2024 - Position of the Week 2 Solution

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his is a tricky position. At first sight it seems that Red should simply make a run for it with 23/17.

However, he has no structure and even if not hit next turn Red will have trouble safetying the blot on White’s 2-pt e blot. Even after that, what is his game plan? He cannot play safe forever.

Red does better to start developing the rest of his checkers. He could take a tempo with 8/7, 6/1* but that exposes three blots.

Red should accept the fact that he will have blots hit. In that case the blot on White’s 2-pt must stay where it is to create the possibility of establishing an anchor in White’s home board.

The best play is 13/7.This move exposes just one additional blot and slots a point that Red would really like to make. As you can see from the rollout 13/7 is the only move that is not an error.

Once you see the move it makes a great deal of sense. The key is to be able to see 13/7 as a candidate play and then select it. Most of my students get this one wrong. How did you do?