Position 407

 How should White play 62 here:

This is from a match between two very good players. The score has been removed as it was early in the match.

A world-class player played 11/3:

The good news about this play is that you are threatening to make a 5 prime. Unfortunately, it is harder to prime a single checker, as it is easy for a single checker to escape. Also, you would like to be behind in the race when you are priming (as you can keep your structure for longer), but here you are ahead in the race.

The bad news is Black will hit you with any 6 as well as 51, and if they do not hit, they have many rolls that will make an inner board point or their Bar point.

You consider the hitting play 24/16*:

Although this puts you ahead in the race, and partially escapes a checker, you will be hit by Black with any 3, as well as 62, 61, 52, 51, 42, 41, 21, 22 and 11. That is 27 rolls, or 75% of the time. Note that 11 hits twice.

This move is just too risky, so you consider 13/7 3/1*:

This move gives you a 4 prime and puts Black’s checker on the bar.

There are many problems with this move, any 1 hits but also any 3 or 2 without a 1, let’s Black enter on a point where they can jump over the 4 prime with a direct number. As you are ahead in the race, and only priming one checker, you really do not want to be playing a priming game.

Consider 6/1/ 3/1:

This move puts Black on the bar, creates a 4 point board and stops Black improving their position with their many builders.

With 16 rolls, Black will stay on the bar. Your 4 point board will be an asset for the rest of the game. Some players dislike making the 1 point, as it means that they will not be playing a priming game. But Black cannot hit you from the bar and will have to be more conservative for the rest of the game.

If this is early in the long match or an unlimited game without Jacoby (as many games are in New Zealand) and Black does not enter, then this is too good to double. With Jacoby, it is a clear pass.

Everybody makes mistakes, even the best players in the world. They become the best players in the world by looking at their mistakes and learning from them.