Position 408

How should White play 42 here:

You are ahead in the race, with one of Black’s checkers on the bar and you have a 5 point board.

Your goal is to make a 6 point board, so you consider 11/5:

Now you have 3 builders aimed at your 4 point. Do you have enough time, or rolls to make your 4 point? You need to make your 4 point quickly, and you are running out of time to do so. This points you towards a slotting play, to quickly make your 4 point.

Every 4, except 41 is good for Black here. 42 enters and hits bar/21 6/4*. All other 4s enter and escape into the outfield, hitting a White blot if possible. So, slotting your 4 point with 8/4 11/9 does not give Black good 4s, they already have good 4s.

Consider 8/4 11/9:

This is the correct move, as 41 is bad for Black (as Black cannot double hit) and 42 played bar/21* 6/4* (this is the correct move for Black) at least gives you a return direct shot from the bar.

This move does duplicate 5s and 3s to cover the slotted 4 point and escape the back checkers, but as you also have 6s to escape, it is still the correct move.

You might consider 8/4 6/4, effectively slotting your 6 point:

With this move any 6 by Black is good for Black, so this move is the second best move.



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