Alan Alsop: 7/4, 7/1.Take the risk now or wait? Pay now or later. If we decide to wait the alternatives are not attractive. A common accepted approach is to wait it out and the doubles will come. If Blue is hit he could be trapped especially if the 5 pt is made. If White rolls big numbers his timing could be struggling and he could break from the midpt. I will go for pay later.
Chuck Bower: 15/6.
Why is Blue supposed to break up one of his four blocking points?Is White's timing that bad? 15/6 is the direct approach, notparticularly dangerous, and consistent with the race lead. Whenit fails Blue gets a return shot.
Nigel Buchan: 7/4, 7/1.
I found this problem the most difficult. Blue is ahead in the race, but White has some timing difficulties, his game is too far forward. Therefore I think Blue's game plan should be to block and make points hoping White will come off the12pt first, then Blue can double. I would keep the 8pt, White just might get double 3, this would leave only double 4 to run.
Neil Kazaross: 8/2, 4/1.
I've been served too many burgers for plays like 15-6 which don't winthe game when they work since the race isn't close to gin and there's still some clearing to do. Lets look for something else. 7-4,7-1 looks playable, but what about next roll ? I don't like the way the next roll looks so, while I may roll a joker, I'm afraid I won't. Thus I vote for the "clever" (perhaps too clever) 4-1, 8-2 which makes it riskier for White to hit this 3 shot, since my return shots have are stronger with a better board. If missed, I can continue working on my board. I give a slight nod to 4-1, 8-2.
George Klitsas: 15/6.
It seems to me much better to pay now (15/6) than postponing the inevitable (i.e. to leave a shot). After the move that is probably second-best (7/4 7/1), White's position will keep improving and Blue's [in all probability] deteriorating. All the ingredients, including the race advantage for Blue, are here for paying now.
Hannu Lyyjynen: 7/4, 7/1.
A blot here could easily backfire. The only play leaving no blots is clearing the barpoint. Flexibility is not ideal but there are some spares in the home board to play with and soon White is going to face similar problems.
Snowie: 7/4, 7/1.
There are times to pay now, but this isn't one of them. The problem is thatif I play 15/6 and get away with it, I'm still a long way from claiming.The race is fairly close, and I will have the later problem of clearingthe 11 point. White does have some inner board blots, but his board isstronger than mine and he has several hit and cover numbers if I run.Discretion is the better part of valor.
Marty Storer: 7/4, 7/1.
In races as close as this one, bots tend to ding me severely for volunteering, even when opponent has multiple blots inside. I'll guess the weenie play is best. With another roll's worth of racing lead, I'd bite my tongue and break the 15 point.
Bob Stringer: 7/4, 7/1.
I'm playing safe here. Every play that leaves a blot, with theexception of 7/1, 6/3 (duplicating 2's), gives White thediversification to both cover his five point and to hit. I don'twant to give him that many chances to make a big improvement, so Iplay safe and hope for a better roll next time.
Casper van der Tak: 7/4, 7/1.
Safe. Blue is ahead in the race, but not by much. Blue would like to break his back anchor, but that would invite a blot hitting contest in which Blue is outboarded, and has a vulnerable bot on the 24 besides. The blots in White board may provide an argument for playing 15/6, but look again: fully 11 numbers hit and cover one of White's blots. All other plays leave a blot, while not clearing a point that is difficult to clear.
Just play safe, and wait for doubles or White to break a key point. The gap between the points is ugly, but this is not a museum.
Kit Woolsey: 15/6.
I have a small racing lead, and if I pay later my board is going todeteriorate while his gets better. This looks like a good time to paynow. White does have several hit and cover numbers, but not all of hishits cover.
Chris Yep: 7/4, 7/1.
Completely safe but necessary. For example if Blue plays 15/6 White will have 9 numbers that hit and make a 4 point board (3-2, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 5-5). The fact that 7/4 7/1 covers Blue's acepoint blot and that White is also running out of time swing the decision to 7/4 7/1 in my mind.
Summary: Another example in the pay me now or pay me later category.I'll bet that 10 years ago the vote wouldn't have looked anything like this.I'm still not convinced since White does have inner board blots nowand abandoning the bar point could lead to ugliness later on, but theaguments for paying later are persuasive.
