2022 Position 134

XGID=--BcCCBBB----A--------ach-:1:-1:1:54:2:0:0:7:10

Match Play. Red leads 2-0 to 7. How should Red play 54?

The basic strategy for these positions is to separate the three White checkers in Red’s home board. Keeping the prime is the wrong plan, paying off to big doubles a bit later. Much better to try to split the checkers now and potentially pick up White’s blot on his 3-pt as well.

The top three plays all involve 7/2 with 7/2, 5/1 just winning the prize. 13/4 is a reasonably sized error. The key here is understanding the strategic plan. You normally don’t execute a plan like this until White is reduced to a two-point home board. With a three or four- point home board for White 13/4 becomes the best play.