sol7034m.htm | Gammonline - Backgammon Resources

Chuck Bower: 8/3.
I immediately reject any play which puts a checker on the 2-point.With four checkers back, effecient use of offensive side checkersbecomes doubly important. 24/20 is nice but the accompanying acesdon't feel right. Only two plays remain: simply covering the3-point or the pick-and-pass 13/9*/8. The latter doesn't seem toaccomplish much, with only a one point board and a blot there besides.Some general advice I've heard is "if you start the acepoint, finish it." That seems even more appropriate for other inner board points. I like8/3. Getting hit on the 8-point isn't particularly bad and it costsWhite the anchor, leaving blot(s) with a worse homeboard.

Neil Kazaross: 13/9*, 9/8.
Hmm..do bots know how to play from here ? Do humans ? Does anybody ? Idoubt it. Anyhow, when we hold our 11 point we don't have a huge need for our midpoint. We hold the enemy 5 point and playing 24/20, 24/23 looks natural but doesn't do all that much. I have a slight preference for simply hitting 13/9x/8. When in doubt, hit ! I also don't think making either the 2 or 3 point is correct here.13/9x/8..the midpoint is often overrated but racing isn't.

George Klitsas: 6/2, 3/2.
Conceding the midpoint is dubious at best. Making the two point (6/2 3/2) looks like the best move here, slightly better than 24/23 24/20. In this mutual holding game, there might be some hitting and it would be much better for Blue not to have blots in his inner board, if this happens. Blue would like to make his three point instead, but this is almost irrelevant, outweighed by the other factors.

Snowie: 6/2, 3/2.
There is no need to panic. First I need to tidy things up and make aninner board point or two. Then I will be prepared to hit some blots.I should have plenty of chances.

Marty Storer: 24/23, 24/20.
Blue doesn't need the 24 point. He needs the midpoint more, so hecan't afford to hit, giving up the midpoint and leaving two blots.If White hits in return, he gains chances to increase his controlof the outfield, which is very desirable. Blue doesn't want tocommit to such a deep point as his 2, nor does he want to tradehis 8 point for his 3. He can maintain all his outside pointswith 24/20 24/23, and that looks best.

Bob Stringer: 13/9*, 9/8.
This play looks awkward and doofus, but I'm sticking with it. I preferto play 24/20 (much too early to be thinking of a back game), but the1 doesn't play well in that case. Also, I don't want to leave too manyblots laying around, since that may help White consolidate.

Casper van der Tak: 6/2, 3/2.
Blue is behind in the race, so he'd like to catch-up by hitting. But hitting now 13/9*/8 leaves too many returns. Therefore, I make the 2-point and hope to get another crack at White's checker, noting that 11, 31, 51, 61, 42, 43, 63, 65 and 66 (16 shots) fail to bring White's checker to safety. Under these circumstances, preparing for a hit, even though with a move that is a bit anti-positional, seems worthwhile. If I do not get a chance to hit or I miss net turn I'll bring the checkers on the 24 into play.
Note that playing 24/23 may leave Blue with difficulties on 6s...

Kit Woolsey: 6/2, 3/2.
I'm just not ready to make a move toward winning the game just yet.White has my five point, and hitting costs me the midpoint for therest of the game as well as risking getting more checkers sent back.It looks best to simply make the two point and leave nothing. I'll getanother chance to hit something, and by then I will be better prepared.

Chris Yep: 24/23, 24/20.
Everything else is too committal in my opinion. This game figures to be a long game, so it pays to play positionally. For example, I believe it's too early to make the 2 point (or to dump a checker there with 24/20 3/2). 13/9* breaks the midpoint, while 8/3 breaks the 8 point. Instead I believe Blue does best to play quietly with 24/23 24/20. This adds a spare to the 20 point, giving Blue better outfield coverage (either to hit from the 20 point or to spring the spare into the outfield).

Summary: Several possibilities, but the most popular choice wasto firm things up for now and hit later. Even though the two point isa bit deep, this seems to be the thematic approach for this position.