sol1038m.htm | Gammonline - Backgammon Resources

Chuck Bower: 13/7, 6/1*.
To quote the wise old heartland philosopher Jake Jacobs: "Don't try and play catch up lest you wind up wearing the mustard." That rules out lovers' leap. "One back, attack!" once again seems to be the battle cry. Blue's strength is his better homeboard and White's weakness is the two blots. After 6/1*, the choice is between 24/18 -- going after a second checker or the opp's barpoint -- and 13/7 -- extra builder/bullet or chances to make the homeside barpoint. The latter leaves fewer returns (especially fewer double returns) and unstacks the midpoint. I think Blue should focus on theoffensive side here.

Neil Kazaross: 24/18, 13/8.
We have the stronger board and aren't ahead in the race and if werun, I don't think we put enough pressure on White. I prefer the "pretty" play of 24/18, 13/8 to get a spare on our 8 point.

George Klitsas: 24/13.
Compared to a very similar problem, a couple of months ago (I think the only difference is that White had one man on his ten point and one less on the mid), this position thematically tends to make me stick on running all the way with 24/13. Blue is better in the race by 4 pips compared to the older problem and White has a builder less, so distracting plays are less attractive here.

Laila Leonhardt: 24/13.
Leaping out evens out the game. There is no reason to jeopardizean additional checker at the point in the game.

Hannu Lyyjynen: 24/18, 13/8.
The tempo hit on my ace point risks getting two on the bar withsome White entries, which is not good. Hence I play the normal action split.

Snowie: 24/18, 13/8.
I have the stronger inner board, and White has only one checker back.Everything points to a bold play, so I must put my men where they belong24/18, 13/8 leaves me ideal distribution.

Marty Storer: 13/8, 13/7.
Many good choices; the only thing that stands out as wrong to meis 13/7 6/1*, which is too feeble a frontwards play. Playingdirectly against White's back man looks good given the largeamount of 6-duplication; there's also 51-duplication,42-duplication, and 33-duplication in favor of slotting the 7.24/18 13/8 is my second choice, 24/18 6/1* my third; I think24/13 is too passive. I wouldn't be too surprised if any ofmy top three choices came out on top. But 13/7 13/8 is themost straightforward way to build on the advantage in forwarddevelopment, so I like that play best.

Bob Stringer: 24/18, 13/8.
Most of the choices look reasonable, but I like putting a builderon the 8 point to improve my offense, while moving out to the barpoint to put the question to White on his side of the board. 24/13is too mechanical, or passive, or something or other. Could bebetter for all I know, but I prefer a position with contact.24/18, 6/1* seems unnecessary, since 24/18, 13/8 also doessomething good on my side of the board, but without the risk ofbeing hit. 13/8, 13/7 can't be right, or we'd play it all thetime. It leaves White with too many good things to do -- eitherhit the blot or make a point on his side of the board. 13/7, 6/1*is too optimistic. It would be ok if White had two blots on myside of the board so I'd have something to attack, but thisposition doesn't present enough blitz potential.

Kit Woolsey: 24/18, 13/8.
Everything looks right for this play. I have the stronger board, Whitehas only one man back, and my eight point is stripped. After my play,all my checkers will be ideally placed. Other plays are much lessproductive.

Chris Yep: 24/18, 13/8.
See some similar interesting early-game positions posted in the bulletin board recently. 24/18 13/8 is thematic here. Blue has more men back, but a stronger inner board. At the same time he has a stripped 8 point. Since 24/18 13/8 is only a .05 error on the opening move, I feel confident that it is better than 24/13 in this early-game position. I also feel that it is better than the other 3 candidate moves as it accomplishes two desirable things -- (1) it starts an advanced anchor, while provoking contact and (2) it fortifies Blue's stripped 8 point. Overall then, 24/18 13/8 looks best to me.

The panel was quite on top of the thematic split and build play in thissort of position. I am confident that it is the correct choice.