2020 - Position 225

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Match Play. Red trails 1-3 to 5. How should Red play 53?

As many of you who have commented have spotted this is an extreme “gammon go” score as a gammon wins the match with perfect efficiency for Red.

That blot on White’s 4-pt has a significant impact on the choice of move. Without it a safe play would be appropriate, but that blot makes 10/7, 6/1 the right play with 10/7, 8/3 second-best. 10/7, 8/3 is not bad enough to be classified as an error but 10/7, 6/1 wins the day. Be bold!