Alan Alsop: 8/4*, 7/2*.Blue has a need to sort this mess up. That's if he can juggle the moves around. Trouble is there is nothing too constructive that will minimize this element. Running or covering has Blue at a disadvantage, although Whites position is nothing to shout home about. Blue is facing a triple hit in his outer board, also White is also looking to lift Blue from his 5 pt. Blue is seriously looking at being hit twice and he can't allow White the opportunity to hit at will. Blue is well ahead in the race and he certainly doesn't need White having two advanced pts in his homeboard. It's all up in the air. This all leads to Blue doing a double whammy in his homeboard and see what happens.
Chuck Bower: 13/8, 7/3.
The blitz has stalled. Hitting two just delays the inevitable.13/4* could be right, but I count 20 returns on Blue's side ofthe board. Two other unstacking plays are 13/8, 13/9 (not listedas a candidate) which leaves a ton of shots and 13/8, 7/3 whichshores things up and waits for calmer seas. 7/3 is a bitunsettling, but I think it's the best play under the circumstances.
Nigel Buchan: 8/4*, 7/2*.
My eyes light up when I see a double shot (sometimes that's all I do see). After an early double fives Blue is committed to going forward and stopping White making another point, not much covering power but if hit he can recycle or go for an advanced anchor.
Tom Cunningham: 13/8, 7/3.
I need to get unstacked on my midpoint and to make ananchor or escape. My gammon chances are good no matter what I do here so I opt for 13/8 7/3. I believe this gives me the best overall improvement. I have remade my eight point, kept my back men back to help my timing and make it more difficult for White to build a board.
George Klitsas: 8/4*, 7/2*.
In similar positions, having some outfield points (the most crucial is the eight point) is of great importance for Blue and that's why the blitzing side often slots them while the opponent is on the bar. Thinking along these lines, Blue might choose to make his eight point (13/8 7/6) if his roll was a 51 but it's a 54 instead and 13/8 7/3 looks ugly to me to say the least. Given that, Blue might as well continue in full blitzing mode (8/4* 7/2*) [my choice] and -who knows- he might well slot and remake his eight point in the process.
Laila Leonhardt: 13/8, 7/3.
This blitz did not succeed and it is time to change the strategy.43 pip + this roll up in the race it looks like a good time to pick up theloose ones and give the race a go.
Snowie: 13/8, 7/3.
Flailing away at White's blots is silly. I lose my racing lead if I amhit back, and if I am missed I don't have any checkers in range to coverthe blots. White owns my five point, so I can't carry out a blitz anyway.It is better to make the eight point and leave White nothing to shoot aton my side of the board. Maybe next turn I can do a little better.
Bob Stringer: 13/8, 7/3.
I'm not comfortable with this position, and am not at all sure ofwhat to do. 13/8 is my choice since making an outfield point infront of all of White's back men at least looks like a plan.
Casper van der Tak: 13/8, 7/3.
Again, under closely similar conditions I might easily double hit here. But Blue has a stack of checker on the midpoint that he urgently needs to develop. 13/8 7/3 creates a new landing point and is safe up front.
Kit Woolsey: 13/8, 7/3.
What a mess. I have the stronger inner board, but my buildersare very far away and White has an anchor in my board, so it is hardto see how hitting loose inside is going to work. I have the racing lead,so let's sit on that lead by locking up the eight point, getting my frontcheckers safe, and hope to roll something better next turn.
Chris Yep: 13/8, 7/3.
Blue can play "safely" with 13/8 7/3, loosely with 8/4* 7/2* or somewhere in-between with the other three moves. Blue's made ace point argues for a blitzing/attacking type of game, however White's advanced anchor makes an attack unlikely to succeed. Furthermore Blue doesn't have much ammunition in place for an attack and won't have many covers if he hits loose. I think Blue should just play 13/8 7/3. This unstacks the heavy midpoint and creates some outfield structure (the 8 point). While it puts a 3rd checker on the 3 pt., at least that checker still bears on the open 2 pt. On the other side of the board, Blue's blots are in little trouble. White only has a 1 pt. board and with two stripped outfield points he'll often have to break a key point if he points on Blue's head.
Summary: The vote was to clean up our act and try again later to getsomething going rather than to attack with insufficient ammunition. Thislooks quite clear to me.
