| 147 157 |                            | White money game Blue |
Problem #6 Play Votes Score13/7, 10/7 7 10021/15, 13/10 4 8010/4*, 4/1* 2 7013/4* 0 4020/14, 13/10 0 40
Chuck Bower: 21/15, 13/10.
As was the case in problem 1, White's inner board blot gives Blue license to play boldly. Unfortunately the bold plays (hitting) aren't all that constructive. They don't gain much in the race, and if White return hits, Blue will be an underdog to hit White's homeboard blot. Blue hasn't made a single new point this game and this roll gives him such a chance. IMO Blue should use this roll to add structure. Last month,(problem 6) when given the choice between making the barpoint or an alternate outfield point (the 11-point then), the barpoint won out. Here,however, I think the 10-point gets the edge. With a close race (Blueis actually slightly behind), blocking opp's advanced anchor is moreimportant than simply setting up to bear in safely. Furthermore White hasn't even made that advanced anchor yet, and builders on the10-point are more efficient than on the 7-point. Finally, Whiteisn't under much pressure to run the back checker, so blocking itwith the 7-point is less important than last month. 13/10 is my three.
I tend to avoid communication (6 or fewer pips of separation)with two loose back checkers since that usually provides opp a lot ofconvenient double hits. However, here White's double hits leave TWOhomeboard blots. I started the analysis of this problem pointing outWhite's achilles heel on his acepoint and I end my report with thatas well. Blue need not be concerned with the double hit, so keep thoseback checkers connected: 21/15.
Ilia Guzei: 13/7, 10/7.
Solid and well balanced. It will likely result in a mutual holding game with timing on my side. Alternatively, 10/4*/1* is a good aggressive play. Putting two one the bar will give me time to anchor or make an inner board point if not hit back. If I am hit I may hit him right back. He's got a budding prime while I can't anchor, so I will keep him off balance. The double hit may be a bit difficult to follow up and that's why I prefer making the bar.
Oystein Johansen: 10/4*, 4/1*.
Is this a problem? 10/4*/1*. Then I'll anchor or run home while my opponentis busy on the bar. The only alternative candidate I can see must be 13/710/7. This slows the things down a bit and White can do some good thingslike anchoring or start an attack on my 21 and 20 point. After a doublehit, there will soon be a cubeturn and I think I will have a much morepowerful cube if the next rolls go my way, than the cube my opponent servesme if things goes her way.
Neil Kazaross: 10/4*, 4/1*.
At first glance, what could be simpler ? Just make our 10 point and hop out21-15 duping 3's and keeping linkage. But, this does leave quite a few nice rolls for White. Somehow, linkage of 5's with blots from the 5 to 10 point doesn't work out as well as one would suspect. (Normally preferable to have linked 6's early on) Is 20-14 the better 6 after covering ? I'm not sure, it prevents some attack rolls with 1's but doesn't dupe the anchoring 3.
I took a good look at both positions after covering and switched my play to a completely different option and now vote for 10-4x-1x as best here. This throws two enemy checkers on the bar and gains 5 pips in the race, while protecting our advanced slots in White's board. As a bonus, and the factor which caused me to slightly prefer the double hit, White has a blot on his ace point which can be tagged in subsequent complications. (Note that I don't care for making our bar point with this 6-3, since I feel the 3 close alternatives are better)
George Klitsas: 13/7, 10/7.
For sure all moves have merit here and I would not be surprised if any of them could be proven to be best. It's more or less a matter of style and the move I would make on the table is the positional one ,13/7 10/7.
Laila Leonhardt: 21/15, 13/10.
This is a 'visual pleasing' position.It may look like making a point in the prime (7point) would be a strongerplay and it usually would be.But backgammon is essentially about 2 things,Control and how to make your opponent loose it.The pleasing duplication of 3's and the flexibility of your position shouldgive you that nice warm fuzzy feeling of control (yes, pulling your leghere)
Snowie: 13/7, 10/7.
Why not make the best point available? My back checkers aren't in muchdanger. Other approaches seem weaker to me.
Marty Storer: 21/15, 13/10.
This play puts pressure on White's advanced back checker,duplicates 3's to anchor and hit, controls outfield territorywithout dyscommunicating between 14 and 8, gets one backchecker out of some multiple-builder danger, and keepsthe back checkers in communication. No other move doesmore. A common motif is to play 20/14 to minimize opponent'sdouble hits; here, Blue need not fear those because of theblot in White's board.
Bob Stringer: 13/7, 10/7.
I don't like having both back men sitting under White's guns likethis, but he does have that blot on the 24 point, which means that ifhe does do something I should get a return shot. Accordingly, thisturn is devoted to offense. As usual, I see no reason for thedouble hit when I don't have any board and there's a decent pointto be made. The bar point is better than the 10, and I don't seeany reason not to make it.
Casper van der Tak: 13/7, 10/7.
First my choice was 13/10 20/14. This makes a somewhat useful point, and then 20/14 is kind of thematic to avoid double hits, which is often a more important consideration than keeping the checkers connected. But wait! White has a home-point board, so Blue does not need to fear double-hits so much. 13/10 21/15 has the advantage of leaving the back checkers connected, with limited (if any) drawbacks, so it must be a better play than 13/10 20/14. The duplications of 3s is also a consideration.
A different approach is making the bar. In the end I chose that approach, since White has a checker on the 24 which would become bocked. Moreover, Blue is a very slight bit behind in the race, so playing for contact seems somewhat indicated.
Kit Woolsey: 21/15, 13/10.
Assets are assets. White isn't threatening much, so there doesn't seemto be any urgency to hit loose. Coming out to the 15 point looks bestwith the six, since that duplicates White's threes.
Chris Yep: 13/7, 10/7.
13/7 10/7 creates a solid blocking point, while still leaving at least one spare on each of the key points (6, 8, and 13). 10/4*/1* is also strong, but looks too committal. The other moves are also fine, but in my opinion it's too hard to pass up the bar point here.
Summary: Is making the bar point and leaving those two checkersback there to get battered on really so obvious? The ten point lookslike a fine asset to me. Great control of the outer board, and sixaway from White's lead checker. I'm not at all convinced about this one.