2022 - Position 12

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Match Play. 0-0 to 7. How should Red play 21?

Red should not leave his rear checkers split when outboarded and his opponent holds a high anchor.

The choice is between bar/24, 13/11 and bar/23, 24/23. They both win about the same percentage of games but bar/24, 13/11 loses 5% more gammons and therefore bar/23, 24/23 is the correct play. It is remarkable how advancing the rear checkers just one point nearly always reduces the lost gammon percentage significantly. Worth remembering!