2018 - Position 218
By Chris Bray, Dec 19 2018 03:53PM
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Money Play. How should Red play 54?
A pay me now, pay me later problem.
17/8 or 8/3, 6/2. White’s board is improving, and Red is running out of time. After 8/3, 6/2 both of Red’s outside points are stripped and the alarm bells should start ringing for him.
This points to 17/8 as the correct play and indeed it is. 8/3, 6/2 is an error. Pay now.
8/3, 62. One move away from yesterday's position.
It's not clear to me that paying later is the best strategy (8/3,6/2). Red is ahead in the race, and burying two checkers now might mean being squeezed off the anchor on the 17pt when white's home board is stronger and more dangerous. I'd run, which is more thematic, especially with the blot on white's 1pt. 17/8
This likely represents Red's best chance to safety one of his back checkers, even @ the expense of leaving a double shot. Only eight hit/cover shots, however. Pay now & avoid a slow death. 17/8.
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