Position 463

 How should White play 44 here:

After the roll you will be ahead in the race by 19 pips.

You first consider playing 13/9(4):

This gives you 13 checkers in the attack zone and seems to block Black’s checkers on your 3 point. This seems good, but it also gives up control of the outfield. This means; that Black can spread their checkers out in the outfield and make it hard for you to escape your rear-most checker.

If Black rolls a 4, they can hit you or make their 18 point. They can also make their 18 point with any 5. Once they have their 18 point, you will not be out to prime or block them, you will only be able to attack their single remaining checker.

Consider 13/9(2) 24/20 6/2*:

This is the bit of everything move. You advance your rear most checker ready to escape, you make your 9 point and you attack an inner board checker. Although this seems like it is achieving a lot, it is trying to do too much. You can be hit with any entering 4, 3 or 1. You can also be double hit here, which would be disastrous. You leave 3 blots around the board.

Consider the other hit of 6/2* 8/4(3):

The good news about this move is that it increases your board strength.

You will be hit with any entering 5, 4 or 2. You will also be hit 11. If you get into a blot hitting contest, you will only have 9 checkers in the attack zone. You leave 3 blots around the board.

If you are hit on the 15 point with a Black 4, then you will only have entering 2s to return hit the blot on your 11 point.

Is there something better? Consider 24/8:

This takes advantage of your racing lead, fully escapes your back checker and only leaves one blot.

However, this move does not make your 9 point which is useful for blocking and as a landing spot for checkers from your 13 and 15 points.

Consider 24/16 13/9(2):

This really does achieve a lot of goals. It starts to extract your rear most checker, makes your 9 point, and creates a good blocking structure.

If Black hits from your 11 point but only hits one of your checkers, then you will have return         shots at the checker on your 11 point with checkers from 2 different points (the not hit checker on the 16 or 15 point and your midpoint). This could force Black to give up their outfield control.

If Black ends up making their 18 point, then having the 9 point as an additional landing spot will be very useful. Retaining your 13 point is also very useful.

More than any of the positions recently, this position shows the value of trying out how candidate moves would look over the board. I must do this more often.