XGID=----b-B-CC-BeBa--bCe------:0:0:1:53:3:4:1:5:10
Match Play. Red trails 3-4 to 5 (Crawford Game). How should Red play 53?
18/13, 9/6 is nice and safe and maintains equality in the position. However, at 2-away vs 1-away (Crawford) Red should be playing for a gammon.
The best way to do that is to make new points and/or block White’s rear checkers.
18/13, 8/5 plays to that idea but best is 18/10. White will hit with 62 and 66 but otherwise he will leave the blot alone. Note also that if White does roll 66 it will give Red the chance to create a goalkeeper in White’s home board. These little things matter.
18/10 it is, with 18/13, 8/5 a close second.