Chuck Bower: 13/9, 11/9.Hitting is reflexive, but why leave White so many return shots? Blue shouldcapitalize on his solid race lead. Making the 4-point is a possibility, but this reminds me of Magriel's warning: "don't duplicate just for the sakeof duplication." Two blots are harder to clean up but one, and 2-2, 4-4,and 5-4 hit twice. Furthermore, how much better is the 4-point than the9-point? A likely gameplan for White is the 18-point holding game, in which case the 9-point has more value to Blue than the 4-point.
Steve Clark: 13/9, 11/9.
The normal solution when we roll a 4, 2 in response to a blot on our barpoint is to hit it, 13-7. Unfortunately all the plays involving 11-7 leavean extra blot around. The principle alternative in most situations where wesee a blot on our bar is to make our 4 point. Unfortunately that play alsoleaves extra blots. Duplication of 4 is nice but I don't particularly wantto devote my next roll to clearing up these loose checkers.
13-9, 11-9 makes a constructive point. One that will be quite usefulwhether or not White makes our bar. With only one loose checker we will bewell positioned to make progress next roll. I think this play is astandout.
Ray Fogerlund: 8/4, 6/4.
Make a point and duplicate 4s. I have to leave a shotanyway, this is the only play that improves my position... The 9 point would be my second choice of plays for the same reason. Hitting seems a little loose leaving a virtual double shot
George Klitsas: 8/4, 6/4.
The duplication of fours, allows Blue to make the four point (8/4 6/4), which is my choice. If I were to hit on the bar point, I would not leave many blots around and my play would have been 16/14 11/7*, which is close (in equity terms) to the chosen play in the given position, and the automatic play in most similar positions, when duplication is not a consideration.
Laila Leonhardt: 8/4, 6/4.
Making points hardly fails. They will come back and pad you on the backlater on.It might look big to leave 2 blots, but look closer and you'll find that 4sare duplicated hitting numbers and if not hit you have a nice lead in therace with good builders.You have to leave a shot anyway, so make something constructive while Whiteis still without a home board
Rob Maier: 8/4, 6/4.
I don't care for the hitting plays, they don't develop the position and end up leaving more returns than the nonhitting plays. Making the four point is a significant improvement, and leaves the hitting numbers duplicated.
Snowie: 13/9, 11/9.
Making the four point or hitting White's blot are both constructuve, but theseplays leave too many blots and shot numbers. I am ahead in the race, so Idon't want unnecessary contact. Making the nine point is solid. Only oneblot, and the nine point will be a good landing place to help bring theposition home safely if White anchors on my bar point.
Marty Storer: 13/9, 11/9.
Blue is substantially ahead in therace, so he should minimize blots and shots. White'sthreat to make Blue's bar isn't horrifying becauseof Blue's racing lead. The 9 point will help bringthe 16-point blot to safety if White misses, andit will help clear Blue's midpoint later.
Bob Stringer: 13/9, 11/9.
My original thought was 8/4, 6/4 - what with 4's duplicated, why notmake a good point? However, if White doesn't hit, that leaves me with2 blots to worry about next time. Enough of that. 13/7* doesn't makeit since it leaves too many blots strewn around. The 9 point is decentenough, and if White then doesn't hit the last blot, I'm ahead in therace with a solid position.
Casper van der Tak: 8/4, 6/4.
All hitting plays suffer from leaving too many shots (11/7*/5 leaves 19 shots, 13/7* leaves 20 shots, and 16/14 11/7* leaves 19 shots, if I am not mistaken), risking the racing lead for too little gain, since preventing White from anchoring on the bar is not that great here.
Note that after the roll, Blue will be 21 pips ahead in the race, which means that Blue will be pretty happy if White is not able to hit next turn and makes the barpoint. Typically, Blue would be ahead by 13 pips or so, coming home against the bar anchor - a nice advantage.
Making the 9 point and making the 4 point leaves less shots (16 for 13/9 11/9, 18 for 8/4 6/4). Both create an asset, and assets are ... right. Making the 4 point gets the nod, preparing in the most efficient way for a blot hitting contest that may results from a White hit, but I suspect that making the 9 and preparing to come home safely is a very close alternative.
Kit Woolsey: 16/14, 11/7*.
Making the four point looks nice with the pretty duplication of fours, butWhite would also have good sixes to make an advanced anchor. PreventingWhite from making that anchor appears to me to have a higher priority.White has no board, so if we get a checker or two hit back in a blot-hittingcontest it won't be too painful.
Chris Yep: 8/4, 6/4.
Of the moves which hit White off the bar point, 13/7* looks best. However since 8/4 6/4 and 13/7* are roughly equal on the opening move after the opponent has split with 6-x, it looks like the positional considerations of this position swing the balance toward 8/4 6/4. In this position Blue has a 21 pip lead and several blots, so he would rather consolidate his race advantage than get in a hitting battle over the bar point. 13/9 11/9 is also strong (one fewer blot, same number of shots as 8/4 6/4 [all 4s and 9s except 1-1 and 3-3]), but 8/4 6/4 makes a stronger point and puts more pressure on White's 18 point blot.
Summary: A close vote between making the inner board point but leavingone more blot vs. making the outer board point, with one mad hitter in thecrowd. I now admit that my hitting play is a bit rash. If I had to do itagain, I am persuaded by the arguments for making the nine point.
