Alan Alsop: 22/20, 6/3. Annoying little roll this one. Trying to squeeze out different combinations is always fiddly, but intriguing. Do we move up the back man, or make the 5 pt. shall we bring down a man from the midpoint, or leave the 5 pt and make the 3 pt. How best to play? I am reluctant to reduce my blockade and I am not going to move from Whites 5 pt. White will also be looking to unstack from the 6 and 8 pt which could also mean picking up an extra man from Whites forward play. Blue could find he will get a little cramped around the board with men to play, which would be alleviated by moving up his back man. Risking a shot on the 5 pt I could leave the blot there and drop a man behind Whites back men with the 3. Planning to spring the back man and a good chance if not hit of maintaining my blockade.
Chuck Bower: 22/20, 8/5.
Although Blue was hoping for an ace, covering the 5-point appears mandatory.Here he can cover with either a 2 or 3. The key seems to be the single onthe 22-point. What is that checker doing? If staying put, is it an assetor a liability? I don't see how staying on the 22-point works in Blue'sfavor. White can point-on-head or hit loose. And Blue may haveuncomfortable 6's to play quite soon. Blue's 20-point anchor is sufficientthreat; he doesn't need an additional loose checker adding to White'sdiscomfort. Blue's own comfort is more important, IMO. Make the 5-pointand add a spare to the 20-point, ready to spring.
Steve Clark: 6/3, 5/3.
This is an amorphous position where it is hard to prove that any play isbetter than the rather unconstructive 13-8. We shall see if we can do better.
What I want to do is to play 22-20 so that I can better escape my back men andI want to make my 5 point. So, what about 22-20, 8-5? Unfortunately thisleaves a direct shot and a position that does not feel very good to me. 8-5,8-6 leaves no shot but feels worse with us having 5 men on the 6 point. Howabout 7-5, 6-3? This less obvious play give me better distribution of mycheckers. This might be a small improvement on any of the prior plays, but13-8 still might be better.
Another direction is 6-3, 5-3. This builds an inner board point, granted itis the wrong one, but my other checkers are reasonably well placed around theboard. We leave no significant blots. Hmm, I rather like this play. I amnot sure but this actually looks like it is better than 13-8.
Ray Fogerlund: 22/20, 8/5.
Too early to start burying checkers, I think. I make the5 point and put the spare on the "launch pad". It's a bummer to get hit,but I can handle it.
George Klitsas: 8/6, 8/5.
The simple 8/6 8/5 looks best. A case could be made for 22/20 8/5 in order to keep slotted the eight point and, hopefully, make a four point prime in front of White's anchor, but White rolls first and would happily hit with most fours, I guess.
Hannu Lyyjynen: 8/6, 8/5.
I want neither volunteer a blot on my side of the board nor move the checker on the 22-point, it is fine where it is. This leaves only making the three or the five point. I choose the intrinsically more important five point despite the slight stack on the six point.
Snowie: 22/20, 8/5.
Assets are assets. I'm going to own my five point for a long time.Also, I put the back checker where it belongs. If White hits, I canlive with it.
Marty Storer: 7/5, 6/3.
I don't like 22/20 5/2, which concedes White a slight edge. 8/68/5 is in the same category. 13/8 gives decent chances for afour-prime, but if I'm going to leave a shot I'd rather make the5 point for a better tactical stance if White hits. That leaves8/5 22/20 and 7/5 6/3. I want to develop quickly on my side ofthe board, so I like 7/5 6/3 a little better. The 8 point is abetter blocking point than the 7 point; White's 31 isn't goodfor hitting; 6/3 unstacks to a good spot. The blot on the 22point isn't in much danger because White's best attackingnumbers are good elsewhere.
Bob Stringer: 22/20, 8/5.
13/8 is out, since my options on later plays will disappear veryquickly -- the midpoint will be stripped, and everyone else, except theback men, will be bunched in front of White's anchor. I have tomaintain the midpoint, and unless I get a decent roll to spring theman on the 22 point, I'll have to start dumping men behind White'sanchor, which is not the way to win this thing. 22/20 seems essential, eventhough in the very short run keeping it back makes White's play moreuncomfortable. Making the 5 point looks like the only useful thing todo in conjunction with 22/20 -- since, again, I'm not rushing to dumpcheckers behind the anchor.
Casper van der Tak: 22/20, 8/5.
What are Blue's goals? To make the five-point; to build a 4-prime, to spring his back checker, and to avoid losing ground in the race. No play does all of these, so we have a problem. My first priority here would be to cover the 5-point, so 8/5. Picking up the blot makes it too difficult to build a prime; so that is out. Hence 13/11 or 22/20. 13/11 leaves more shots (4 additional shots), more blots (3 vs 1), pointing numbers and double hit numbers; in compensation, it creates more covers (9 additional cover numbers). I think the risk reward ratio is not got enough, especially since stepping up with the back checker and preparing to spring it is very useful.
The suggested play makes the five point and a 3.5prime, prepares to spring the back checker, and leaves only 11 shots and one blot. An additional plus of 22/20 8/5 is avoiding to strip the midpoint.
Kit Woolsey: 22/20, 8/5.
There are various priorities involved here. I would rather not gobehind White's anchor if I can avoid doing so, and making the fivepoint will be valuable in the long run. Leaving the direct shoton the eight point may not be so good, but White doesn't have to hitthe blot and if White does hit I will have no trouble entering.If the blot is not hit, I may be able to remake the point. In addition,the spare on White's five point is poised to spring out into the outfield.
Chris Yep: 13/11, 8/5.
If Blue doesn't make the 5 point now, it will likely lead to future awkwardness. Thus I prefer 8/5. With the 2, I like 13/11. Although it strips the midpoint, it gives Blue extra covering numbers (or extra return shots from the bar if White hits Blue's 8 point blot). Moving up (22/20) is nice, but I think Blue should give priority to his prime in this position. In fact if Blue is hit he might even prefer hanging back, so the gains of 22/20 are not so clear.
Summary: Move all checkers to the five points on both sides of the board saysthe panel. How bad a philosophy can that be?
