2022 - Position 2

XGID=--B-cBCBCa-------c-bccBA--:1:-1:1:65:0:1:0:3:10

Match Play. 0-1 to 3. How should Red play 65?

For money 23/12 is clearly correct. At this score and with the cube on 2 it is a different story. White’s gammons are irrelevant so Red can play more aggressively and put his checkers where he wants them.

White is favourite whatever Red does but 23/18, 22/16 is the best winning attempt, escaping two checkers from behind White’s prime. Both 23/12 and 23/18, 8/2 are 0.05 errors.

It takes courage to make plays like 23/18, 22/16 but the score dictates that the bold play must be tried.