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.




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Position 467

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How should White play 55 here: You have to you put a second checker on the bar, so first you consider making your 1 point by playing 11/1* 6/1 10/5: The problem with this play is that you only have 2 builders with which to make new inner board points. You are also stacked on your 5 point. This looks ugly, because it is awkward. Consider instead 11/1* 6/1 13/8: You now have 3 builders for your 4 point but still only 2 builders for your 3 and 2 points. You are stacked on your 8 point, and you have given up control of the outfield. Fortunately, there is a better move. Consider 11/1* 8/3(2): This still makes a 3 point board. It also slots your 1 point. This means you now have 4 builders for your 4 point and 3 builders for your 2 point. If the checker on your 1 point is hit, you will still have your 13 point and an outfield presence. If Black misses your checker on your 1 point, then you will have many rolls to cover it and continue the attack if they have entered elsewhere or jus...
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