2020 - Position 54

XGID=-a-bB-CBBaB------bcbd-C-A-:1:1:1:51:3:2:0:5:10

Match Play. Red leads 3-2 to 5. How should Red play 51?

I had this position against Raj Jansari in a London League match. After long thought I played 22/16 to make sure I didn’t crash my position.

Sadly for me that was the wrong play. I should have obeyed Falafel’s Law and made my 5-pt with 10/5, 6/5, trapping three of his checkers behind a five-point prime. I was overly pessimistic about my chances. The cube is effectively out of play and I must win with my checker play.

22/16 is an error but not a blunder.