Position 393

 How should White play 43 here:

After the roll you will be ahead in the race by 23 pips.

You could just try to clear your rear most point and play 13/6:

You will be hit by Black with 24 rolls as you are leaving a double shot. Even if you are not hit, you still have to get the checker on your 13 point to safety and then have to clear your 11 point.

If you are going to take a risk, you want the reward to be more tangible.

How about only leaving a single shot by playing 11/4:

After this move you will only be hit with 15 rolls which is 9 rolls or 25% less of the time.

While the actual number of rolls less, it would be good to start to clear the rear most point.

What would it looks like if you left no shots by playing 5/2 5/1:

The problem with this play, is that Black will probably give up their midpoint which will give them more builders to make the 5 point next turn, or they will make their 5 point this turn by rolling a 2.

Your 5 point board is a real asset here, so the last thing you want to do is start to dismantle it.

You really need to take decisive action now while our opponent has the blot on the 5 point. You really want to clear or start to clear your 13 point, and you do not want to weaken your board.

Consider 13/10 13/9:

This moves your 2 rear most checkers closer to home, keeps your 5 point board, duplicates Black’s 2’s to both hit and cover the blot on their 5 point.

Now all your checkers are closer to home, and even if you cannot safety all of them next roll, you will be so much closer to home that if Black misses you, it will be easier to get your checkers home.





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