Position 377

 How should White play 63 here:

You are clearly the favourite here, and even if you choose the worst option of the ones I will consider, you will still wins 64% of the time with 32% Gammons. But do not be satisfied with second-best, you want to maximise your wins and gammon wins.

You have 3 more inner board points then black, so you are not too worried about the blots that you leave around the board.

Consider 13/4:

This gives you 12 checkers in the zone, and prepares to attack Black’s rearmost blot. You will happily hit loose, even if your opponent makes another inner board point.

The issue with this play is that you have very little chance of remaking your midpoint, and have therefore given up or reduced your amount of outfield control.

Consider making your 18 point anchor with 24/18 13/10:

You do not need to lock up an anchor here, you would rather keep your blot spread out and welcome a blot hitting contest as your board is so much stronger than Blacks.

Anchors are good, when you are in danger of being blitzed or primed, but to quote Mike Corbett “this is an anchor without a boat”, meaning an anchor that we do not need.

Consider 9/3 6/3:

This gives you a very strong board, but does not lock in control of the outfield.

This move also keeps the pressure on Blacks blot on their 2 point with your checker on your 24 point.

This is the move that wins the most Gammons, but not the most games.

Although this is a very strong move, you can do slightly better. Consider 22/13:

Now no matter what happens you will have an outfield presence, that will make it harder for Black to escape there rear most checker.

You keep the pressure on Black’s checker on the 2 point, and Black will have a lot of difficult rolls to handle here.

The way to think about this position, is to make the move your opponent least wants to see you make. How would you feel as Black here, after White’s play is the correct 22/13? I would be hoping to roll something amazing, but I’m not even sure what would be amazing here as Black.



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