2021 - Position 160

XGID=-a-aC-D-D-A--A---f-c-bB-b-:0:0:1:43:0:0:3:0:10

Unlimited Games. How should Red play 43?

Over the board, 10/3* was played (by me) and I think that move would be the choice of a lot of players.

However, the race is close, White’s home board is stronger than Red’s and White still has two rear checkers to escape. On top of that some of White’s fives and threes don’t play well if Red doesn’t hit.

This all adds up to the quiet 13/10, 8/4 being the correct play and 10/3* is an error.

I like this problem because it demonstrates that the ‘obvious’ play is not necessarily correct. I played 10/3* without much thought but much thought is precisely what this position needs to arrive at the correct answer.