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In this round 10 match from the Chicago Open between Bill Calton and Jeb Horton, Bill (who is leading 7-1 /9) enters from the bar with this 21. He has the option of hitting Jeb’s checker on the 23 point, or hitting his checker on the 8 point. Which checker would you hit, and why? Let us know in the comments!
Video Below (starts @38:51)
ANSWER: Bar/24 10/8
This is a tricky one, because it might seem pretty automatic to many people that you should hit on the 23 point, and step up to the edge of the prime, but this is actually incorrect. The key here is timing… if we hit and step up, black will either dance, or enter and be able to move his spare checker in the outfield to the other side of the board. Both of these options allow him to maintain his five point prime, while we crunch rather quickly if we don’t roll a six. By hitting his checker on the 8 point, the hope is that he will quickly enter, and be forced to play his future rolls by breaking his prime.
Not really sure here, but I’d hit on the 8 point. Reducing return shots on the outer board blot from 7 to 4 shots. I don’t really see any good duplication for either play.