have to give Blue dangerous return shots from the bar (in addition if he hits in the outfield he'll usually have to give up his advanced anchor). Finally 24/22 10/6 connects the back man to the rest of the army (as opposed to 16/10, 10/8 10/6, and 10/4). Based on all these positives, I like 24/22 10/6.
Summary: The panel liked the idea of bringing in the attacker and forcing Whiteto break his anchor in order to hit. I think this is the right thematicapproach, but it is a tricky little position.