2023 - Position 140

XGID=-aB-CCB-AA--bAc-ab-bBbb---:0:0:1:00:0:0:3:0:10

Unlimited Games. Should Blue double? If doubled, should White take?

This one came up in a lesson and the result surprised me. Clearly it is a huge double for Blue, but the duplication of fours gives White a comfortable take. I would have dropped.

White’s good home board and structure are sound and holding the 11-pt helps. White may anchor on the ace-point and win from there. With Blue’s 20-pt racing lead it still looks like a pass to me, but XG assures me it is an easy take.

If you move the White checker from his 9-pt to his 10-pt it becomes a big pass. Duplication matters!