| 154 121 |                         | White money game Blue |
Problem #1 Play Votes Score16/13, 7/5 5 10016/14, 13/10 2 7016/14, 7/4 1 6014/11, 7/5 1 6016/11 0 4016/13, 6/4 0 4014/11, 6/4 0 40
Neil Kazaross: 16/13, 7/5.
There are many possibilities for this roll and we need to askourselves how much risk are we willing to take to make the bar point and to preserve flexibility. I think plays which leave the bar slotted and added indirects in White's outerboard offer a bit too much counterplay. With White in bad shape, the real question is whether we should simply wimp out with 7/4, 16/14. Unfortunately, that leaves us with our some decisions next roll. I think we can afford to risk some non painful indirects to get a bit more flexibilty and 7/5, 16/13 looks just about correct to me. 7/5, 14/11 should also be very close, but I slightly prefer 7/5, 16/13.
George Klitsas: 16/14, 13/10.
The unusual 16/14 13/10 is by far the best play here - for two reasons, each of which would be sufficient in itself, in my opinion. Simply, after that play, Blue has more re-hitting potential in all cases, compared to other candidates. If hit from the bar on his bar point, Blue can re-hit and continue the fight with 3's and 6's, the numbers that do not enter. If hit on the midpoint, he can re-hit with aces and deuces. Blue must leave his bar point slotted in the first place, because the danger of a catastrophe is small (White's position is undeveloped) and if he makes the bar he will practically lock the game.
Snowie: 16/13, 7/5.
I probably have this game locked up, so there is no need for overkill.Leaving the bar point slotted is too dangerous. My play is the simplestto bring them home and win.
Marty Storer: 16/14, 7/4.
Blue has a big advantage. This weenie play gives plenty of chances tocome home safely, and maintains pressure on the open inner-board points.Blue should be unwilling to give White 10 numbers to hit on the 7 point,or even 7 numbers to hit on the 16 (after 14/11 7/5). Though White'sboard isn't in very good shape, he wouldn't mind a chance to attack.
Bob Stringer: 16/13, 7/5.
I'm so far ahead in the race, and White has such a miserable position(three checkers on his own 3 point), that I don't think the risk ofbeing hit makes it worth leaving the checker on the bar point. I canwin this game without the 5 point prime, so why horse around? Thatmeans 7/5 (the 5 being a better point for the extra checker than the4). 16/13 looks best for the 3 - it duplicates 2's and White has tobreak the midpoint to hit.
Casper van der Tak: 16/13, 7/5.
Even though White's position is not very threatening now I do not see a strong reason to leave a bunch of shots to cover the bar. Therefore, three plays with merit, all of them picking up the blot on the 7-point: 16/13 7/5, 16/14 7/4, 14/11 7/5. 16/14 7/4 leaves Blue stripped on the rear points, so that does not look to cool even though it leaves least shots. 16/13 7/5 plays with one blot, leaves 5 shots only (as opposed to 7 after 14/11 7/5) and creates a spare on the midpoint for future use. A mild form of paying now.
Kit Woolsey: 14/11, 7/5.
I don't think it is worth leaving the bar point slotted. If Whitedoes enter and hit, not only do I have a man sent back but suddenly Whitehas started my bar point. Of the plays which lift the checker,14/11, 7/5 looks best because it gives me a new outfield checkertrained on the bar point.
Chris Yep: 16/13, 7/5.
Though White has a weak board, Blue does not gain much by making the bar point. It looks better to avoid complications and just coast home to a win. 16/13 7/5 cleans up Blue's position while adding a spare to the mid and 5 points.
Summary: The panel definitely agreed that leaving the blot on thebar point was too risky. Given that, there were various opinions aboutjust how much risk to take in the outfield. It probably isn't a big deal.