Position 380

 How should White play 43 here:

After the roll you will be ahead in the race by 34 pips and have fully escaped your back checkers, so your first thought is just to play safe with 10/7 10/6:

But how safe is this move? Gaps directly in front of your opponent’s anchors, can be extraordinarily treacherous and dangerous. Rolls like an immediately 64 play awkwardly.

You will not have much time to make your 4 point naturally, as you have 2 checkers out of play on your 2 point which is behind Blacks anchor.

Consider making your 4 point now with 8/4 7/4:

This gives you a 4 point board and a 4 prime in front of Blacks anchor. You have your 8 point slotted and are threatening to make a 5 prime.

Even if you are hit here, you will have many return shots from the bar and now you will have a stronger board than Black.

Because Black’s board is only a 3 point board, you will re-enter after being hit with 27 rolls or 75% of the time.

All these factors combine to making this the correct play.


Let’s take a closer look at those factors. How important are your two checkers on your 2 point?

If those two checkers were back on your 7 point, you would have much more time to make your 4 point naturally, so 10/7 10/6 becomes the correct move.

If we put those checkers back on the 2 point, but give Black a stronger board, does this mean we should make the safer move?

Now with Blacks hits being much more fatal, and Black having is stronger board as you after you play 8/4 7/4, it becomes correct to play 10/7 10/6.


 

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