2022 - Position 107

XGID=-b----EDBa-Ca----babbbb--A:1:1:1:11:0:0:3:0:10

Unlimited Games. How should Red play 11?

Should you play this as a prime versus prime or as an attack?

The fact that White’s two rear checkers are still on Red’s ace-point is the biggest clue. Red should,play this as a prime versus prime game. The correct move is bar/23 (coming to the edge of the prime), 6/5(2) (building Red’s prime). Bar/24, 11/9*/8 is the fourth best play and is an error.

It is easy to be deceived by the prospect of White making a full prime next turn with a six, but the prime will be no good if the rear checkers can’t escape. The long-term advantage of Red building his own prime outweighs the short-term gain from the hit which is largely ineffectual anyway because of Red’s undeveloped home board.