solc016m.htm | Gammonline - Backgammon Resources

Chuck Bower: 24/20, 7/4.
This looks like a classic early game decision: anchor orhomeside point? With White already owning a second homeboardpoint, Blue's blot on the 20-point is a bit vulnerable.Furthermore, White has several builders and definitely wantsto give up the 8-point. Not playing 24/20 will often leaveBlue regretting that decision later. Hey, Barclay Cookewasn't always wrong! Grab the golden point. After that,moving the vulnerable blot up (7/4) seems to give Blue morecounterplay if White happens to hit it.

Steve Clark: 24/21, 24/20.
When trying to decide whether to make an defensive play or an aggressiveplay, I try to look where the action is. In a tie I will go for theaggressive play. In this position the action seems to be on the opponent'sside of the board. Furthermore it is particularly important to make anadvanced anchor when the opponent has made the 2 point.
All this indicates that I should make the 20 point. If so, where do I playthe 3? Both 7-4 and 24-21 come to mind but neither seems attractive. Ifind these choices unconvincing. What about making the 4 point?Unfortunately this play leaves me rather defenseless.
A strange looking play which could be right is 11-7, 24-21. This increasesmy defense by making it hard for White to hit and cover both of my blotsadvanced in his inner board.
All of this leaves me uncertain as to what I should do. Oh, well, I willmake a blind stab at 24-20, 24-21. If you want more definitive guidance asto the best play, you better read one of the other answers.

George Klitsas: 24/20, 7/4.
Blue must definitely make his opponent's 5 point with the four (24/20). This will protect him for some time from a double by White. As for the three, I definitely like 7/4. Hitting two's are partially duplicated, considering rolls like 32 or 42 and, very important as well, White does not go far after hitting - 24/20 7/4 is the play.

Rob Maier: 7/3, 6/3.
A lesser point, but the spare on the eight point is important. Making an offensive point outweighs making the defensive advanced anchor.

Snowie: 24/20, 11/8.
Making the 20 point has to have the highest priority. I have three men back,and I need an advanced anchor. After that, it is cleanup time. In additionto blot minimization, White's fives are quite duplicated since he canhit on the ace point or play 13/8 comfortable with them. White doesn'thave any good twos, so I don't want to create one for him by movingto the four point.

Marty Storer: 24/20, 7/4.
Blue must make the 20 point; no forward point Blue can nowmake would compensate for being pointed on. The Golden Anchorhelps make White's 2 point look foolish. Then 7/4 looksa little better than 11/8; White's bar-point blot givesBlue the license to take a slight extra risk in returnfor slotting a more valuable point and keeping moreflexible.

Bob Stringer: 24/20, 7/4.
If I were going to play forward, I'd do it with 8/4, 7/4, making a thebest inner point available -- stripping the 8 point is worth it,versus making the 3 point. However, White has the better board and ifI don't cover his five point a bunch of his rolls (1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4,5-5, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 5-4, 6-3) play *really* well, and quite a fewothers still leave him with a more than satisfactory position (4-2,4-3, 5-1, 6-1, 6-5). 24/20 therefore is necessary. 24/21 is out, sinceI'm behind in the race and staying on the 24 makes life more awkwardfor White. Also, 24/21 puts 3 blots in jeopardy, for no particulargood reason. Therefore, after 24/20 I'll play one of the 2 advancedblots. 11/8 is ok, but too passive and inflexible. That leaves 7/4,which is half-way to making a good point if the checker isn't hit.

Casper van der Tak: 7/3, 6/3.
This is a play is strongest for building Blue's front position. I do not like plays involving 24/20, since these will leave to many shots up front. The real alternative is 8/4 7/4, but that leaves a worse distribution of builders than 7/3 6/3.

Kit Woolsey: 24/20, 7/4.
Making the advanced anchor must have priority over making an inner boardpoint. Blue has three back checkers, and if they get hemmed in Blue's gamewill collapse. After that, Blue might as well start the best inner boardpoint he can start.

Chris Yep: 24/20, 7/4.
Should Blue anchor? It's not clear, but I think he should since the 20 point blot is currently under the gun and Blue is out-boarded. Blue does not want to be forced into an ace point game. If Blue plays 24/20, he has three reasonable 3s. 24/21 gives White too many good numbers (2s, 3s, and 5s) next roll. 7/4 leaves an extra blot (compared to 11/8), but slots the 4 point which is probably more valuable to Blue than the bar point. Also 7/4 gives Blue more ways to cover next roll than if he had played 11/8. A final factor (a minor factor here) is that 7/4 is slightly better at duplicating White's good numbers (4-2 and 3-2 are duplicated) than 11/8 (only 5-1 is duplicated).

Summary: The panel firmly put defense ahead of offense in thisposition, emphasizing the natural followup of slotting the best innerboard point which could reasonably be slotted. This sure looks to me likethe natural thing to do.