I recall the mandate not to move the back checkers (if they have not already been moved) after your opponent plays down with 55 on the second roll. With that in mind, here are my thoughts concerning rolls of 65, 64, 63 and 62. 31P-55P-65 — With this roll I would play $ (Slot) = D (Down) = 13/8 13/7, slotting a good point, and adding a useful builder to the 8pt. 31P-55P-64 — Make the 2pt. Playing D (Down) = 13/9 13/7 seems unnecessarily bold when the constructive P (Point) = 8/2 6/2 is available. I am not too sure of this one, because Blue’s structure is somewhat disjointed after making the 2pt, being both spread and stacked. Slotting the bar point solves both problems when it works, but doing so entails offering up a good 6 to an opponent who has few. 31P-55P-63 — I like $ (Slot) = 13/4. Slotting the 4pt is probably better than slotting the bar. It’s the better point. Admittedly, you don’t get to unstack another builder from the midpoint, but you don’t give your opponent a good 6 either. 31P-55P-62 — I am usually too conservative with this kind of play, but I would make the quiet move L (Lift) = O (outer) = 13/5. I’ll guess that slotting the bar point, 13/11 13/7, is second best, although QF suggests the cute & (Double slot) = 13/7 6/4. Mike | ||||||||
