Position 425

 How should White play 65 here:

Your anchor offers you security, so it is understandable that you want to keep it and play 8/2 6/5:

This gives you a 4 point board, and if you are missed and Black leaves their rear most checker on your 4 point, then you will have 3 builders ready to attack it next turn. Also, if you are missed, you may just make your 6 point.

The problem with this play is that you are not considering your gameplan. After the roll you will be ahead in the race by 11 pips, meaning that you should be thinking of racing. This move risks being hit on your 6 point and losing your racing advantage.

Eventually anchors must be broken, so you consider 20/15 8/2:

You will be hit by 2s and 4s, but your 2s are duplicated to hit in two different places.

Your board is stronger than your Black’s board and if only one of your checkers is hit, then you will enter on 27 rolls or 75% of the time.

I always find myself getting in trouble when I do not do what the dice are telling me to do. Here you are ahead in the race so you should be racing.





 

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Position 420

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 How should White play 54 here: It is always disappointing to miss when you have a double shot at a blot. But there is nothing you can do about that; you missed so you need to focus on finding the best play. The safe play is 6/1 6/2: But this is just too safe. You need to hit a blot as you are so far behind in the race, and when you hit that blot you need a board that has no blots in it. This move changes your board from a 4 point board to a 3 point board with a blot. You could minimise the chances that your opponent will hit you by playing 18/13 18/14: But to win, you need to hit and to hit you really want to maximise contact. This move does the opposite and minimises contact. You need to be aware that Black’s board has 2 open points. That means if you are hit, with one checker you will enter on 20 numbers or 56% of the time. Consider 13/8 13/9: This move retains your 18 point, which is back far enough that it will take many rolls for Black to get their 2 checkers on their...
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