Alan Alsop: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.Move up to the 21 pt is definitely the first part of the move. What =about the second part? Carrying on is possible, still leaving two =blots. Moving from the 8 pt is pointless. Blocking the bar pt would =definitely be on especially if White was holding the one pt. It is still =a good move perhaps not as strong. White has good distribution and in =with excellent chances to take control of the game. Therefore I think it =would be wise to hit White keeping him off balance.
Chuck Bower: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
Shifting points in the homeboard is a lot more common today due to botinfluence. Although more common in blitz mode, occasionally it can be donewith opponent owning an anchor, and I think it is right here. Three things point towards this move: 1) Blue has a vulnerable blot on the 15-point which needs protection, so diverting White's attention helpsaccomplish that. 2) White has a vulnerable blot on his 8-point. Again,forcing White to come in from the bar makes it harder to safety that blot.3) Blue is well positioned on the homeside to remake the 4-pointin the near future.
Ilia Guzei: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
Making an advanced anchor with 24/21(2) is good in all variations as the game has a ways to go. If things go badly, the anchor is there to fall back onto. If things go well, it will be easier to bring the back checkers around from that point. What to do with the other two 3's? 10/7(2) makes a 4-prime and blocks White's checker on the 24 point, but it's too passive as I do have two blots. Shifting 4/1(2)* has a lot going for it - White is on the bar against a 4 point board and if he dances I will be shooting at his blot on the 15 point. I also have four checkers trained on my 4 point that I could remake with numbers that do not hit.
Oystein Johansen: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
In such situations it is very often right to switch points. 24/21(2)4/1*(2) keeps a chequer in the air. The argument against this play must bethat Blue has lots of chequers to bring home before everything is gin. Butstill after this play there's eight rolls that remakes the four point inthe next roll alone, assuming nothing goes wrong -- like the blot on 8 gethit. I don't it's right to lift the blot with 24/21 8/5 4/1*(2). It's justlooks wrong. 24/21(2) 4/1*(2) must be the right move!
Neil Kazaross: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
This is the only one of this problem set that is very clear to me. I don'tlike any cute looking plays making our 15 point and leaving us stripped while White has many nice rolls. This isn't a beauty or purity contest so I think it's really clear to shift 4-1x(2) and anchor up with 24-21(2) . A nice bonus is that White has another blot in range and may end up semi-blitzed if he dances. This play is clear in my mind as strong and necessary to hopefully prevent White from improving and using his potential. We have the better board, we don't have real priming chances with two men already behind his 3 anchor and we are miles ahead in the race. The switching attack play is very clear.
George Klitsas: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
The five listed candidates, after some thought, are reduced to two for me, namely the bold 24/21(2) 4/1*(2) and the positional and much more quiet 24/21(2) 10/7(2). The first should win more gammons but could often backfire. The latter gives too much freedom to White, I think, and good diversification for his numbers (5's and 3's hit, 4's make the crucial 16 point). Ugly as it might seem, I will go for 24/21(2) 4/1*(2).
Laila Leonhardt: 24/21(2), 10/7(2).
Making the 7th point looks to me as a must here,It creates the absolutely strongest prime you can wish for in the currentgame and puts pressure on White to get a deuce to get his back checker inplay, else it will sit there for Blue to hit on when he finds himselfcornered and needs are diversion to escape from White's out board control.Moving up in the homeboard will ensure Blue a bigger contact surface withWhite, which he with a much stronger board will always welcome, but alsoforces White to extra caution
Snowie: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
I have a four-point board. White has a tasty blot in the outfield. Attack!The potential gain if White flunks is huge. The shift off of the fourpoint isn't so bad, since I remain with the made ten point gazing downon the now empty four point.
Marty Storer: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
White has good structure; left alone he may improve it.With White owning the cube, Blue must play to the end, andthis looks like the time to strike. Switching to the 1may be ugly, but if White fans or enters with a bad number,Blue has a great chance to power home to a gammon. IfBlue switches points, he may as well make the valuable21 while attacking White's second blot. Plays that hitloose seem too risky..
Bob Stringer: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
I don't like the three plays that don't involve shifting andhitting with 4/1(2).* Two of them leave two blots in the outfield,and the third stacks 'em up on the 5 point -- too ugly. Leavingtwo blots on a hitting play isn't as risky, since White has to usehalf his roll to enter. 24/21, 8/5, 4/1(2)* uglifies that 5 pointagain and leaves open the possibility of an accident. 24/21(2),4/1(2)*, on the other hand, makes things nice and safe in White'sboard and maximizes my chance of re-making the 5 point, so that'show I play it.
Casper van der Tak: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
Puts White on the bar against a four-point board, aims at a second blot, advances the anchor and prepares to escape, protects the blot on the 15 point by putting White on the bar, and keeps builders in position to remake the 4-point - what more do we want? Time to bulldozer this position home.
Kit Woolsey: 24/21(2), 10/7(2).
I can't see any of the shifting plays. The short term gain of puttingWhite on the bar will be compensated for by the long term loss of thefour pont. My solid play puts my checkers in good places for upcomingrolls. White's threes are duplicated, and he will have to think twicebefore breaking his anchor to hit on my eight point.
Chris Yep: 24/21(2), 4/1(2)*.
White has the better timing, thus it is essential to get the back men moving (all the candidate moves include moving at least one back man). Blue's gammon chances will increase significantly if he can send a 4th checker back (he'll also win more games). I strongly prefer 24/21(2) 4/1(2)*. This moves advances Blue's anchor and connects all his checkers. At the same time it attacks White's blot (44% of the time White will stay on the bar). Note further that Blue's numbers are diversified next turn. 1s, 4s, and 6s bear on the open 4 point, while 5s hit in the outfield (if White is still on the bar). 2s can be used to make the 8 point or move the outfield checker.
Summary: The panel was near unanimous in favor of the shifting play.Does the short term benefit of putting White on the bar against the four-pointboard compensate for the long term weakness of the hole on the four point.I guess that I can be convinced that it does, particularly since White isthreatening to make his nine point. However, making the bar point looksso much prettier.
