sol6017m.htm | Gammonline - Backgammon Resources

Alan Alsop: 16/10.
Blue can't safety any of his blots with this roll, or create anything good. Although Whites distribution and threats are not strong. Bring round one man and duplicate ones and threes. Might even drag White off the bar point early.

Chuck Bower: 16/10.
Blue needs to prepare for White's punch here. Odd combinations are going topoint-on-head. No need to give opp 4's by staying on the 16-point. 16/10duplicates White's 1's and 3's, and positions a builder for the 10-pointor 4-point. I can't find a better play.

Malcolm Davis: 16/10.
I am behind in the race so I believe I would stay back, duplicating the one's andthree's, and hope I don't get pointed-on.

Doug Doub: 23/22, 13/8.
We need to make a point on White's side of the board, but have no way ofdoing so here. White would have to break a valuable point in order to hitus on his 9pt, and that is not the point that he would most like to make.Since we cannot move that man to safety anyway, it seems that he is more ofan asset where he is than he would be if we moved him to our side of theboard.
After playing 13-8, 23-22 starts a better anchor in case we get pointedon, and also brings that man up into direct range of the 16 point. Themajor action is on White's side of the board right now. 6-5 would notaccomplish nearly as much as 23-22.

George Klitsas: 23/22, 13/8.
If Blue decides to move from his 16 point, then, obviously, 16/10 is the play , for reasons having to do with duplication. If not, 13/8 23/22 looks best, giving Blue return shots from the bar, should White hit and leave a blot on his 9 point. The latter move (23/22 13/8) is my solution, for what I don't like in this position [for an unknown reason], is my checker on the 23 point.

Rob Maier: 23/22, 13/8.
A typical mess. The eight point needs a spare, so there's my five. 23/22 for the ace, to connect with the 16 point, seems like the right idea.

Snowie: 13/8, 6/5.
I put my checkers where I know they belong. The fourth checker on themidpoint belongs on the eigth point. The fourth checker on the six pointbelongs on the five point. The gives me excellent distribution withwhich to beef up my board. There is no reason to do anything withthe checkers on the other side of the board -- they are fine wherethey are.

Bob Stringer: 16/10.
I would much rather get hit in my outfield than his. For example, ifWhite double hits on his 5 and 9 points, and I don't come back withsomething good, the game could be just about over. 16/10 is betterthan 16/11, 6/5 because it duplicates 1's and 3's.

Kit Woolsey: 23/22, 13/8.
This looks like a simple matter of putting my checkers where I want them.The back checker is better placed on the 22 point, since it communicateswith the blot on the 16 point. The builder on the eight point balancesmy position better and prepares to work on the inner board while holdingthe important eight point.

Chris Yep: 23/22, 13/8.
Since Blue is behind in the race and has the better board, he favors contact. Blue's outfield blot is not in too much trouble, since White will often have to break a point to hit it. Also White doesn't have too many double hits since 1s and 4s are duplicated. Since White only has a 1 point board, Blue shouldn't be too worried about moving his back checkers. With the 5 I like 13/8, adding a useful spare to the 8 point. However with the 1, I like 23/22, providing better connectivity between Blue's 3 back checkers. Although 6/5 is a more natural move, in this position White may hit next turn forcing Blue to use half of his next roll to enter from the bar (thus he won't be able to use his builders on the 5, 6, and 8 points anyway). Furthermore 23/22 increases Blue's return shots as well as providing better connectivity between Blue's 3 back checkers (e.g. Blue has chances to make the 16 point). Finally since White already has the bar point anchor, Blue has less incentive to quickly make his 3 or 4 points, thus it seems worth the cost of one builder (on the 5 pt.) to move up (23/22).

Summary: In a close vote, the panel elected to leave the blot on the16 point alone and concentrate on offensive structure. It is interestingthat Snowie, who often tends toward running type plays, leaves everythingalone in the back and concentrates solely up front even though White haseverybody out. Snowie could well be right on this one.