2024 - Position 10

XGID=-aB-b-D-BBB-cCb--b-bba----:0:0:1:53:2:0:0:7:10

Match Play. Red leads 2-0 to 7. How should Red play 53?

Perhaps surprisingly, 10/5, 8/5, making the 5-pt, comes in second place despite the play leaving two blots.

13/10, 6/1* attempts to get rid of White’s annoying goalkeeper bur leaves Red with an ugly structure and three stripped outer board points.

The simple 8/3, 6/3 is the best play. It makes a new point, duplicates White’s fours and leaves only two stripped outer board points. Sometimes simple is best!