|7.h15 looks better than continuing the battle on the right. White threatens to win on the left instead, for example with white J10. but if black blocks that threat with 8.h11 then 9.n1610.m1811.l1712.k1713.j16 white wins. black has to find a way to deal with both of white's threats. Play might continue 8.p69.u710.m1811.e14 and I don't know who would win, but this is better for white than N16.
So this is a general principle which is usually good advice: In the opening, spread your pegs out across the board, to make as many different threats as you can.
|7.h15 looks better than continuing the battle on the right. White threatens to win on the left instead, for example with white J10. but if black blocks that threat with 8.h11 then 9.n16 10.m18 11.l17 12.k17 13.j16 white wins. black has to find a way to deal with both of white's threats. Play might continue 8.p6 9.u7 10.m18 11.e14 and I don't know who would win, but this is better for white than N16.
So this is a general principle which is usually good advice: In the opening, spread your pegs out across the board, to make as many different threats as you can.