2024 - Position 148

XGID=--aBCADB----c---bbCc-b-b--:1:1:1:44:4:0:0:11:10

Match Play. Red leads 4-0 to 11. How should Red play 44?

Despite the attraction of attacking in this position with 18/10(2), 6/2(2)* Red should follow Michy’s guidance and leave nothing for White to aim at. Simply 18/14(3), 5/1 leaves Red 27 pips ahead and owning the cube, a very powerful position.

The attack is not quite a blunder, but it is definitely an overplay, particularly with Red leading 4-0. If the score was 0-0 18/10, 6/2(2)* would be the best play but only by a fraction.