very hard one for me

[Simborg]

I had trouble with this one. Black to play 6-5






9/3, 6/1 is right. I made a very poor play here, so don't feel bad if you did...this is a very complex situation.

[puzzle_t0rico]

Wow!!!
What I find the most incredible is that the best moves leave a blot either on 7 or on 9. I would not have done the best move in my whole life.
I would have covered the 7 and move the 8 or move the 2 blots.
Why is it correct to leave the blots?
_________________
If the brain were simple enough to be understood, we would be too stupid to understand it.

[Simborg]

The key to this position is bringing your checkers home. If you just play safely and pick up the blots, including the one on your bar point, about the only way you are going to get your checkers home is if you roll doubles. Otherwise, you are probably going to leave lots of shots for your opponent to hit. So the strategy is to leave the blot on your bar point. If you get hit now, you still have your midpoint and you still have structure and your opponent's inner board is not developed so you will be able to come in. But if you don't get hit, you have a good chance to make your bar point, making it easier to bring your checkers home and keep his checkers blocked.

[giannisp]

i think the key is the midpoint. all of the best moves , don't leavethis point.
Unluckily my best choice was 13-7 13-8.