This is another interesting position from Mr. Robertie. I see three basic approaches:
- Hit inside: 10/4*, then either lift (4/3), or shift (9/8)
- Hit outside: 22/15*
- Cover: 9/2
Cube position is significant. Hitting inside and shifting, 10/4* 9/8, leaves two points slotted, and White shooting a double shot from the bar. I wonder if White should double in such a circumstance. In part because of this, hitting inside strikes me as the weakest of the three alternatives, yet, should White anchor on the 4pt, Black will be in big trouble.
Hitting outside has a nice feel. It keeps the checkers flowing, and leaves Black in flexible position. Provided he doesn't dance, he can even withstand a hit on the 2pt. Once again, he should fear a White anchor more than anything else.
After hitting outside, White’s next roll looks like this:
- 9/36 = dance
- 9/36 = hit on Black’s 2pt (21 23 25 26) or 10pt (55)
- 9/36 = anchor on Black’s 4pt (41 43 44 45 46)
- 3/36 = hit on Black’s 2pt and anchor on Black’s 4pt (22 24)
- 6/36 = enter 1 checker on 5pt, leaving a triple direct shot at 2 blots (51 53 56)
My inclination, however, is to cover the 2pt, making a four-point board. White dances 16 times in 36, and then Black will have regained the initiative. Of course, White hits (45 46 55 56), or makes an anchor (41 42 43 44 51), 16 times in 36, and when he does, Black will be in a nearly untenable holding game. On the other tosses (52 53), Black will have many shots.
My solution:
9/2