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Alan Alsop: 8/5, 8/3.
Blue would like to start escaping his back men. But with two blots in his homeboard this is not an option nor is any other and this needs to be dealt with immediately. White will need to bring more forces down to close his homeboard. and run his backmen. So covering Blues blots is the first order of business , this will curtail White with a four point homeboard.

Chuck Bower: 8/5, 8/3.
Nothing like baring a few sharp teeth to instill caution into a snarling predator. White's position is solid, but he's going to have to move something next turn. 8/5, 8/3 suddenly gives Blue the better board. Blue should plant some fearful seeds into White's conciousness.

Malcolm Davis: 11/8, 11/6.
Again, a hard play. With a 20-pip deficit, running 24/16 seems wrong. I believe Iwould play passivly, try to save the gammon, and see what develops.

Doug Doub: 8/5, 8/3.
I would love to step up with the three, but our board is not ready for anexchange of hits. So, I put a lot of teeth in our board by covering the 3ptand 5pt, and hope to roll a three next turn. We need to get lucky to winthis game, but moving a back man this turn is asking for too much.

George Klitsas: 8/5, 8/3.
24/16 , behind in the race, is anti-thematic to say the least. 11/8 11/6, creating another spare, is conceivable, but Blue might not roll suitable numbers to fill in his inner board in the subsequent rolls. Best in my opinion is 8/5 8/3, with a strong inner board. It's true that in all probability, Blue's stripped position will produce a blot for White. On the other hand, it's White's turn, who has immediate difficulties to play most rolls including an ace.

Rob Maier: 11/8, 11/6.
Behind in the race, there seems little incentive to make a run for it. At the same time, why leave shots when White figures to be able to break the midpoint easily next roll.

Snowie: 8/5, 8/3.
Running a back checker is too risky, particularly since I have no board incase some blot-hitting starts. This roll allows me to correct that deficitin my position by making a strong inner board and worrying about the futurelater. I may have to leave a shot before White does, but if I can survivethat I will be in good shape.

Bob Stringer: 8/5, 8/3.
For the longest time I bounced between 11/8, 11/6 and 11/3, since Ikept focusing on what could I possibly do to improve my structure onmy *next* move. [I rejected 24/16 out of hand, since getting hit is acomplete disaster.] But then I thought about the comment our fearlessleader has made a number of times about looking at the position fromyour opponent's side. Something's about to happen, and someone mayhave to leave a shot. Facing a 4 point board doesn't make that acomfortable prospect for White.

Kit Woolsey: 8/5, 8/3.
I don't think I can afford to do anything with my back men just yet consideringthe shape my board is in. Best seems to be to make the biggest board possibleand hope White stubs his toe. White can probably play off the midpoint fornow, but his future plays may not be so easy.

Chris Yep: 8/5, 8/3.
Behind by 12 pips post-roll, now is the wrong time to make a run for it. If Blue isn't going to run with 24/16, 8/5 8/3 looks best. Blue has a limited number of men up front, so he has to put them to good use. Filling in the best 4-point board looks worth the awkwardness that he may face next roll. By making a 4-point board and cleaning up his inner board blots, he indirectly pressures White. White will not be able to play boldly next turn (e.g. with a 3-2 he can't make his 4 point), nor will he be able to make a run for it from his 18 point anchor with as many rolls, nor will he be as eager to attack Blue if Blue later moves up to White's 4 point with one checker.

Summary: The panel's mandate was quite clear. Build the big boardfirst, and worry about later problems later. This does seem like the rightidea. Blue needs something to fight with.