Position 394

 How should White play 55 here:

You are really glad that you entered from the bar. The trick now is to play 55 the best way to maximise your winning and examining chances.

You could just make the safe play of bar/5:

This move could end up creating a powerful position in the future, but for the next roll it gives your opponent the chance to consolidate their position. Therefore, it is too safe.

Consider bar/15 9/4(2):

You have improved your board strength, but Black does not feel under much pressure, particularly as you have left a blot that they can hit with any 3 as well as 66 and 44.

Consider bar/20 8/3*(3):

This puts a Black checker on the bar, and appears to be a move that puts Black under pressure. But if you look closer, Black does not enter with a 3, but can use a 3 to hit 8/5*.

You have also made your home board points out of order, whereas you really want to meet them in order.

It is good that you have put a Black checker on the bar, but you will probably have to you end up hitting loose here, so why not just hit loose immediately? Consider bar/20 9/4(2) 8/3*:

Now Black’s 3’s hit in your inner board and hit 8/5*, so you have duplicated Black’s 3’s. And if Black does not roll a 3, you will be in a great position to make a 4 point board, and/or carry on the blitz.

This is the move that puts Black under the most pressure.

Phil Simborg has a saying, “make the move your opponent does not want you to make”. This is that move.