Position 469

 How should White play 54 here:

Firstly, you consider the move that leaves the fewest shots; 16/7:

But this leaves you only one builder to continue fighting for the gammon, and making the 7 point would be nice, but it is not very threatening.

You have also diversified Black’s numbers, as they enter with any 5 or 4 and hit from those points with any 3 or 2.

As you want to be able to continue blitzing, you consider 16/11 13/9:

Black will still enter with any 5 or 4, and be able to hit with 6, 5 or 4. There is some slight duplication here, but not enough.

You do not want to make your 11 point especially if Black ends up anchoring on your 5 point. If this happens, you will then have to clear your 11 point and the hardest point to clear is the one 6 pips away from an anchor. So do not start it in the first place.

Note that this leaves 3 blots around the board. The correct move leaves 4 blots around the board. It is 13/9 13/8:

Black will enter with any 5 or 4, and be able to hit with any 5, 4 or 3.

If Black anchors on the 5 point, it will be good to have your 9 and 8 point slotted as you would very much like to make them as safe landing spots as you bring your checkers home.

Although this looks foolish to leave 4 blots around the board, you are slotting a point you would like to make and maximising your builders to continue the blitz.

Blitzing is very much about commitment and bringing more material into the attack zone.