2023 - Position 112

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Match Play. Blue leads 5-4 to 7. How should Blue play 31?

Blue cannot sit back and let White have command of the board. Bar/24, 6/3 gives White much too an easy ride.

Blue must challenge for a high anchor now with bar/22, 24/23. The second-best play is bar/22, 6/5, seeking to develop a stronger front position and that play is only a tiny error.

Bar/21, coming in range of the checkers on White’s 10-pt, is a bad error.