How should White play 31 here? After the roll you will be behind in the race by 36 pips, so you are unlikely to win this game by racing. Because your opponent has three checkers on their 1 point, they have a very inflexible position and will have to you run off their 22 point, which is your 3 point. You want to be waiting for them, as they have no outfield presence. You want to have a strong outfield presence. Consider your outfield presence if you play bar/22 14/13: This move makes it less dangerous for your opponent to move into the outfield. For that reason, it must be rejected. Consider bar/22 13/12: This move leaves 8 rolls that hit you – 65, 64, 63 and 54. That’s 22%, which is just too many rolls. Consider bar/22 6/5: This leaves only two rolls – a 65 for Black to hit you. If you are not hit when your opponent moves into the outfield, then you will have a double shot at the fleeing checker and the ability to maybe hit loose on your opponent’s checker left behind on your