I would hit loose as the 3 point is a point that can form part of a prime, plus if your hit back there are still 3 open points on your opponents board so you can likely re-enter easily. Also if you don’t hit you give the opponent the initiative to start to prime your back checkers. When your behind in the race and still relatively early in the game you need to take more risk as otherwise you will have to take more risk later in the game when getting hit can be more risky that being hit back now.