2020 - Position 11

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Money Play. Should Red redouble? If redoubled, should White take?

When this position occurred over the board, I invoked Woolsey’s law and redoubled. I was more than pleasantly surprised when my opponent dropped.

I was fairly sure it was an easy take. After all Red has to roll five numbers, a one, a two and three sixes (and in the right order), while White has only to enter three checkers into a four-point board where he is favourite each turn to enter one checker.

Looked at with that logic I began to think the double was circumspect and so it proved on a rollout. Redoubling is 1.5 blunder. Red must improve before redoubling. If he escapes a checker and White fans it is a pass but if Red escapes a checker (except with 61 or 62) and White enters one checker then it is still no redouble.

Of course, many will pass this so if you know your opponent well enough (I did) you can redouble with an air of confidence. Good luck!