2022 - Position 55

XGID=aBbB-BCBCAa-------bbabbb--:1:-1:1:21:4:5:0:11:10

Match Play. Red trails 4-5 to 11. How should Red play 21?

This is a lesson on when an asset becomes a liability.

Red needs to clear his outer board checkers, ideally while White is still on the bar. The bar-point has served its purpose and it is now a liability rather than an asset. Red’s fives could shortly become a problem.

Therefore, the correct play is 7/6, 7/5, clearing the point immediately. All other plays except 8/5 are blunders or worse. 8/5 is merely a bad error.

This position provides a key learning point.