This is indeed fairly straightforward. With 61 we can make improvement on both sides of the board—cover the 5pt blot and split the rear checkers against white priming formation.

              
 
              
 | | White is Player 2
score: 0 pip: 163 | Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver | pip: 164 score: 0
Blue is Player 1 | |
XGID=-b---AD-C--AeD---abcb---B-:0:0:1:61:0:0:3:0:10 |
Blue to play 61 |
1. | XG Roller++ | 24/23 11/5 | eq: -0.071 |
| Player: Opponent: | 47.97% (G:13.98% B:0.64%) 52.03% (G:14.67% B:0.64%) | |
|
2. | XG Roller++ | 24/17* | eq: -0.146 (-0.076) |
| Player: Opponent: | 47.41% (G:11.80% B:0.58%) 52.59% (G:16.30% B:1.03%) | |
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
With 43 we can't split the rear checkers, so it's best to hit.

              
 
              
 | | White is Player 2
score: 0 pip: 163 | Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver | pip: 164 score: 0
Blue is Player 1 | |
XGID=-b---AD-C--AeD---abcb---B-:0:0:1:43:0:0:3:0:10 |
Blue to play 43 |
1. | XG Roller++ | 24/17* | eq: -0.146 |
| Player: Opponent: | 47.41% (G:11.80% B:0.58%) 52.59% (G:16.30% B:1.03%) | |
|
2. | XG Roller++ | 13/9 8/5 | eq: -0.206 (-0.060) |
| Player: Opponent: | 44.50% (G:14.38% B:0.80%) 55.50% (G:17.15% B:1.11%) | |
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10
With 52 we can't cover the blot on the 5pt but can only make the 3pt, so not hitting is a double whopper with cheese.

              
 
              
 | | White is Player 2
score: 0 pip: 163 | Unlimited Game Jacoby Beaver | pip: 164 score: 0
Blue is Player 1 | |
XGID=-b---AD-C--AeD---abcb---B-:0:0:1:52:0:0:3:0:10 |
Blue to play 52 |
1. | XG Roller++ | 24/17* | eq: -0.146 |
| Player: Opponent: | 47.41% (G:11.80% B:0.58%) 52.59% (G:16.30% B:1.03%) | |
|
2. | XG Roller++ | 24/22 13/8 | eq: -0.415 (-0.268) |
| Player: Opponent: | 41.25% (G:10.51% B:0.53%) 58.75% (G:21.01% B:1.44%) | |
|
3. | XG Roller++ | 8/3 5/3 | eq: -0.426 (-0.280) |
| Player: Opponent: | 39.59% (G:11.85% B:0.64%) 60.41% (G:18.83% B:1.08%) | |
|
eXtreme Gammon Version: 2.10