2023 - Position 17

XGID=-CDAa-BC--b--B---bad-aca--:1:-1:1:54:0:0:0:11:10

Match Play. 0-0 to 11. How should Red play 54?

7/3, 7/2 is safer than anything else but the best move is 13/8, 7/3.

This starts to clear the midpoint (when ahead in the race, race) while White has two inner-board blots.

There is very meaningful duplication of threes and fours. So much so that any play other than 13/8, 7/3 is a bad blunder.

This is really a pay me now, pay me later problem and everything points to pay now.