2022 - Position 26

XGID=-----aD-C---dDa--b-ebA--C-:0:0:1:61:4:5:0:7:10

Match Play. Red trails 4-5 to 7. How should Red play 61?

21/14* is the wrong idea, leaving three checkers on the 24-pt. Much more logical is to try to make the 21-pt. Therefore, the ace should be played 6/5* to take a tempo.

Logic then says you should activate one of those three rear checkers and so the six is 24/18. 13/7, 6/5* is the second-best play but that is still an error. To use a well-known adage, “put them where you want them”.