Chuck Bower: 24/15.Blue's top priority is to establish and advanced anchor. Thateliminates 22/13. Putting a checker on the 20-point wouldfurther the cause, but then there is no convenient 5. Breakingan outfield blocking/landing point to build the homeboard seemslike a dangerous diversion. So we're left with 24/15.
George Klitsas: 22/13.
I am behind in the race and I see the merit of staying back on the 22 point, controlling much better White's outfield, but I have no convenient play if I decide not to move this checker (10/6 10/5 ?! perhaps). So I vote for 22/13, which, by the way, strengthens the midpoint. I will try to spread my back checkers on my next roll.
Laila Leonhardt: 24/15.
Blue wants the outfield control to keep contact with White and to try toadvance forward on the board moving the holding game into the midfield. The outfield checker duplicates White's good 3s
Snowie: 22/13.
Simple checkers. A badly needed spare for the midpoint, an escaped checker,and no blots for White to shoot out. I'll deal with the other back checkerslater -- they aren't hemmed in yet. Other plays weaken my position.
Marty Storer: 22/13.
Blue is behind in the race and would love to remedy that byhitting. Failing a hit, Blue could use an advanced anchor foran improved holding position. The trouble is that 54 doesn'thelp accomplish either goal. After 22/18, trying to make the18 point or to hit back after White hits, there's no good 5 onBlue's side of the board. The same is true if Blue starts byplaying 24/20 instead of 22/18: no good 5. Blue can keep the 22point slotted, with 24/15 or with 10/5 10/6. But the three-blot24/15 seems too loose, and the 10 point is pretty good as arestraining point. I wouldn't break the 10 just yet. The besttry is apparently the simple, nondescript 22/13. It's not badto escape a checker safely. Blue will probably be able to mobilizethe back checkers next time. White doesn't have much of a buildingthreat yet, and he may even leave a direct shot: 65, 62, and 51all do so.
Bob Stringer: 10/6, 10/5.
I pretty much have to hit to catch up, and White just might beleaving a shot on his next roll. I'll therefore leave the checkeron the 22 point for decent coverage of his outfield. 22/13, safelyrunning to the mid-point and keeping the 10 point is a closesecond, but since I'm behind I want to maximize the number of myshots if White leaves something. I don't care for any of theremaining plays. 24/20, 8/3 is too awful for words, and the restleave shots.
Casper van der Tak: 10/6, 10/5.
I don't see much reason to do anything special. White has an advantage due to the better quality board, lead in the race, less checkers back, and the advanced anchor, but White's position is difficult to improve without leaving shots. This points to a move that helps to build our position, retains a solid defense, and does not leave shots that will give White a tempo while developing. Also, we do not want to leave too many home board blots, since these will make it difficult to capitalize on hits.
Following this logic: 24/15 leaves a blot where we do not want to be hit, giving White builders with a tempo and cutting down on return shots; 24/20 10/5 gives White hitting options with otherwise unproductive rolls, and risks some wipe-out sequences; same for 24/20 8/3, noting also that 8/3 is hardly a productive way of building once board; 22/13 seems contraindicated by the race, and does not put enough pressure on the outfield, and 10/5 8/4 leaves too many home board blots, while allowing White to break from the anchor with a hit.
10/6 10/5 works towards building the home board, and does leave not easily hittable blots. The drawback is that it gives up the 10-point, but that point may not be too valuable here. 10/6 10/5 is my first choice, and I think the unspectacular 22/13 may be second
Kit Woolsey: 22/13.
Much as I would like to make a more advanced anchor, that isn't whatthe dice have spoken. My back checkers aren't hemmed in, moving themisn't urgent. I can use the spare on the midpoint, and holding theten point may be important.
Chris Yep: 10/6, 10/5.
Blue is significantly behind in the race, but has the opportunity to fill in the open high points in his board while White sits on the 18-point anchor. 10/6 10/5 starts the board, while still covering the outfield adequately. Although 24/20 covers the outfield better, the second half of the move (20/15, 10/5, or 8/3) hurts Blue's structure too much. 20/15 disconnects Blue's back men and lets White develop (by hitting) with 3s, 10/5 lets White hit with 3s, and 8/3 strips the 8 point and dumps a spare mostly out of play on the 3 point. 22/13 is also a candidate; it adds a valuable spare to the midpoint and keeps the 10 point, but at the cost of disconnecting the back men and not building the board. I like 10/6 10/5.
Summary: The simple safe running play was most popular, although otherchoices had their support. This seems best. No need to panic yet.
