Most of you got this right for all the right reasons.
- Hitting takes you from 0-60 in the race figuratively. You're way down before the roll, after the hit you're slightly ahead.
- Hitting slots the best anchor you can hope to get. Barring small doubles from the bar you're likely to win the battle for the golden anchor. Even when your opponent hits an immediate fly shot you're a favorite to anchor up on the 5pt.
- Taking away half your opponent's roll is always good, and here you give White some not so sexy sixes. Granted, they play, but the ones that don't hit don't play joyously. Always something to pay attention to when figuring out "to hit or not to hit", esp. in the early game, how do my opponent's sixes play?
- Your other biggest problem (the race being the first) is the mound of checkers on the acepoint. You alleviate that issue by hitting. It's a shame to pass up making your own 5pt & 9pt but if you make those points instead and White covers her 5pt you will constantly be worrying about bad numbers. Your position turns to peanut brittle with few spares to play unless you're able to get your carcass off the ace.
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| Board image courtesy of GO-Figure | |