Which path (Aldol)

so my teach told that for the first step (in base catalysed), abstract the H which results in a stable enolate. when we try to do that here, we get the yellow one. but the ans key suggests to do the red one. the only reason i think is creating cyclopentane + bad alkene >> creating butane + good alkene (ring strain). i dont have a source to verify so yeah pls help