| 147 154 |                          | White money game Blue |
Problem #8 Play Votes Score13/7* 11 10024/20, 6/4 1 6024/20, 13/11 0 5024/20, 8/6 0 50 8/4, 6/4 0 50
Steve Clark: 13/7*.
24/20 looks obvious, unfortunately the 2 that goes with it is not.Furthermore if our opponent makes my bar point in return, he will havethe advantage with his lead in the race. It can't be right to leave agratuitous blot as well. This gives him far too many ways to getahead. Since 8/6 with the 2 stacks up my checkers rather badly, we willhave to look beyond the obvious start.
8/4, 6/4 has the clear advantage of making a third inner point. It hasa second benefit which is quite important but not so obvious, and thatis that most of his 5's play rather badly. He certainly would play 23/18but would not be too happy with most rolls of his other die. Of coursehe might make the 5 point on our head, but I make us a favorite afterthis play and it might be best.
Another good play is 13/7*. In general we should hit when we have thestronger board and are behind in the race. This is an attractive playand also might be correct.
When faced with the choice between a rather strange play (making the 4point) and a play with which I am familiar I tend to make the familiarone. If I have misjudged the benefits of the unusual play, I am morelikely to regret it. I could be wrong by a fair amount here but I willgo with the play we all know and love. When in doubt, hit him.
Malcolm Davis: 13/7*.
You've got to be kidding! It may be wrong, but if I don't make this play, I've got to give up backgammon.
Ray Fogerlund: 13/7*.
Just hit, and challenge White to hit back. Should Whitefail to hit me off of the bar I will tend to make a nice prime. In fact, toavoid that she will probably go ahead and hit me loose off of the 5 pointwhich will give me numerous shots to hit, or cover, or both! Don't settlefor holding games when you have a more forcing alternative. If you forceyour opponent to roll well to survive, they often fail to survive! Also, itis very important for them to feel pressured when they are playing againstyou. The added stress takes away from their normal deportment and orjudgment at the table and can yield dividends.
Hal Heinrich: 13/7*.
It sure is tempting to make the twenty point and then look around for atwo. The problem is that none of these deuces are very good -- I'd saythat 8/6 gets my vote. Hitting sends White back, starts an important point and uses Blue's advantage in inner board points. Why defend whenyou've got a good opportunity to attack?Ron Karr: 13/7*.
Better board, behind in the race, opponent has two blots: seems like the time to hit. I don't see any point in anchoring, particularly since there are nogood 2s. Making the 4 point is worth considering, but I think it givesWhite too much freedom.
Laila Leonhardt: 13/7*.
Blue does not want to allow White a chance to create the important advanced anchor on his bar point. White still has no board and with a checker on the bar is not likely to point on Blue on the 20 point. Blue wants to be the attacker with a stronger board and an initial cube.
Rob Maier: 13/7*.
Making the bar point here is huge. We have the better board. We don'twant to give White his whole roll. Is there really anything to thinkabout here?
Snowie: 13/7*.
White's blot goes right back where it belongs. I want that bar point. Makingthe defensive anchor isn't very important since White has no board.
Kit Woolsey: 24/20, 6/4.
The security blanket of the defensive five point is very nice. White's positionis disjointed, and if he doesn't roll a five to anchor I can attack next roll.If he hits the blot my position is still very sound, and if he makes theanchor it is a very even mutual holding game. 13/7* leaves White a lot ofreturn shots on both sides of the board, and making the four point leavesWhite too many good numbers.
Chris Yep: 13/7*.
In the early stages, offense usually comes before defense. Here I especially believe that Blue should concentrate on his offense rather than make the defensive 20-anchor. Blue already has the stronger board. Both 13/7* and 8/4 6/4 strengthen his offense considerably. If Blue instead makes the anchor, he has an awkward 2 -- he will be forced to either leave a direct shot or strip the 8 point and pile a 5th checker on the 6 point.
Between 13/7* and 8/4 6/4, I prefer 13/7*. If this were Blue's first move in response to White's opening 6-2, 6-3, or 6-4 (played 24/18 13/x), 13/7* and 8/4 6/4 would be about equal. With that as a reference position, we can see that Blue has more incentive to play 13/7* here -- by playing 13/7* he protects his blot on the 20 point and increases the chance that he will make this anchor next turn. In addition, if White stays on the bar, Blue will have a very efficient double next turn.
Summary:The panel overwhelmingly says that offense comes before defense. We don'tneed the anchor. Ok, I'm convinced.