Alan Alsop: 24/22, 6/3.Blue has very little men to play with and well behind in the race. So Blue has to get things moving. The roll is not the best for pt making and extra men are not available in Blues outer board and midpt. Fortunately White is not well placed, and will be looking to take risks. I like to wait for this by holding a strong defensive position in Whites homeboard by making the 22 pt. Coupled by slotting on the 3 pt trying to make a stronger homeboard. If hit Blue is not in trouble as this man can
Chuck Bower: 13/11, 13/10.
Finding the 3 looks like the first part. I like 13/10. All other 3'seither stack, overshoot the 5-point, or make White's life easy (24/21).That leaves three deuces: 24/22, 22/20,and 13/11. 24/22 has the plus of grabbing the second anchor, buttakes the pressure off White's blot on his 2-point. 22/20 keeps thepressure on the back blot but cancels the possibility of making thesecond anchor, and puts a spare where 6's are blocked. 13/11 bringsa builder for the 5-point into position. Blue's outfield blots arerelatively safe because a hit gives Blue a double shot at White'sdeep blot. Finally this move doesn't leave White an easy ace-shotas its competitors do. Midpoint iconoclasts, unite!
Nigel Buchan: 24/22, 6/3.
Way behind in the race. Blue can make a 2nd pt and go into a holding game or just move up to the 20pt giving him a bit more flexibility, the only 3 I can see is to off load the 6pt and slot on the 3pt giving him a decent 6 to play.
Neil Kazaross: 24/22, 6/3.
24-22, 6-3 looks best to me to place our checkers in the most convenientspots and play a game which can move forward or backwards. The 2nd anchor isn't bad here and we certainly aren't committed to holding it should things go well on the offensive front.
George Klitsas: 22/20, 9/6.
The various plays that totally or partially abandon the mid (White's outfield at the same time) are all questionable. Adding a third spare to the six point is not far from ideal and another on the defensive five point is also a good idea. The back checker is ok where it is now, putting pressure on White's blot on the 23 point. Blue is not hopelessly behind in the race and could catch up by a hit. Needless to say, my play is 22/20 9/6.
Hannu Lyyjynen: 22/20, 6/3.
This puts the checkers where they belong. Also the pressure on White's blot on his two point is maintained.
Snowie: 22/20, 6/3.
I'm not planning on playing a backgame. Outfield control is where I needto build up my strength, so 22/20 is the logical two. I like leaving theback checker on the 24 point in order to harass White's blot on his two point.I can use my three point, and it won't be the end of the world if I am hit.In addition, I duplicate aces.
Marty Storer: 24/22, 6/3.
I've seen many similar positions where a double anchor does better than a single anchor plus greater immediate chances to hit. So between 24/22 6/3 and 22/20 6/3, Blue probably ought to take the double anchor. The shot equity will endure. No inflexible plays like 9/4 allowed. 6/3 is constructive; Blue doesn't fear being hit.
Bob Stringer: 22/20, 6/3.
24/22 doesn't appeal to me, since there's no way I'm going to keepboth of the anchors. This certainly is not time to be thinking ofa 3-5 back game, of all things. Instead, the checker on the 22point has to get going at some point; although it doesn't *have*to go to the 20 point right now, since it will be leaving soon,the checker on the 24 point should just stay back. 24/21 justgives White's targets to aim at, as does anything with 13/10, andthe latter idea also gives up the midpoint and divides my army inhalf. 22/20, 9/6 gets a moment's thought, but it makes mystructure too rigid, so that was a bad thought. 22/20, 6/3 issmooth -- it prepares to run with one of the back men, it leavesWhite's blot in jeopardy, and putting a blot on the 3 point isn'tthat dangerous, since I'm behind in the race already, have thestronger board and am protected by an advanced anchor.
Casper van der Tak: 24/22, 6/3.
Blue can play this as a two way game: build the second anchor, and then slot the 3. If hit, Blue gets a crack at the blot on the 23, and otherwise can fall back on a sound holding/back game structure; if missed, make the point and play aggressively to go forward while for the moment retaining the two anchors.
There are other approaches, for example 22/20 6/3. This would be motivated by the blot on the 23 point, hoping to pick it up next turn. Could be close, but I like 24/22 6/3.
Kit Woolsey: 24/22, 6/3.
It isn't clear just what path this game will follow. I need to be preparedfor as many eventualities as possible. Making the 22 point is a good start.I'm not exactly planning on playing a back game, but if I have morecheckers sent back this gives me the necessary defensive structure. Forthe three, I might as well start my three point. It is a point I need,I unstack the six point, and I don't mind being hit. Other approachesare too committal.
Chris Yep: 22/20, 6/3.
I like staying back on the 24 point for another chance to hit White's 2-point blot. If Blue stays on the 24 point, he can either play 13/11 13/10, 9/4, or one of the 22/20 plays. 13/11 13/10 doesn't appeal to me since it breaks the midpoint when Blue still has 4 back checkers. 9/4 front-loads Blue's builders and leaves him a little thin in the outfield. Instead I like 22/20. Although it decreases Blue's immediate coverage of White's outfield, Blue will next spring the 20-point spare into the outfield to gain more control of the area around the two midpoints. At the same time, Blue will have extra security knowing that he can hit from his 20 point without breaking the anchor. With the 3 I like 6/3. 9/6 leaves Blue with a stacked 6 point and 13/10 breaks the vital midpoint. 6/3 leaves a flexible position, with little immediate loss if White hits with a 1 next turn (Blue will often have return shots at White's 2 point blot; also Blue already has 4 back men so sending a 5th back won't hurt much).
Summary: Almost the entire panel liked the idea of unstacking theheavy six point to slot the three point, recognizing that purity haspriority here. As for the back checkers, I am very comfortable withmaking the 22 point. They can't take that one away from me whateverhappens.
