61P-61P-62R-51$-21

Making the 5pt, P = 7/5 6/5, would leave White 1, 2, and 3 to cover plus 4 and 6 to hit. There are 15 rolls that would do both: 63, 62, 61, 44, 43, 42, 41, 33, 22. There are also an additional 4 rolls that would hit twice without covering: 65 and 64. These numbers incline me to choose something else!

Duplicating 3 with either R = 24/22 16/15 or e = 16/15 6/4 is a possibility. Duplicating 4 with $ = 13/11 6/5 is another.

Advancing the rear checker, U = 24/21, also deserves consideration. It connects the rear checkers, taking much less risk than the alternatives. Unfortunately, it would do nothing to address the brittle stacks Blue has up front.

Of the lot, my choice is to slot the 5pt. I like this play much better than slotting the 4pt. It puts the slot where I want it, and lets me bring a checker down from the midpoint at the same time. A checker on the 11pt provides a convenient place from which to play a 6.

Of course, simply lifting the blot on the 16pt, R = L = 16/13, might be as good as anything else. It’s the sort of play a tyro would jump at that is often overlooked by a more experienced player. I don’t care for it here, however, because it would aggravate Blue’s problem with stacks.

Mike

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