| 137 130 |                            | White money game Blue |
Problem #8 Play Votes Score23/22, 8/6 6 1008/7, 6/5*, 5/4*, 4/3 2 7023/22, 6/5*, 5/4*, 4/3 1 6023/22(2), 6/5(2)* 0 4023/22, 6/5(2)*, 3/2 0 40 6/5(2)*, 5/4(2)* 0 40
Doug Doub: 23/22, 6/5*, 5/4*, 4/3.
I could play the simple and sound 23-22(2),8-6, but I feel a bit more adventuresome. Putting two men on the bar isalmost always worth considering. We have just as many inner points asour opponent, and hitting adds value to our 1pt and 2pt. The journeythat our back men have to make would be much more safe if we canneutralize White by putting him on the bar. After making the 3pt, it istempting to create another builder with 8-7. However, it would only add4-1 and 5-1 as covering numbers (we could make the 5pt with 31). White's blockade deserves some respect. Getting to the edge of it isvery important should we roll 65, 55, 54 or 53 next turn. Thenon-covering aces would not be useless, since we could either hit on our5pt or make the 22pt. Of course, that would happen only if we aremissed. Note that White does have 9 numbers that would fan, and another12 numbers that would enter only one man without hitting. We aresupposed to make our points in order, aren't we?
Ray Fogerlund: 23/22(2), 8/6.
Let sleeping dogs lie. It is a wild fantasy towin this game with double hitting, blot increasing plays. 11 is a nice shake to give us a reasonable chance if we wait until a reasonable time to go for the win. Now is NOT that time.
Hal Heinrich: 23/22(2), 8/6.
Blue needs to use this roll to tidy up the position.There's no advantage to attacking White here -- Blue'sposition is too ragged, and White's is too strong. Bluehas a very strong quiet play available -- and should useit.
George Klitsas: 23/22(2), 8/6.
If White elects to attack, the move is for sure 8/7 6/5* 5/4* 4/3, diversifying his builders. If instead, he elects to solidify his position, the move is 23/22(2) 8/6. I have no idea which is better here - one could make even a big mistake either way. If one thinks , though, that the two moves are about equal in game-winning chances, then the position of the cube comes into consideration, which is in favor of the safe play. From a four-point holding game and being slightly ahead in the race, Blue will have lots of opportunities to use the cube in the future. On the other hand, if he plays 8/7 6/5* 5/4* 4/3 and is hit back with a six (now or later) the most he will usually hope for, is to save the gammon. Given that, I vote for 23/22(2) 8/6.
Rob Maier: 23/22(2), 8/6.
The patient play, 23/22(2), 8/6, gives White a chance to clean things up. It is safe, and maintains the racing lead, hopefully we can make use of it. Waiting may also let us attack in a less loose matter, with a better anchor as backup. Attacking plays just seem a little loose, and moving up the anchor is hard to pass up.
Snowie: 23/22(2), 8/6.
No reason to panic here with some silly slashing play. Moving the backcheckers up and bringing the builder to the six point is fine. Whitehasn't escaped yet, and I may be able to attack next turn. In themeantime I can play a quiet holding game, with a slight racing lead.
Kit Woolsey: 8/7, 6/5*, 5/4*, 4/3*.
Admittedly this is a weird looking play. However I have already made twodeep points, which argues for a blitzing approach. My play gives memaximum diversification to cover the blot on the six point or go afterthe five and four points depending on what happens. If my blitz works, myback men should have time to escape later. Other approaches seem toopassive.
Chris Yep: 23/22(2), 8/6.
This has to be the most interesting problem of the quiz. Blue can either play positionally or tactically (or a combination of both), resulting in radically different games. I definitely don't like 23/22 6/5(2)* 3/2, which kills a checker while only moving one man up to the 22 point and only hitting one checker. Of the remaining five moves, I like 23/22(2) 8/6, which moves to the edge of White's prime and preserves Blue's racing lead, while retaining some attacking chances next turn. Of the hitting moves, I believe the best is 23/22 6/5*/4*/3 which hits two checkers and moves a checker up to the 22 point. On the other hand it leaves an inner board blot. On balance, it does three positive things and one negative thing, for a net of two positive things. Note that under this simplistic model, 23/22(2) 8/6 also does two positive things, so perhaps the moves are roughly comparable. For me, the deciding factor was that 23/22(2) 8/6 gives Blue better chances to make a 4 point board in the future.
Summary: The wild attacking plays drew some support, but the majorityof the panel chose to go quietly. The two approaches are very different, andthe is likely to be a big equity difference between them -- but which way?