Alan Alsop: 10/4.Pay now or later. No need. Slot the 4 pt now, if he is hit it is not the end of the world. Anything else is poor.
Chuck Bower: 18/13, 6/5.
Is Blue's prime strong enough to make a run for it? If "four ismore than you think" and "five is less than you think" what isfive and a half?? I'd rather have six, myself. 10/4 is oneway to shoot for that, but only deuces cover cleanly(and 6-2 doesn't even succeed). 5(2) looks too awkward here. Mypendulum has swung far to the pure side lately. Take a look at18/13, 6/5. Now THAT is pure! I think it is the best chanceto complete a 6-prime, but is the downside worth it? I don'tknow, but even when it fails Blue retains an excellent 5-prime.18/13, 6/5 for me.
Nigel Buchan: 10/4.
There is only one move here just roll the 5pt prime forward, its not great but nothing else comes close. A hit here would not be too serious he could hopefully recycle, in fact staying on the bar a couple of rolls would help Blues timing.
Tom Cunningham: 10/5, 6/5.
While 18/13 10/9 duplicates aces it still leaves a doubleshot so I think it does not justify breaking the anchor. The only other play I like is 10/5 6/5, temporizing while I still have White trapped. Eventually I will have to break for it but I think it is better to wait.
George Klitsas: 10/4.
Speaking of "direct roads to victory", this looks like a model position. Blue should slot the four point (10/4). If he eventually makes the six prime, he will have all the time in the world in order to disengage from the 18 point [his major problem], a very dangerous procedure if he tries it right now. After 10/4, White might hit, of course, but he will usually be subject to return hits on both four points with 4's and some 2's and Blue might be able to make eventually the six prime even in that case.
Laila Leonhardt: 18/13, 6/5.
The prime is what will win this game for Blue, and it is important to make arun for it before making any compromises or risking getting stuck behind astrong prime of White's.Duplicating (tiplicating) the good 1s means that White will not be able todo all the important things he wishes if he has to hit. And leaving a 6 tobe hit is an acceptable cost of getting the 13-point blot around.
Snowie: 10/5, 6/5.
What's wrong with this? Safe, all my checkers in play, and I maintainmy blockade. Sure I may have some awkward numbers next turn, but I mightroll something good such as 2-1 or doubles. If I make some other play andget hit, my good doubles may turn into bad rolls.
Bob Stringer: 10/5, 6/5.
Another one that I don't especially know how to play. I'm temptedto run before White makes another inner board point, but White hasreasonable timing and I don't want to get hit and find myselfstuck behind a prime that he's able to build up. When in doubt,keep the anchor. 10/4 puts the blot where it'll do some good if Icover it, but the odds are against my rolling a 2, and I'm notgoing to cover it from the 7, 8 or 9 point. 6/5, 6/1 puts both menwhere they don't belong, and 10/9, 6/1, also dumping a man wherehe doesn't do much good, lacks appeal. After 10/5, 6/5 sixes don'tplay well, but almost anything else does. So that's what I'mplaying, while hoping for doubles in the near future.
Casper van der Tak: 10/5, 6/5.
Nothing fancy. Just play safe and run with one checker next roll. Plays with 18/13 leave white with two checkers to pummel around, and that may give White the time to either build a number of blocking points or start escaping from behind Blue's prime. I think that is the wrong approach. 10/9 6/1 is too ugly, dumping a checker out of play, and leaving a blot that might be costly in any future blot-hitting contest 10/4 has as big problem that it leaves a blot that needs to be covered next turn (if not hit); Blue might need to give up a point to do that. Hence 10/5 6/5.
Kit Woolsey: 18/13, 6/5.
It isn't vital that I make my four point -- I just need to prevent White fromescaping. He doesn't have much of a board so I can afford to be hit, butI don't want him activating his back checkers. My play leaves a lot of shots,and even a few hit and cover numbers, but if I am hit his back checkers arefrozen and I will be the favorite in the priming battle. If I don't moveoff his bar point now he will probably strengthen his board, and my nextplay may be more awkward.
Chris Yep: 10/4.
The moves involving breaking the anchor (18/13) don't seem worth it. Despite White having an inner board blot, it's still unnecessary; if Blue waits on the anchor he'll likely have a long time (especially if he can make his 4 point soon) to roll the necessary doubles to clear the anchor safely. Instead Blue can take advantage of White's weakness (an inner board blot) by slotting the 4 point. Pure plays such as 10/4 are always strong candidates in priming games. There are two reasons for this: (1) the upside (chances to make a full 6-prime) is high, (2) in a priming position many checkers are already "locked" in place, thus there's more incentive for getting maximum value from the spares; without slotting the 4 pt. it will be difficult for Blue to make it naturally without first breaking down his prime. For these reasons combined with the fact that White has an inner board blot, I like 10/4.
Summary: This interesting problem got a nice diversification ofanswers. Play safe? Slot the front edge of the prime? Break off theanchor before White builds his board? Which approach is the right one?
