2022 - Position 191

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Match Play 0-0 to 5. Should Red double? If doubled, should White take?

This is a very deceptive position. With 12 checkers in the attack zone and White without an anchor it looks like a big double and a pass.

However, and perhaps surprisingly, the two Red checkers on the 23-pt turn this into a comfortable take for White who wins nearly 40% of the time. White’s checkers are all in play and build a useful prime against those rear Red checkers. The normal PRaT doesn’t quite work for this position and I for one, got this wrong over the board. It is understanding how out of play those rear Red checkers are that makes the difference.

I certainly learnt something from this position.