Chuck Bower: 21/11.The 11-point is valuable here and not worth giving up tomake the barpoint (leaving a bunch of shots) or hittingtwice. The choice for me is between 24/14 and 21/11.Although 24/14 dupes 2's and 4's, that still gives White many good tosses. IMO, Blue's situation isn't so desperatethat he needs to take a lot of extra risks. Three blots,no anchor, and a worse homeboard is not a good combination.21/11 is constructive and keeps some pressure on White toperform.
Doug Doub: 21/11.
Sometimes, simple is best. This frees a back man and puts aspare at a good place, while leaving no shots. Other moves try toaccomplish too much at far greater risk. We should not be anxious to giveWhite more opportunities to do good things with his stack on his 6pt, andhitting two men breaks a good point and throws a man out of play withoutreally accomplishing anything.
It is not a big deal if White anchors on our 5pt, since he is likely to beforced off of it before long. Additionally, we already have the cube, so wedo not have to worry about White's obtaining an efficient double against ourace point game at some point.
Neil Kazaross: 21/11
I see no reason to disturb a reasonable checker placement here and simplyplay 21/11 to bring another checker around to bear on my homeboard. We don'thave enough to gain by the double hit with only 1 point closed. Running24/14 leaves White too many chances to attack us, in spite of duped 4's and2's.21/11 is my choice.
George Klitsas: 13/9, 11/5*.
If the theory according to which the player that has possession of the cube is well advised to increase his winning chances (risking a greater percentage of gammons, but being able to use the cube efficiently more often) is correct, then 11/5* must be the half part of the solution, fighting for the 5 point. If this theory is wrong, then perhaps 21/11 is a safe move worth of consideration. In all cases, Blue is well advised not to break the ace point anchor, for the moment. After hitting with 11/5* (I decided to follow the above theory), I will continue with 13/9, trying to keep a positional character in the position and not with the committal and ugly 5/1*. I vote for 13/9 11/5*.
Snowie: 21/11.
This isn't great, but it is better than anything else. I bring a newchecker to the offensive front where I will need ammunition, and I don'tleave White anything to shoot at. All of the alternatives have someserious flaw. My play doesn't.
Marty Storer: 21/11.
White's blocking chances aren't great with a stacked6 point and two checkers rushed forward from the midpoint to the 3.Therefore Blue's 24 anchor is a better asset than might be expected.Considering that alternatives involve big concessions, Blue canafford to lose his slot for the 21 point. Running to the 11 pointkeeps pressure on White's back checkers, safely and solidly.
Bob Stringer: 21/11.
8/2, 6/2 can't be right, since it really strings out the position.24/14 is too risky, since it invites White to hit me when he hasthe stronger board. Unlike in the case of 21/11, it crimps myflexibility by putting a checker in jeopardy -- I don't want tohave to worry about lifting a blot from the 14 point when I haveother things to do. If my position weren't so nothing on White'sside of the board, I'd consider doing something that hits. Buthitting gives up the only point I've made so far, and unless Idouble hit (which doesn't accomplish anything that I can see), theodds are that White will hit back - again, when he has thestronger board. 21/11 escapes a checker to a safe place, fromwhich it's available to make a good point. That looks like thebest I can do with a not-very-good roll.
Kit Woolsey: 21/11.
Why not? I can use another checker in the attacking zone, and my backcheckers aren't in any particular danger of being primed. Making thetwo point is anti-positional, and other plays leave a shot which I wouldrather not leave.
Chris Yep: 8/2, 6/2.
Hitting (11/5*) is often right in the opening, but here it breaks the 11 point and comes at a time when Blue is outboarded. Blue can also make the bar point, but this still breaks the 11 point (and leaves a direct shot). I prefer the quiet approaches, 21/11 or 8/2 6/2. Between these moves, I have a slight preference for 8/2 6/2. 21/11 escapes a back man, but unslots the 21 point and reduces Blue's coverage of the outfield. Blue is way behind in the race, so wants to play a holding game (e.g. by making the 21 point). 8/2 6/2 keeps all of Blue's points, creates a new inner board point, and preserves Blue's chances to make an advanced anchor next turn. On the downside, 8/2 6/2 makes a deep inner board point and strips the 8 point, but I still like 8/2 6/2 over 21/11.
Summary: Not much doubt here. Quietly bringing that builder tothe 11 point and waiting was the overwhelming choice of the panel.
