Alan Alsop: 13/9(2), 6/2(2).It appears this roll is not going to slot too neatly, but it does appear that Blues blocking has potential. To this end I prefer to bring down two men from the midpt, one for the pt the other for the builder. What to do with the others I am not too sure about. Blue could make the 2 pt and compete with Whites board, or run. The trouble with running is it exposes Blue to a double hit and in the process brings down Whites midpt builders. I will go for making my 2 pt. It gives Blue the freedom to move.
Chuck Bower: 22/14, 13/9(2).
Any play which doesn't make the 9-point here doesn't feel rightat all. Making the 2-point strips both spares off the 6-point and overshoots the 4-point. 6/1*(2) gives up the 5-point; hard to believe even a weak bot would go for that bottish move.13/1* tries to get into a blot hittingcontest with a worse board and no anchor. 13/5 isn't bad, butI'd rather get a back checker moving, even if it means leaving the non-negligible chances of it getting sent back. Stoppingon the 18-point sets up target practice for White on a pointhe really wants.
22/14 seems like the second and third 4's, so the final decision is whether to play 13/9 with the last 4 or 14/10 instead. Hmmm, the latter isn't even listed as a candidate. It leaves an extra blot so I prefer 13/9. Still it's hard to believe 22/10, 13/9 isn't among the top seven plays.
Nigel Buchan: 13/9(2), 6/2(2).
Making the 9pt eliminating one blot and blocking at the same time has to be good, and make the 2pt with the other. With two good points and the cube on my side the only thing that comes close is possible 22/10, 9/5 which nicely removes two blots but weakens his position.
Tom Cunningham: 13/9(2), 6/2(2).
My choice here is 13/9(2) 6/2(2). I want to improve myinner board while White is not quite ready to attack my back men. If I am hit on the 16 point I will have more chances to secure an anchor, and still be in a position to turn the game around.
George Klitsas: 22/10, 9/5.
Making the nine point is good, but abandoning the midpoint looks equally bad. Blue does not need a fancy or desperate play to win here and 22/10 9/5 qualifies as a decent and solid play, probably the best.
Laila Leonhardt: 13/9(2), 6/2(2).
Never a good idea to abandon the midpoint (13 point) when having 2 or morecheckers back--and with that said----Let's clear it!Keeping the contact between the back guys. Being 3 of them, there is achange to go out and slot to try and make an outside anchor.Making the 9 point is very important, so pure play must be sacrificed on thealter of counter- priming.
Snowie: 13/9(2), 6/2(2).
No need to leave White more shots than necessary. I simply make any pointI can. The two point may look out of play now, but we'll see how out ofplay it is later on when I hit a shot and White is attempting to enter.
Bob Stringer: 22/10, 9/5.
Since my board is weaker than White's and this roll gives me adecent racing lead, I don't want to leave that blot on the 9 pointexposed to a direct shot. Either I move it or cover it. Also,since I still have 3 blots to get out of White's side of theboard, breaking the midpoint probably isn't a good idea, and soI'll move the blot on the 9 point instead of covering it. 8/4(3)gets me the 4 point, but giving up the valuable 8 point is toosteep a price to pay. All of this points to 22/10, 9/5 as theplay. The blot on the 23 point is relatively safe, the man I justput on the 10 point takes aim at making the 5 point, and only onedirect shot is left on the board.
Casper van der Tak: 22/10, 9/5.
22/14 13/9(2) also appealed to me a lot, but it is too blotty while White has this strong board. 22/10 9/5 escapes a checker completely while leaving minimal shots, while retaining decent building potential.
Kit Woolsey: 22/14, 13/9(2).
The nine point is huge here -- I have to make that. This hems in White'scheckers on my three point. Having done that, it seems best to holdthe midpoint and just run out with the one of the back checkers.White can flail away in the outfield, but my position will remain sound.Other approaches either divide my army in two or give White too manygood things to do.
Chris Yep: 22/10, 9/5.
22/10 9/5 is the most natural move in my opinion. With three back men it is important for Blue to keep the midpoint as a link between his back checkers and the rest of his forces. 22/10 9/5 keeps the midpoint, leaves a good distribution of builders for all the key points, escapes a back man, and leaves White a minimum to shoot at from his stacked midpoint. No other move does as much.
Summary: A close choice between three logical approaches. The checkeron the 22 point is fairly safe for now since White is stripped up front, buthow long will that be the case? Also, is it worth stripping the six pointof builders to go behind White's anchor? As for the second choice, isn'tmaking the nine point vital here with White anchored on our three point?The priorities of this position are far from clear.
