2023 - Position 98

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Match Play. Blue 0-0 to 11. How should Blue play 62?

Paying now with 18/10 is the wrong idea as the seventeen shots are likely to be winning for White.

Similarly, playing safe with 8/6, 8/2 is wrong. It is safe for one roll but what will happen next turn?

Both of these plays are very bad blunders.

Best is 8/2, 4/2. This builds a new home board point and puts the pressure on White. Even if White rolls a five the game will be far from over while Blue retains his anchor on White’s bar-point. There will be considerable life after death for Blue in this variation.