top of page

What’s the right option?

So many choices, so little time

Credits

Problem 43 from "What's Your Game Plan?" by Mary Hickey and Marty Storer.


XG skin design by Rain

Analysis

Not a great roll, but lots of options - make the 5-pt, slot the 5-pt, split your back checkers, play safe, or some combination of all of those. What’s your game plan?


Hopefully you recognise you’re in the stronger position here - you have the better board and you have an anchor - factors suggesting you can & should pay boldly. So let’s rule out 10/7 or other safety-oriented plays.


What about splitting? White has the beginnings of a prime, but splitting gives up your anchor (that’s allowing you to play boldly in the first place) and converts White’s position to a potentially strong blitz. There’s no hurry to split right now.


So the answer is the 5-pt. But do we we slot it (with eg 8/5 - leaving 23 return shots but giving you two builders to secure a 5 prime), or make it (with 7/5 6/5 - leaving 24 return shots and still two builders for a 5 prime)?


When in doubt - the 5-pt is the 5-pt! Anything other than 7/5 6/5 is a massive blunder.


bottom of page