Chuck Bower: 22/11.Is making the barpoint here worth the awkward 5 that remains?I think the answer is "maybe." The 5-8 prime is so strong thatI can't see eschewing it. Dumping behind White's anchor isalso pretty nauseating with builders at a premium. The onlynon-covering roll that even tempts me is 22/11 which gives alot of covers if White misses. But that's a pretty big 'IF'.OTOH, the midpoint is definitely valuable here. Maybe thesure midpoint with possibilities of also getting the barpointis better than the sure barpoint with no hope of owning themidpoint. If White hits on the barpoint, that's only thethird checker back which is the same number imprisoned after13/8, 13/7. And as always, White's hits (which look correct) give up the anchor and leave returns. Even amidpoint iconoclast appreciates the midpoint sometimes.
Doug Doub: 22/11.
I would be happy to cover the bar point if I could do socomfortably. However, that is not the case. Freeing a man does a greatdeal for our timing here. Our racing deficit puts us in reasonable shape ina prime vs prime battle, as long as we don't have too many men back.Further, if we are hit on our bar point, we should have plenty of rolls thatreturn hit.
Neil Kazaross: 22/11.
We desparately need some air here ! 22/11 is my clear choice sinceif we play 13/7, the 5 stinks.
George Klitsas: 22/11.
The main idea is that the bar point must remain slotted, in order for Blue to cover it and, more or less, equalize the game. White is not a favorite to hit anywhere, especially on Blue's bar point, and Blue is a favorite to make it, if not hit.
Snowie: 22/11.
I need air! If I don't run the back checker now, it may be a long timebefore I get another chance to leap White's blockade. It is too bad aboutthe blot left on the bar point, but White doesn't have to hit it. IfWhite misses I will be a big favorite to cover it next roll, and then I willbe in position to put up some kind of a fight in the priming battle.
Marty Storer: 22/11.
Were it not for the bad 5, Blue would eagerly makehis bar. The choice is between forgoing the bar for the momentand running one back checker, or breaking the midpoint to makethe bar, 13/7 13/8. Putting a checker behind White's anchor isthe very wrong idea. Both the above choices have their attractions,but I don't like the prospect of four checkers back with reducedoutfield control. 22/11 feels pure and strong; 13/7 13/8 feelstoo disjoint.
Bob Stringer: 22/11.
I want to make my bar point, but there's just nothing to be donewith the 5. 13/8, 13/7 is the sort of play I'd make over the boardand regret latter -- I simply can't break the midpoint anddisconnect my checkers that badly. 13/7, 6/1 takes a checker outof play when there's still too much to be done to improve myposition. 22/11 simply recognizes that I've got a crummy positionwhich requires me to take a risk to improve things. If White*doesn't* hit the blot on the bar point, I have a good chance ofcovering it and then things will be looking up.
Kit Woolsey: 13/8, 13/7.
I think I have to have my bar point if I am going to be able to putsufficient pressure on White in the future. Playing 21/11 isolates myback two checkers from the rest of the world. It is bad if White hits,and if White doesn't hit he still has a big edge in the priming battle.Staying on the 22 point gives me a chance to make than anchor in thefuture, which would be very nice.
Chris Yep: 22/11.
As a common saying goes, "Do what's difficult for you to do. Make your opponent do what's difficult for him to do." (Robertie, 501 Essential Backgammon Problems, problem 254, p. 199.) It's difficult for Blue to escape White's prime cleanly, while it's difficult for White to roll a 4. 22/11 works great when White fails to roll a 4, since Blue will now be a big favorite to complete the 4-prime and gain a significant timing advantage.
The panel was near-unanimous in its decision to spring a back checkerrather than lock up the bar point. It still isn't obvious to methat making the bar point is so wrong here. Will it be so easy forBlue to win without the bar point, particularly with his army dividedin two? Perhaps the timing will break down, but I'm not sold yet.
