Chuck Bower: 24/18, 13/9*.13/9* cuts a huge chunk out of White's race lead. 13/7 and 8/2*then give White a lot of chances to regain all of that. 24/18is the last candidate standing. The deep checker isn't that important now that two of White's checkers are occupied in Blue's homeboard.
Doug Doub: 8/2*, 6/2.
We would rather hit the blot on our 9pt, (presumablyplaying 24-18 with the six), but I prefer the gain from making an innerboard point and unstacking our 6pt, while leaving no blots. We don't makeup as much ground in the race this way, but we should have plenty of chancesto hit later on.
George Klitsas: 8/2*, 6/2.
I quickly make my two point on White's head [8/2*, 6/2], before I change my mind.
Mary Lee Pinkney: 24/18, 13/9*.
Since I am behind in the race, and the strength of both inner boards is even, I would definitely hit with 13/9. This also puts another builder in place for next turn.
I would then move my blot on the 24 point forward to the 18 point with my 6. I'd rather be hit there than on the 7 point or the 2 point.
Snowie: 24/18, 13/9*.
Hitting on the nine point both sends a second White checker back and putsa builder in a good position. Making the two point is a bit premature --I'm not ready to attack. After hitting, 24/18 is the only six whichdoesn't put a checker on a bad point.
Marty Storer: 24/18, 13/9*.
This is a simple, strong play, eschewing the deep 2 pointor a loose hit thereon. It also minimizes returns on Blue's side of theboard. It's too early to worry about keeping a trailer on the 24 point.24/18 13/9* is the clear choice for me.
Bob Stringer: 13/9*, 13/7.
Since I already have 3 men back, I've got to send back another oneof his checkers. That rules out 8/2*, 6/2. Since I'm behind in therace, the back man stays on White's ace point. 13/9*, 8/2* lookslike a fair effort to get an offense going, but I don't likestripping the 8 point here in order to attack the 2 point -- I'd bemore inclined to hit a second man if it gave me the chance ofmaking a higher point in my board.
Casper van der Tak: 24/18, 13/9*.
We can leave out 13/7 13/9*, which is pointless. 13/9* 8/2* strips the 8-point, and leaves a blot that may be hit and otherwise may be difficult to cover. White would have 12 immediate hitting numbers that would be costly in the race, with more shots to come. The plays I like best are 8/2* 6/2 and 24/18 13/9*. 8/2 6/2* tries to take advantage of the fact that White may not be able to safety his blot on the 16-point, so that it might be hit later while Blue has a stronger board, but I'd go for the simple 13/9* 24/18, which gains more in the race, leaves Blue with good prospects to improve his frontal positions, and initiates a blot hitting contest at the right side of the board.
Kit Woolsey: 24/18, 13/9*.
Hitting on the nine point seems right here. I want to make sure Whitehas two checkers which have to escape. 24/18 looks right for the six.This gives White some shots at the blot, but getting hit on White's barpoint is no big deal. If White does hit there I may be able to hitback, and if White doesn't hit I can continue to advance that checkerand consolidate my position. Plays which involve hitting on the two pointseem too disjointed.
Chris Yep: 24/18, 13/9*.
A tough decision. In the early game, making the 2 point is often right, but here Blue is behind in the race and White is threatening to escape a back man. Since Blue has an advanced anchor and is already behind in the race, he is less concerned with White's return hits. I like 13/9*. With the 6, I like 24/18. 24/18 makes it easier for White to dump checkers behind Blue's anchor, but it gives Blue another checker to patrol the outfield. 13/7 and 8/2* are less desirable because they strip valuable points.
Summary:Another strong vote by the panel for the solid choiceof hitting and advancing the back checker. Making the two point is abit too committal here.
