2021 - Position 163

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Unlimited Games. How should Red play 41?

This is a very close decision.

We can discount the super-safe 8/3 as that takes a checker beyond both the bar and the 5-pt, where it could usefully live.

8/7, 6/2*, taking a tempo and the safe 13/8 are tied in the rollout.

The best play, but only just, is 13/9, 6/5. This attempts to counter-prime White. It wins more games but loses more gammons. The rollout has it as best by 0.016 equity points.

In real terms any of the three plays is OK and it is partly a matter of style which you choose.