Alan Alsop: 8/3, 6/3.Blue is in danger of leaving one to many blots on this move. He wants to make something out of this roll. Running is achieving little, but hitting is a definite plus point but could leave one to many chances for White. I will make my 3 pt.
Chuck Bower: 14/6.
My first instinct in this kind of position is "fight for the5-point." Of the plays that do that, I prefer 14/9, 8/5*which leaves the fewest returns, but still 23. Moving theback checker up doesn't appeal to me since that checker isneither under attack nor close to being primed, and there are too many other things to be concerned about. Making the3-point is a contender, as is the beginner play: 14/6.
The safe-vs-bold criteria lean towards safe here, withonly one checker back. Although Blue will be slightlybehind in the pipcount after 14/6, having only one checkerback is a significant plus in the race. 14/6 has a coupleother small advantages. The 8-point retains a spare. AndWhite will likely have tougher decisions. Hitting opp'sblots is usually an easy decision, especially in a close race.But after 14/6, how should White play his fours, for example?I'm siding with the beginners on this one.
Ilia Guzei: 14/9, 8/5*.
If I do something quiet like making my 3 point, I am likely to have an inferior game: the opponent is aiming at my blot on the 14 point, he can anchor or extend his prime. Essentially, I will be behind in every aspect of the game after his next roll - behind in the race, no anchor, no prime. Thus, I am fighting for my 5 point with 8/5*. He�s got no board, therefore being hit is not fatal. For the 5, 14/9 seems a bit better than 13/8 as it leaves the same number of blots but diversifies my numbers better.
Neil Kazaross: 8/3, 6/3.
It would be nice to hit loose but those plays leave lots of shots andblots. Running leaves two outfield blots and doesn't come close to winning in it works. 14-6 is safe and could easily be right, but I recall being dinged by Snowie for a similar wimpy play in a game from the book with 3 of my matches..so I'll lean towards making our 3 point which leaves us with more going for us if not hit.
George Klitsas: 24/16.
Almost everything has merit here and I am far from sure about the best move. 24/21 14/9 duplicates 4�s but activates 2�s from White�s six point - better than 24/21 13/8 tho. 14/6 looks like the play one could choose if he happened to roll a 4-1 (actually, if he rolled a 4 and his opponent an ace) and played 13/8 at the start of a game- not really bad in equity terms but we�ve learned to make more constructive and less conservative moves in the early going. 14/9 8/5* is better than 13/5* in my opinion (fewer return shots), but uses the last spare from the 8 point and this is a serious drawback, a fact that rends less attractive another candidate as well, namely 8/3 6/3 along with the unthinkable 8/5* 6/1*. Remains a move that one could not even think of, if Blue had another spare on his 8 point and, at the same time, White had another spare on his midpoint. The play I am talking about (my final preference) is the unusual 24/16, exploiting the lack of spares on White�s midpoint (even 6-2, which hits,becomes problematic). A battle of spares.
Laila Leonhardt: 14/9, 8/5*.
Maybe Blue should be happy that he has one back-checker in the outfield, buthe wont be able to sneak his way home and built little towers waiting formagic rolls to appear and save him.No points in either home board, White has an advantage in his small butpotential prime, Time for Blue to grab control of game before he will seethat prime grow longer and stronger
Snowie: 8/3, 6/3.
Assets are assets. 14/6 is too ugly, 13/5* is too loose, and 24/16 justgives White too many good rolls.
Marty Storer: 14/6.
Magriel's criteria call for some safe play. Althoughhe cautions against super-safe plays in the opening, this oneis reasonable. Blue isn't as squeezed for safe moves next timeas it may look. Other moves are decent--I could live with anyof them--but when in doubt I'll favor classic b(B)ackgammon.
Bob Stringer: 8/3, 6/3.
Make a point. I have a nothing board and nothing anywhere else. Idon't want White to make my 5 point, but the odds are that I canworry about that on my next roll. 14/9, 8/5* might be worth a try,but it's speculative, whereas an inner board point is solid. Ididn't even consider 24/16 before I looked at the choices. Whilethat's the kind of move that I've taught (or tried to teach)myself not to overlook, it looks too clever by half in thisnothing position.
Casper van der Tak: 8/3, 6/3.
Assets are� etc. I truly don�t know, something to be said for 13/5*, 24/16 or 14/6 as well. Building the 3 makes a concrete improvement, which is why it is my choice here.
Kit Woolsey: 8/3, 6/3.
14/6 is safe, but we need to start developing. 8/3, 6/3 makes a point andstarts to unstack the heavy six point. White has no new inner board points,so we can survive if we are hit.
Chris Yep: 14/9, 8/5*.
14/6 completely escapes a back man, however it looks too inflexible here. I believe Blue can do better. White's weakly fortified midpoint (he has to strip his midpoint to hit) means 24/16 and 13/5* are strong candidates for example. 8/3 6/3 is also a candidate, but I suspect 13/5* is a little stronger (e.g. after an opening 5-4 played 24/20 13/8, I believe 13/5* is slightly better than 8/3 6/3 with a 5-3; thus I believe it is also slightly better here). I like 14/9 8/5* best of all though. It provides a similar number of direct covers as 13/5* but has the additional benefit of completely escaping the 14 point checker.
Summary: Assets are everything says the panel. That three point isgoing to be around for a long time. It is hard to find fault with thischoice.
