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Jim Allen: 7/2*, 6/2.
On the plus side, this is the only play that makes an inner point. Italso hits and leaves the least return shots. Added to the above almost allrolls next turn after a non-hit by White play well. Final answer: 7/2*, 6/2.

Chuck Bower: 7/2*, 6/2.
Every play leaves at least 11 shots. Pointing on White's head leaves twelveshots but takes half of White's roll and leaves a distribution of spareswhich permit attacking and/or building to continue if White misses.

Steve Clark: 11/7, 6/1*.
All the plays here spray random blots around just waiting to be hit.Except, of course, the weenie play of 11-7,6-1. Actually this play hasalot of attractions. Of course I might be hit but my position will befairly well balanced regardless. All of the alternatives leave a looseposition where my position is likely to fall apart if I am hit and willbehard to put together if I am not.
I used to agree with Kent Goulding that you should sing the Oscar MeyerWiener Song when making a play like this. But lately I have come torealize that the truly proper wiener to accompany this move is one madewholly from chicken parts. My play is 11-7, 6-1.

Doug Doub: 11/7, 6/1*.
I think that giving up the bar point to make the 2pt would besurrendering too much. Minimizing shots, while giving ourselves areasonable chance of developing futher is important. 11-7 looks very clear.We could play 13-8, and leave the same ace shot (plus 44's), attempting tobring everyone home together. I prefer to attempt to knock White off of ourace point, and delay his building up his own board.

Hal Heinrich: 7/2*, 6/2.
Blue is ahead in the race, has the weaker home board, and has givenaway the cube. All these factors point to playing safely. 13/8 11/7 and 11/7 6/1* both leave eleven shots. Of these two, I prefer hitting on the ace point because it doesn't leave a blot exposed if missed, and it takes half a roll away from White. Making the deuce pointleaves thirteen shots and two blots. What are we getting for the extrarisk? Quite a bit actually -- a stronger home board and a flexibleposition if we're missed. White's board is not so strong that being hitis fatal. So making the two point is the way to go.

George Klitsas: 11/7, 6/1*.
I prefer 11/7 6/1* over 11/7 13/8 which leaves 12 shots (including 4-4) compared to 11 of the suggested play.

Laila Leonhardt: 13/8, 11/7.
Blue will have to leave a shot one way or the other. But given the strengthof White's home board and the fact that White owns the cube Blue will have tobe extra careful. Not only is it a question of being cubed out (having todrop White's recube) if hit and fail to get back in the game within a nextroll or two, but also if Blue leaves 2 blots exposed White might be playingon for a gammon.
Even though this play has less flexibility next roll than some of the moreaggressive moves it still gives Blue a chance to recover if hit.

Rob Maier: 11/7, 6/1*.
Least number of shots and blots, and very flexible.

Bob Stringer: 13/8, 11/7.
I have no feel for this position, so first I lookat some basic principles. Blue has a decent lead in the race. White has a much stronger board and is poised to make it even stronger. Therefore it's no time for Blue to be taking undue risks. Playing from the 14 point and 13/9 13/8 all leave too many shots. 7/2* 6/2 is an effort to throw White off balance and halfway catch up in board strength, but the 2 point doesn't work well with the 8 point and that play breaks up what small blockade Blue now has. This pares it down to 11/7 6/1* and 13/8 11/7. I don't like to play 6/1* unless I can really see something positive coming out of it, such as diverting the opponent from a direct threat. I'm not sure here, so I vote for 13/8 11/7 by default. It leaves only a direct shot, 5's and 6's for White's back men are blocked, and there are now more builders aimed at the inner board. The best Blue can do with this roll, I think.

Snowie: 11/7, 6/1*.
Only one blot, only 11 shot numbers, and a relatively smooth position forthe future. Anybody got any better ideas?

Kit Woolsey: 11/7, 6/1*.
Minimum blots, and a builder on the bar point to work with. None of thealternatives are very attractive. White's three-point board must beshown some respect.

Chris Yep: 11/7, 6/1*.
Blue has a substantial race lead (at least 24 pips after the roll). In addition, White only has a 3 point board, but is threatening to fill in his 5 point soon. Blue would rather play safely; however there is no safe move this turn. Every move leaves at least 11 shots (even 13/8 13/9, which doesn't leave any direct shots, leaves 15 indirect shots!). So no matter what Blue plays, he will face the equivalent of at least one direct shot. With this in mind, I believe that 11/7 6/1* stands out. Not only does it give White the least number of shots, but it also hits (delaying White from making his 5 point), leaves only one blot (all but 13/8 11/7 leave at least two blots), knocks White off of Blue's ace point, and repositions Blue's 11 point spare to a better location.

Summary: The panel recognized the importance of blot conservationin this delicate position. It is a good theme to remember -- protects youfrom disasters when things don't go well.