Alan Alsop: 8/4*.
No threats from White. The only real difference is that Blue has his 5 pt. and White has wasted three men to Blues one. Obviously White will try and fill in the gaps in his homeboard. Not allowing White the luxury of a free roll in his homeboard I will fight for my 4 pt. I can't see how the other moves help Blue.

Chuck Bower: 11/8, 6/5.
Hitting but leaving so many blots doesn't feel right. Ilike bringing builders into the home zone here. If Whitedoesn't anchor up then pointing-on-head or pick-and-passplays will work better next roll.

Doug Doub: 11/8, 6/5.
I don't see the need to do anything dramatic here. Therace is virtually even, and White is threatening very little offensively. Iwon't be happy if White anchors with a deuce or 5-3, but our game will bevery playable if that happens. If he does not anchor, then we will bewell-placed to do something constructive next turn.

Neil Kazaross: 11/8, 6/5.
This 31 isn't what we hoped for here. But noting that we aren't yetin too much danger is see no need to panic and just will play 6/5, 11/8 and hope for a better shot next roll.

George Klitsas: 11/8, 6/5.
A priming plan (13/10 11/10) is not going to work in my opinion. The character of the game is more of a blood bath which is about to start, and the plan should be to be best prepared to attack (i.e. builders) and, at the same time, avoid blots strewn around in case of being attacked. Thinking along these lines, the simple 11/8 6/5 looks like the natural move here.

Snowie: 5/4*, 4/1.
White's threats are anchoring on my four point, escaping a back checker, or attacking myblots in his inner board. My unusual looking hit and shift play takescare of all of these threats at once. Purity isn't important in this sortof position, since this will not become a priming battle. My play putsWhite on the bar, duplicates his fives, and brings the checker on the 11 pointback to life as a builder for the inner board.

Marty Storer: 11/8, 6/5.
Making the 10 looks nice, but the "weenie play"is actually plenty aggressive. The added builders give enoughattacking chances that Blue can afford to keep the midpointand avoid being hit with 1's, 54, 63, and 65. Staying somewhattight is often advisable even against loose-looking opposingformations; that seems to be the case here.

Bob Stringer: 11/8, 6/5.
I can't see ever giving up the 5 point unless the trade-off is aterrific attack, nor do I see giving White two shots in my innerboard. That eliminates 6/2* (yuck), 8/4* and 5/4*, 4/1. In such aloose position, I want to keep the midpoint, and so 13/10, 11/10is out as well. 22/21, 8/5 strips the 8 point and moves a checkerup to a point that is easier for White to attack. Finally, 22/21,11/8 reduces my flexibility while again moving a man up intogreater danger. By the process of elimination, I arrive at theplay selected -- I lose the flexibility of having a man on the 11point, but the 6/5 makes up for that a bit.

Casper van der Tak: 11/8, 6/5.
Finally a position where I would go quiet, although 8/4* is very tempting, in spite of all the blots. I don't know how to argue for this move, except that is just feels better than 8/4*.

Kit Woolsey: 13/10, 11/10.
It seems as though I should be trying to improve somewhere with White'sboard currently in disarray. The ten point is a valuable point since itis six away from my most advanced open point in my board. Everything elseseems like pretty much of a nothing play.

Chris Yep: 11/8, 6/5.
Hitting gives up too much for what it gains in my opinion. Additionally Blue's back men are not in too much trouble yet, so Blue doesn't need a tempo hit. Giving up the midpoint (to make the 10 point) is too big a concession when Blue still has two back men. That leaves 11/8 6/5 as the natural move. 6/5 is more valuable than 22/21, while 11/8 only adds an extra spare to the 8 point, but at least gives White no outfield shots. Overall this approach looks best to me.

Summary: The panel goes surprisingly conservative despite the factthat White's board is a mess. 11/8, 6/5 is a good strucural play, but it doesn'tdo anything now. I still like making the ten point. Speaking of novelties,take a look at Snowie's choice of 5/4*, 4/1. This is the second problemin this set where the bot has chosen a play most experts wouldn't have evenput on their list of candidates. All very interesting.

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White



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Blue

Problem #8   Play          Votes   Score11/8, 6/5          9      10013/10, 11/10       1       608/4*               1       605/4*, 4/1          1       6022/21, 11/8        0       4022/21, 8/5         0       406/2*               0       40