| 133 106 |                       | White money game Blue |
Problem #6 Play Votes Score15/14, 4/2* 9 10018/15 2 7015/13, 6/5 0 4015/13, 4/3 0 406/5, 4/2* 0 404/2*, 2/1 0 40
Chuck Bower: 15/14, 4/2*.
Knocking White back from the edge of the prime is thematicand gammonish. Blue's solid 5-prime offers a lot ofsecurity when White enters by hitting, and White's madeacepoint is a big minus for him if this turns into aprime-vs-prime kind of game. As is true in many sports, extending the lead is often easier than trying to protect it.
Doug Doub: 15/14, 4/2*.
We have a great position, and very significantchances for a gammon, but White has a 4-point board, and we have a bunch of blots. We can play safe with 18-15, or attack with 4-2*. After hitting, 15-14 seems clear, since it adds 66 and 33 as cover numbers, and bears directly on the back of our prime. The question is, "is it worth the risk of getting hit back, and perhaps dancing for a turn or two, and having our blots swept up?".
Scary though it might be, I think we do better to hit. Gammons count double, and our five in a row offers meaningful protection against bad things happening.
Ian Dunstan: 18/15.
I changed my mind on this problem a few times, but finally decided on thewhimpy play. If you are going to hit on the 2pt then I think you shoulddisregard any other consideration except maximising cover numbers; 15/144/2* is best. If you whimp it, 18/15 looks clear as it cuts down White'sreturn shots and leaves a solid position. After either play you don't wantWhite to roll a two.
If you've chosen the wide open play then White rolls any two (or doubleone's), things start to look scary. You might go from winning a 2-cubegammon to losing a 4-cube gammon. On the brighter side, this play willcertainly win (a lot?) more gammons than the whimpy alternative.
Conversely, 18/15 will win more games and lose less gammons than 15/14 4/2*.I'm far from sure how this translates in equity terms, when comparing thetwo plays. I don't hate seeing White roll a two so much after 18/15.
Neil Kazaross: 15/14, 4/2*.
This looks like a close choice between throwing caution to the windsto likely win a quick gammon with 4/2x, 15/14 (the best ace to make 66 play next time) and the safe, but not craven, 18/15. While I know the game can blow up in my face after the loose hit, it does place 2 men up vs a 4 point board and we have them behind a 5 prime if they enter. 4/2x, 15/14 is my choice, although I wouldn't cry for long if the captain in a chou insisted on 18/15.
George Klitsas: 15/14, 4/2*.
After 4/2* (Blue must go for the throat, I think), 15/14 looks like the natural ace. Blue is very close to make a six prime. Even if hit with a single 2, he is a favorite to reenter from the bar and continue the fight.
Snowie: 15/14, 4/2*.
Gammon time. I can't afford to give White a chance to anchor at the edgeof my prime. If he hitsback we both have four-point boards, and I get to roll first. If he doesn'thit back, I blow him out of the water. Even if things go badly, White willstill have to leap my five-prime with both back checkers. Moving15/14 with the ace covers the important eight point and gives me 3-3 and6-6 to make the two point in addition to the numbers I already have.
Marty Storer: 15/14, 4/2*.
Blue must attack, attempting a closeout and trying todeny White the quick counterplay of the 23 anchor. Is itworth it to leave White a double-hitting 22? Probably;even after a single hit Blue may not be able to consolidatein the outfield. 15/14 has two main advantages: It gives 2more ways to cover the 2 point after a miss, and makes 66into a closeout number. There are arguments in favor of 4/2*6/5*; not only does that avoid the immediate double hit with22, but it diversifies Blue's entering and hitting numbers.The choice has to be close, but I think Blue does betterwith the natural 15/14.
Bob Stringer: 15/14, 4/2*.
The boards are equal strength and I have blots all over the place,but the gammon potential is huge if I hit. If White had only asingle man on the bar I'd be inclined to move to the ace pointafter hitting, so he couldn't both hit me and end up 6 points fromfreedom. But since he has to enter two men, I'll take the time toplay 15/14 in order to duplicate both 1's and 2's.
Kit Woolsey: 18/15.
Perhaps this is too conservative, but White's only asset is his four-pointboard and I would hate to see him get a chance to use that asset if I hitloose and he hits back. Those three blots in the outfield scare me. IfWhite rolls a two I'll be happy I didn't hit loose, and if he doesn't I canprobably hit loose next time with a lot more security.
Chris Yep: 15/14, 4/2*.
Blue has a stronger board/prime. I believe that hitting on the 2 pt. is essential as it wins a lot more gammons than any of the passive moves. 4/2*/1 is possible, but I prefer the big play of leaving the 2 pt. slotted. Blue's board/prime is significantly stronger than White's board, and the gain from completing a full 6-prime is large. Between 15/14 4/2* and 6/5 4/2*, 15/14 4/2* is better since it creates 28 covers for the 2 pt. (6/5 4/2* only creates 26 covers).
Summary: The consensus vote is full steam ahead with the attack. Isuppose in retrospect I must agree. While there is danger, it takesa pretty big parlay for the loose hit to blow up in Blue's face.