| 118 123 |                       | White money game Blue |
Problem #7 Play Votes Score11/4 6 10011/9, 8/3 3 8020/13 2 7020/15, 11/9 1 6020/18, 20/15 0 4020/15, 8/6 0 4011/6, 8/6 0 40
Chuck Bower: 11/9, 8/3.
With one White checker back, the action should remain on Blue's side ofthe board. Starting to run a back checker is more of a distraction forBlue than for White. Stacking up the 6-point is safe, but safe isn'tBlue's highest priority. I think the choices are down to slotting the4-point or positioning the builders (11/9, 8/3). Normally when a slotis right, it jumps out at you (assuming you have enough foresight toconsider it)! I don't see that here. Slotting gives White a lot ofcounterplay (by hitting). Playing patiently gives Blue chances of makingthe 4-point. Finally, the 4-point isn't required to win the game. Chalkme up for the ugly 11/9, 8/3.
Steve Clark: 20/13.
It seems like this should be getaway time so 20-13 immediately comes to mind.I don't see any constructive play on our side of the board which attract.Slotting is usually wrong and seems wrong here. It could be right to play20-15 and move the deuce elsewhere so that we can make the 15 point with a 5next roll, but the this leaves us further from the complete escape that weseek. I will play 20-13.
Ray Fogerlund: 11/4.
It might be wrong, but the threat is obvious when you slotthe 4 point. Roll a 4 or die. Here is a gun with 5 bullets in it.... Onlythe 4th cylinder is empty. Put it to your head, and pull the trigger, myfriend. Don't forget to smile when you make this play ! When you makethese plays... and they work, you envoke a quiet sense of dread in youropponent. They don't have the guts to make that play, and it is SOobviously simple, strong, and courageous... Well, they just don't want toplay you anymore because you have cast a doubt in their mind!
George Klitsas: 20/15, 11/9.
I think this is the ideal opportunity for Blue to make a run for it (20/13 or 20/15 11/9), duplicating White's aces or threes. Other plans (like 11/6 8/6) lead to cramped positions and lose control of the outfield (for example if White escapes with a 4-5 or a 4-6). The position of the cube favors running, as well. Blue wants the equity to travel forth and back in big packets. Between the two running plays, I slightly favor 20/15 11/9 over 20/13. It's only drawback in comparison to 20/13 is a 4-5 (2 rolls) by White from the bar. Among it's strengths, is the fact that the number of rolls that make the four point is almost doubled, and the fact that Blue's outfield checkers communicate better (5's make the 15 point , 6's Blue's nine point).
Hannu Lyyjynen: 11/9, 8/3.
Can't afford 14 hitters from the bar by slotting (11/4) even though completing the full prime would practically finish the game. The alternative play is also very good, more numbers playing well than not in the sequel. In fact, only 7 rolls (11, 12, 13 and 63) fail to make a new point next time (if White misses the miracle 45). With say 65, one might prefer to build the five-prime (20/9) in stead but that cannot be all wrong either.
Snowie: 11/4.
What's the game plan? To complet my prime by making the four point, afterwhich I can run my back checkers peacefully around the board. The easiestway to make a point is to start it. Other plays up front are awkward,and if I break the anchor now there are some very bad things which couldhappen. I won't like it if White hits the blot, but I can survive that.If White doesn't hit, I will be in great shape.
Marty Storer: 11/9, 8/3.
Chances of improvement are pretty good from here, good enough thatBlue doesn't want to break anchor or slot the 4 point. Blue is aheadin the race after the play, 2 pips plus hyperpips, and unless Whiterolls 46 or 56, his back checker is under considerable pressure.There's no need for a big play yet. Even if White escapes with 46,Blue has plenty of winning chances.
Bob Stringer: 20/13.
11/4 goes for a virtually assured win *if* White misses the shot, butwhy give him that opportunity? White has much the inferior structure,and while he has a man on the bar it's time to start bringing the backmen around. Except for the all-out 11/4, anything I do on my side ofthe board with this roll weakens my structure, so I'm not going totouch it. Bringing a back man all the way out to the 13 maintains thatstructure and starts the escape which is necessary to win this game.
Casper van der Tak: 11/4.
Either this or 20/13. I like 11/4 to resolve the situation on Blue's side of the board; even if hit, Blue's game is OK, with the strong anchor and White's poor checker distrubition. If not hit, well... In contrast, 20/13 leaves some jokers, and gives up the anchor. White likes to hit after 20/13, because in a blot hitting contest his poor checker distribution does not count as heavily against him. 20/13 is likely to win more games, but 11/4 wins more gammons, and sufficiently to compensate, I think.
The other plays:
* 20/18 20/15 allows White to hit outside, reducing the number of returns. Must be worse than 20/13.
* 20/15 11/9 leaves a 54 joker, but in compensation creates an additional builder for the 4 point. Somehow it does not feel right, although I have trouble articulating why I like this less than 20/13. Maybe the idea, once breaking anchor, should be to run the checkers home. Also, White would pefer to hit outside, and 20/13 duplicates the entering and hitting 1s, whereas 20/15 creates 3s, a non entering number. Of course, 20/15 has the advantage of leaving some return after the White hits on the scenarios, but the 5s for hitting and entering and making the anchor are duplicated, so that does not gain too much.
* 20/15 8/6 does not leave the 54 joker, but strips the 8. Then I prefer 20/15 11/9.
* 11/6 8/6 does not address the main issues in the position: Blue should either run now, or prepare to improve the position sufficiently to be able to run in even greater safety in the near future. A roll wasted, I would say.
* 11/9 8/3 Even worse; strips the 8, leaves a 54 joker, creates a dilly builder.
So I guess my ranking is 11/4, followed by 20/13, 20/15 11/9, 20/15 8/6, 20/18 20/15, 11/6 8/6 and 11/9 8/3 last. Maybe 20/13 is better than 11/4; don't know.
Kit Woolsey: 11/4.
The race is close, and I will need my four point if I am goingto contain White's back checker. Since I don't have a comfortableway to play the roll safely, I believe the best bet is to simplyslot the four point now. If I get away with it, I will have a verysolid advantage. If I am hit, I still have potential to recover. Thevarious running plays risk bad things happening on the other side of theboard without adequate compensation.
Chris Yep: 11/4.
Blue has unfavorable timing (the race is even, but Blue has 2 back men) and White has control of the outfield. Blue can solve both these problems, however, if he wins the battle for his 4 point to make a full 6-prime. Slotting an inner board point against a checker on the bar is often wrong, but here there are several compelling arguments for it. First the gains (a full 6-prime vs. a broken 5-prime), if Blue is not hit, are large. Second Blue has two direct numbers to cover (he can also cover with 3s if necessary). Third, and probably most important, the losses from being hit are not that great. White will control the outfield, but he generally already controlled the outfield after any of Blue's other plays. Blue will have to re-enter, but White only has a weak 3 point board (including 3 checkers on his 2 point) and is not likely to improve it in the near-future. Blue also has an advanced anchor, so any back men are unlikely to get trapped. Furthermore having a 3rd checker back, while not desirable, at least affords Blue with more of a presence in covering White's outfield. All things considered I believe the gains from slotting the 4 point are worth the risks. I like 11/4.
Summary: The bots have been continuously weaning us away fromunnecessary slotting, but sometimes slotting is necessary. The majorityof the panel recognized that this is one of those times. It is interestingto see that Snowie joins the ranks of the slotters.