Cribbage Tips Strategies
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- Cribbage Tips And Strategies
- Cribbage Tips And Strategies
- How To Play Cribbage
- Cribbage Tips
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What is Cribbage?
Cribbage is a card game originating from the United Kingdom, and it is designed to be played by 2-6 players. The game is, at its core, a strategy-based card game, but it also has a distinct cribbage board that epitomizes the game type. The game has a strict set of rules and a unique scoring system, making it an acquired taste.
- If you're looking for the rules of cribbage or a few strategy tips, you'll find those as well.
- Sep 22, 2019 CoolOldGames.com is a collection of guides covering rules and strategies for traditional games. All of the guides are written by Paul Dunlop, a self-proclaimed tabletop games expert. Paul holds a mathematics degree and is a life-long player of classic games. Cool Old Games considers every game up to the early 2000s as a ‘classic.’.
- How to Play Cribbage. Cribbage is a challenging game that can be played with 2-6 people (not 5). Although it may seem intimidating at first, the basic game is very easy to learn and play.
Cribbage Tips And Strategies
The classic Cribbage game has quite a following, especially in its country of origin. It is commonly played in pubs, clubs and other places of gathering, and serves as a popular pastime among the UK-based public.
The Board
Cribbage’s most distinctive aspect is theboard, and the same board style has been used since the game’s introduction inthe early 17th century. The board serves as a makeshift scoringsheet, and is definitely one of the defining aspects of the game.
A typical Cribbage board template is a sequence of holes,known as “streets”, laid out in a cyclic fashion. Scores are kept across thewhole game, so two pegs are used per player. These pegs are used in analternating fashion, such that the previous peg always remains to show theprevious score.
While that forms the essentialscore-counting part of the board, there are also certain other boards thatincorporate a separate game-counter, which shows the number of games won byeach side.
How manyholes are in a Cribbage board?
The boards count score for each player, upto a maximum of 121, hence each line of peg-holes having a maximum of 120 holesin total.
How to Play Cribbage?
Cribbage is designed to be played by 2-6players, and you really just need a deck of the standard 52-card deck to play Cribbage. The board is anadded bonus, but can be substituted with a simple score sheet or counter if oneis unavailable.
The goal of the game is to be the firstplayer to reach the score threshold of 121 points, though certain variationsmight prefer the 61-point limit instead. Scores are awarded for satisfyingspecific conditions, which will be described in detail in the Scoring sectionof the guide.
We provide easy Cribbage instructions for the 2-player variant below.
Deal Phase
Regardless of the number of players, theturn order is determined through deck splitting. The player who reveals thelowest card goes first. Turn order then proceeds in clockwise order.
The dealer shuffles the deck and proceeds todeal 6 cards to each player. These 6 cards form the hands of each player. Eachplayer is then required to discard 2 cards, to form the crib. These discardedcards are placed face down, and will only be used in the Show phase of thegame.
At this stage, all players will have handsconsisting of 4 cards, and the crib also contains 4 cards.
The player to the left of the dealer willthen cut the deck, and the dealer reveals the top card. This card will be the“starter”.
Dealers rotate at the end of each round.
Play Phase
The non-dealer goes first, and places acard from their hand face up in front of her, stating the count. The count iscumulative, so each successive card played by any player will add to thisvalue.
For instance, if the first card laid down isa 5, the non-dealer will say “5” as the count. The dealer then plays a 10 inresponse. The dealer will say “15” as the count, summing up all previouslyplayed cards.
The count cannot exceed 31, and if a playeris unable to play cards without exceeding the count, they will say “Go”. If allplayers call “Go”, the last player who managed to play a card will earn apoint. The count is then reset to 0.
During the Play phase, players can beawarded points for achieving certain conditions. These include:
- Making a count of exactly 15
- Playing a card that is a pair,three of a kind, or four of a kind with the previously played card
- Making a run of three or morecards (note that suit is unimportant in these runs)
As scores are awarded, the pegs are movedin a leapfrog fashion. For example, if the dealer gets 2 points, he places apeg 2 holes ahead.
Show Phase
Once the play phase concludes, each playerthen places their hands face-up. Scores are the awarded based on the contentsof each hand. The starter card that was revealed during the Deal phase is alsoconsidered in the combinations.
Points are awarded for the following:
- Combinations of cards totallinga value of 15
- Runs
- Pairs
- Nobs, where a player has a Jackof the same suit as the starter card
- Flushes
When revealing each combination, the playeris required to show each combination, and count the points out loud.
The dealer, after counting his/her hand,also counts the crib, and adds valid combinations from the crib to his score.
Winning
A player wins the game once he/she reachesthe defined point threshold.
Cribbage Rules
There are specific rules one must follow in Cribbage, and there is the optional “Muggins” rule that can add a layer of strategy.
Card Values
The cards are valued with Kings being thehighest card, and Aces being the lowest.
Calling Counts
Counts are called with the conditionpreceeding it. For example, a player will call their scores as such “Pair 2,Pair 4, Three of a kind 7, 15 9…” and so on. This applies to all phases of thegame.
Flipping Jacks
If a Jack is revealed during the deckcutting, the player making the cut will be awarded 2 points.
CribbageRun Rules
Runs do not have to be played in order. Forexample, Player 1 plays an 8, followed by a 10 from Player 2. Player 1 can thenplay a 9 to claim a run.
Muggins
Since the game involves calling out thevalid combinations for scores, it is possible for players to miss some scorablesets. If other players observe these missed point opportunities, they can call“Muggins” to claim the points.
Note that this is an optional rule, andsome people play without this rule.
Summary of Rules
In summary, the Cribbage pegging rules are:
- Dealer is determined by deck cutting.
- Each player is dealt 6 cards.
- Each player discards 2 cards to the crib.
- The non-dealer cuts the deck to reveal the “starter” card.
- The non-dealer begins by playing a card, followed by the dealer.
- The play continues until all players have clear their cards from their hand.
- The Show phase commences, and each player counts their hand.
- The dealer counts the crib.
- The dealer rotates at the end of the round.
- When a player reaches the defined point threshold, they win.
Scoring Chart & Points
Cribbage scoring is based on the available combinations of cards, and each combination has a different assigned score. Once a player achieves the required points, they win the game. The highest score in Cribbage is 121, at which point the player wins.
Scoring Chart
The standard cribbage scoring chart is shown below.
| Type | Description | Example | Hand points | Crib points |
| Fifteen | A group of cards combining to a total of 15 points | A♣ 6♣ 8♥ | 2 | 2 |
| Pair | Two cards with the same rank | 6♣ 6♥ | 2 | 2 |
| Three of a kind | Three cards of the same rank | 3♣ 3♦ 3♠ | 6 | 6 |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank | 3♣ 3♦ 3♠ 3♥ | 12 | 12 |
| Run of 3 | Three cards of consecutive ranks | 7♠ 8♣ 9♣ | 3 | 3 |
| Run of 4 | Four cards of consecutive ranks | 10♦ J♦ Q♥ K♣ | 4 | 4 |
| Run of 5 | Five cards of consecutive rank | 2♠ 3♠ 4♣ 5♣ 6♥ | 5 | 5 |
| Run of 6 | Six cards of consecutive rank | 8♥ 9♣ 10♦ J♦Q♥ K♣ | 6 | |
| Flush of 4 | All cards are of the same suit | 3♦ J♦ A♦ 6♦ | 4 | |
| Flush of 5 | All cards are of the same suit | 6♣ 9♣ 10♣ A♣, 5♣ | 5 | |
| Nob | A Jack in hand is the same suit as the starter | 8♠ A♣ 6♣ J♥ Starter Card: K♥ | 1 | |
| Thirty – one | The played cards sum up to 31 points | 7♠ 8♠ 10♣ 6♣ | 2 | |
| Go | The last card is played before exceeding 31 points during Play | 1 | ||
| Revealing a Jack as Starter | Revealing a Jack as a starter card during the deck cutting phase. | 2 |
There also several Cribbage scoring calculators available like this one.
Hand Example
This is an example hand of Cribbage played from thedeal to the end of the round.
| Dealer | Non-dealer |
| 3♠ 3♦ A♦ 5♣ 6♥K♥ | 7♠ 8♦ A♣ 6♣ A♥10♦ |
The players are then required to discard 2cards to form the crib.
| Dealer | Non-dealer |
| 3♠ 3♦ A♦ 5♣ | 7♠ A♣ A♥6♣ |
Crib: 6 ♥, K ♥, 10 ♦, 8 ♦
A starter card of is A ♣ is revealed.
The Play phase begins:
Cribbage Tips And Strategies
- The non-dealer begins by playing a A ♣.
- The dealer plays a A ♦, making a pair, getting awarded 2 points.
- The non-dealer plays his/her A ♥, making a three of a kind, earning 6 points.
- The dealer plays a 3 ♠, increasing the count to 6.
- The non-dealer plays a 6 ♣, increasing the count to 12.
- The dealer plays as 3 ♦, increasing the count to 15, earning 2 points.
- The remaining cards are played out without any points being earned by either player.
At the end of the Play phase, the scores are:
- Dealer: 4 points
- Non-dealer: 6 points
The Show phase then begins:
The dealer’s hand has 2 pairs (3s and Aces with the starter card). The dealer gets 4 points.
The non-dealer’s hand has a three of a kind (Aces with the starter card). The dealer gets 6 points.
The players now have these points:
- Dealer: 4 + 4 = 8 points
- Non-dealer: 6 + 6 points = 12 points
The dealer then counts the crib, but thereare no available combinations.
Hence, the round ends with these scores:
- Dealer: 8 points
- Non-dealer: 12 points
The dealer the rotates for the next round.
What is thebest hand in Cribbage?
The best hand is ultimately subjectiveduring the Play phase, but the highest score a hand can get during the Showphase is 29.
The best possible hand is 5♠5♣ 5♥ 5♦ and any Jack.
One of the four cards will be the startercard. This combination gives 8 different 15s for 16 points, a four of a kindworth 12 points, and a nobs worth 1 point, giving a total of 29 points.
Cribbage Strategy & Tips
Strategy and tips to help you master Cribbage land:
- Discards are important, as the crib serves as a possibility for the dealer to earn extra points.
- Cribbage strategy revolves around choosing the right cards to play during the play phase.
- Remember, runs do not have to be played in order.
- The best cribbage players always have the count in mind, getting easy 15s and 31s.
- Take your time during the show phase, as you don’t want to miss potential points.
- Keeping runs during the Deal phase can help during the Show phase, but not necessarily during the Play phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the game invented?
Cribbage was invented in the early 1600s in Great Britain. You can read more on the history here.
How many points is a Four of a Kind in Cribbage?
How To Play Cribbage
A four of a kind is worth 12 points.
What is a Skunk in Cribbage?
A skunk is when a player wins with a 31 point difference with his opponent.
What is a Flush in Cribbage?
Cribbage Tips
A flush is a combination of 4 or more cards in the same suit.
Useful Links
- American Cribbage Congress: The largest Cribbage organization in the world. They standardized the rules for tournaments.
- The Cribbage Guy: Great place to find all kinds of unique Crib Boards.
- Cribbage Boards – Limited Edition: House of Cribbage is an online store for limited edition exquisite inlaid wooden boards.
Play Cribbage OnlineCribbage Forum
< /> At GameColony.com you can play cribbage online. We also offer Cribbage Live - a native mobile app for iPhone/iPad and 'GC Cribbage' - native app for Android phones and tablets. With our modern Cribbage HTML5 web apps ('blue app' & 'green app'), you can play cribbage using any new browser - either on a desktop like Windows or Mac, or on a mobile device like iPhone or iPad or Android phone or tablet. See basic cribbage strategy tips here: Cribbage Game Strategy GameColony.com is now a 'home away from home' for many of the world's strongest and the most experienced cribbage players. Below are cribbage hints (tips) and suggestions by Robert (Bob) Milk (player handle: Moojus aka Moo) - a dedicated GameColony player and the current Commissioner for American Cribbage Congress (ACC). The American Cribbage Congress (ACC) is the largest organization for the promotion of cribbage. Bob Milk has originally posted his cribbage hints separately one-by-one in GameColony's public forum (e.g., Cribbage Hint #1). As there was a lot of interest from GameColony's cribbage players, we have combined these posts here. Cribbage Tips below are general principles of play. Skilled cribbage players also try to get to know their opponents and how they play and make a few mental notes of what their opponents like to discard to their cribs or their opponent's cribs, assuming they have choices when doing so. Study these cribbage hints - they should help you play cribbage better! Without further ado... below is pure... Moojus: I am going to start off this one with two questions, along with their answers, and some information for you to ponder. Q1. What is the average crib count? A1. 4 Q2. What is the average number of points down the board does the dealer score (this includes pegs, hand count, and crib count)? A2. 16 Q3. What is the average number of points down the board does the non-dealer score (this includes pegs, and hand count)? A3. 10 Q4. How many hands (deals) are there in the average cribbage game? A4. The answer is 10. Generally speaking, there are 9 hands fully played out. The starting dealer usually goes out during the 10th hand. This has a subtle implication...The starting dealer gets to count one more crib during the average game than the starting pone (non-dealer); providing the starting dealer with a minimum of a 4 point advantage. This means that somehow, the starting pone needs to outpeg (score more points) than the starting dealer during those hands. If, as the starting pone, you just intend for the cards to favor you and not the starting dealer, then you are not playing to your fullest. As the starting pone, you should play more aggressively to overcome this deficit so that you can go out during the 9th hand. By the same logic, the starting dealer should try to keep the starting pone from pegging points as the starting dealer wants the game to go slow enough so that they get to count their hand and crib on the 9th hand and if not out, be in a position to go out during the 10th hand. Just some thoughts to make you think about some strategy! You need to pay attention during the play so that you do not let your opponent pick up 3 or more points by playing into a run. Frequently, I am able to pick up 3 or more points because my opponent may not be paying attention and makes a play such that I can get a run. This example showed up last week. I was the dealer, the play was as follows: Note: P-pone; D-Dealer, [..]-points scored (P)-4; (D)-9 making the score 13; (P)-10 making the score (23); (D)-8 making the score (31) [5 points for the (D)] The Pone had better cards to play. Free Points for your opponent is what happens when you are not paying attention. This example was NOT a trap, that is, the only possible play. I hope that some of you are able to use my hints. Mike Burns taught me that the pone should dump the lone Ace as quickly as possible. Mike Burns has attained the ranking of Grand Master in the American Cribbage Congress (ACC). Mike won the ACC's Tournament of Champions in 2004. Many players try to save their lone Ace to get a 31 for 2 or last card. Many times this has disastrous results for the pone. For a real example, last night, I did not heed this advice and my Ace was trapped; this cost me the game as I lost by 2 points. I was the Pone and held: A-6-6-8 (this is a common hand)The dealer held: K-4-A-A (another common hand) (P)-8; (D)-K making the score 18; (P)-6 making the score 24; (D)-4 making the score 28 (P)-A making the score 29 (D)-A making the score 30 [2 points for the D] (P) - Go (D)-A making the score 31 [2 points for 31 plus 6 points for the pairs royal for a total of 8 ponts to the D] The Dealer scored 10 unanswered points. Had I led with the Ace or played the Ace second, I would have won this game. My opponent counted first and had exactly enough to go out. I could not count my last hand, but had enough to go out. Had he scored fewer than 10 points during that play, the game results would have been different. Some players would say the dealer got lucky here. In reality, skill, or rather my demonstrated lack of skill, resulted in the 10 points. The skill is in understanding how to correctly play the cards you are dealt and then playing them correctly. Cribbage Tip: Basic Probability Theory Cribbage players should have an understanding of probability. This understanding will help you become a better (more skillful) cribbage (and card) player. For this, I will use the standard coin and add the real world dynamics that it must land either on heads or tails. Landing on the edge is not a valid option. First, I will keep it easy. If I flip the coin, what are the odds (probability) that it will land heads up? The odds are 50%. The calculation is the sum of desired outcomes (1-heads) divided by the number of possible outcomes (2-heads or tails). 1 / 2 = 50% Now for a more difficult example, If I flip this same coin 4 times what are the odds of it coming up heads exactly twice? Is it 50% or is it something like 50% * 50% * 50% * 50% = 6.25%. Got you thinking haven't I? To compute the odds (probability), we must figure out all possible outcomes that could occur from flipping a coin 4 times; these I list below:
Using the calculations, the odds (probability) of exactly 2 heads appear if we flip the coin 4 times is the number of desired outcomes (6) divided by the number of possible outcomes (16): 6 / 16 = 37.5% You need to understand this theory as it can be used to help you decide what to hold and/or discard. Some players say that some players are lucky because they get a lot of cuts for the hand and/or crib.. In reality, many 'lucky' players have the skill of understanding the probability theory. These suggestions for improvement come from many sources, including, but not limited to the following: 'Play Winning Cribbage' by Delynn Colvert (the undisputed top player in North America) 'Cribbage: A New Concept' by John Chambers The Cribbage Forum web site hosted by Michael Schell Hints from some of the top American Cribbage Congress Players My personal experiences Disclaimer: I have no vested interest in any of the publications listed. These techniques work for me and for many others; your results may vary. Like many of you, I was taught that as the non-dealer, you never lead a 5 as the first card. This is true for nearly all situations. The first situation, I am holding a 5 and three 10-value cards and I need one more point to win than I am holding. Example, I am holding 5-10-10-J and any card is cut that does not increase the value of the hand. I am stick with 8 points. I need 9 points to go out my opponent needs 4 or more points to win (they are in hole 117 or less). You lead the five. In the majority of cards, if you lead the 5, you will get at least 1 go. You may even pair their next lead. There are only a few combinations in which you will not get a go. If you lead a 1- value, there are many combinations in which you will not score a point as the pone. I have used this many times, only once have I not scored a point. If you try this and you opponent is at hole 118 or higher, you should lose as your opponent most likely will play a 10 value as 15 for 2 (he is now at 120) and automatically will get either a go or last card for the win. The second time, that as the non-dealer you lead a 5 is when your opponent is not at an end-game position and you hold three 5s and a 10 card. Even though you most likely will give up 4 points, if your opponent is holding combinations from 2s through 6s, they will peg a lot of points on runs. I once go stuck when my opponent had 3-3-4-5. This was my misplay:(P)-J(D)-3 for 13(P)-5 for 18(D)-4 for 22 [3 points to the dealer for the run](P)-5 for 27(D)-3 for 30 [3 points for the dealer for the run](P)-go [1 points for the dealer for the go](P)-5(D)-5 for 10 [3 points for the dealer for the pair and last card] The dealer pegged 10 unanswered points because of my misplay. Another GameColony.com player (Wiske) agreed with this Moojus tip, adding: 'I have found that there are times that leading a 5 can be effective. You are Pone and are holing a 5 and three different face cards. If you lead the five and the dealer scores a 15-2, you have a 75% chance of pairing their card. You also eliminate the possibility of getting your 5 trapped at the end of the hand. If the dealer has a five, he will not pair it, fearing you will come back with a pairs royal scoring 6 points. If the dealer does not score a 15-2 you have lost nothing. Granted that this does not always work but the odds are with you.Obviously this is a tactic you should not use too often, especially against the same player.' Learn to read your opponent's cards. Even though cards are random, cribbage players try to hold cards in which they can earn/score points. This is key to understanding how to best play your cards. You can use this understanding to either try to trap a card your opponent has or play to avoid getting a card of your trapped. For this example, the pone is holding 5-J-J-Q while the dealer is holding 3-3-4-8. The play proceeds as follows: (P) Q (D)8 for 18 (P) J for 28 (D) 3 for 31 [2 points for the dealer] Before playing my third card, I need to think about the cards that the dealer is most likely to hold based on those that I have seen. I see the dealer has already played an 8 and a 3, logically the cards the dealer is most likely holding include: 4,3,2,5,6,7,8,9,A. Most likely, the dealer is not holding any 10 value cards. If the dealer is holding 2,3 or 3,4, or 4,6 and I lead my remaining J, then the dealer traps my 5 for a run of 3. If the dealer has a 5 then he traps my 5 for a pair. In this case, I play the 5 to avoid the run trap. For me, (in most cases) it is better to give up 2 points than the POSSIBILITY of 3 points. I encountered this pattern three times over the past several days, twice as the dealer and once as the pone. Both times as the dealer, my opponent did not lead the 5 and I trapped their 5 as I was still holding 3-4. As the dealer, I played the 5 and avoided the trap. It is NOT luck to avoid the trap! It is a skill to recognize potential hold cards and avoid the trap. It is NOT luck to trap the 5, it is a misplay. Think about this theory, when you see that you opponent has played a 2 and a 6 or a 2 and a 7. Remember you must always make the determination of play based on the board positions. This hint works for me and your results may differ. It is better to give up 3 points than it is to give up 6. The only ‘safe’ pair occurs when you pair (match) your opponents last playable card; that is their fourth card or there is insufficient points under 31 such that your opponent cannot play a third match for pairs royal. The most frequent misplay that I see my opponents make is the needless taking of a ‘pair’ for 2 points with the score such that your opponent can ‘trip’ you (play a third card) for pairs royal and 6 points. When you take a pair, you must have a valid reason for taking the pair. The most valid reason for taking a pair is that if it will not hurt me if my opponent has a third one and scores 6 points. One should not take a pair just so that your opponent does not have the opportunity to score a run. Remember, it is better to give up 3 points than it is to give up 6. As a rule of thumb, unless you are also holding a pair, do not pair a first card play by the pone (non-dealer) of a 2, 5, or Jack. The majority of pones only lead from these cards when they are holding a second one for backup. With the most frequent discard being the King, it is less dangerous to pair the King lead; another lead that is sometimes safe to pair is the 4. Some good players will lead from the lone Jack since they realize that most players will not pair the Jack lead since they expect there to be a backup. Although the odds seem to be in your favor when you pair….even so, the question still remains - Can I afford to give up 6 points to my opponent? The answer in most cases is no. Even though I do not want to give up 3, 3 is less damaging than 6. I will use a Delynn Colvert 'Theory of 26' position example. Using his theory, a target hole is 70. That is you want to reach hole 70 for your next deal. I am the dealer at hole 47; you are the pone and you are leading and at hole 58. If I pair your card and you trips is for 6 points (pairs royal), you are then at hole 64 and needs just 6 holes in the remainder of the play and the counting of your hand to attain hole 70. Most likely you will be passed hole 70. If you passes hole 70 at this point of the game, then most likely you will win. If I do not pair you, then you must get 12 points in the remainder of play and hand count to reach 70. BTW: The average is 10 for the non-dealer. If you are at hole 69 or less, then I have a very good chance of winning the game (even though I am behind at this point). Now a reason to pair. I am the Pone at hole 62. You are the dealer at hole 65. I hold 2-3-4-8 (discarded K-9). The seven is cut, I am holding 7 points. Hole 62 plus 7 is 69. If I do NOT pair, I will be short and most likely will lose the game. Even if you trip me for 6 points, I will exceed hole 70 and have an excellent chance of winning. This is an example of when 2 points to me is worth more than 6 points to you. Some players say that some players are lucky because they get a lot of cuts for the hand and/or crib.. In reality, many 'lucky' players have the skill of understanding the board position. 'Pairs' aka 'partners' aka 'doubles' cribbage can be fun. It can be a more sociable cribbage version that one-on-one. In over-the-board or face-to-face games, I have experienced a lot of 'cheating' with this version. Cheating with partners can be subtle or blatant. The cheating ranges from the way players hold their cards in their hands to the inclusion of certain words (non-cribbage words) into the discussion. In internet play with partners, there are two clear avenues for cheating. One, the injection of agreed upon 'words/phrases' in the type chat -- subtle cheating. Or using a telephone or a separate Instant Messenger to discuss the cards that are held -- blatant cheating. Because of multiple uncontrollable easy opportunities for cheating, I, personally, will not consider playing pairs online. End Game Example (Posted by mbova (VIP) 8 Sep 2006 8:56pm EDT) --------------------------------------------- Game is 116 all. I am the pone, I have 23345T, I throw the 2T, maybe I should have thrown the 45 and played more defense since I was first to count. Mistake #1 I lead a 3, dealer plays a 4. I like playing the 5, if the dealer comes back with a 6, 2, 3, A all very possible. I come back with 3,3,3(4) or ?. I play the 5(12-3) 119. Dealer plays a 5 118-119. Uh oh. Ok if I play the 3 he already played a 4, I play the 3, I forgot that 3+4+5+5+4 = 21 ERRRRRR Dealer plays J 31 120-119 I play 3 Dealer plays last card. I kick myself. --------------------------------------------- This is a great example to show a couple of end game strategies and explain the 'out card'. In games where the ending is close, you want to hold an 'out card'. This is a card that is far away from the other three as possible. This helps to get out of run situations. Each player should have a different strategie when the score is tied and close to the end. In this game the score was 116-116. The Dealer's strategie is to play offensive and take every possible point. The dealer knows that he is in a bind hereand unless he pegs out, the pone (non-dealer) will win this game 95% of the time. This means that the dealer will break up his hand to hold pegging cards, that is low-value cards or cards that touch each other (such as 6-7). The Pone's strategie is to keep enough points to win, and reduce the opportunity for the dealer to peg. Given the cards the Pone was dealt, I would hold 2-3-3-T and lead the 3. This covers any reply by the dealer for a 10-value, a 9, or a 3. The play may then be as follows. P plays 3; count is 3; Score 116-116 D plays 4; count is 7; Score 116-116 P plays T; count is 17; Score 116-116 D plays 5; count is 22; Score 116-116 NOTE: Dealer must force a run to win, so they play this card, the 5, forcing the pone to play their low-card(s).P plays 2; count is 24; Score 116-116 At this point, the pone does not know what the dealer has; we know the dealer has a J and one other card that was not described, the pone's last card is a 3. Given the remaining cards of the two players, the dealer cannot win. It is this type of thought and understanding that makes some folks 'luckier' than others. There is definitely strategy in this game of cribbage. I hope that some of you are able to use my hints. These suggestions for improvement come from many sources, including, but not limited to the following: Happy Pegs, Bob 'Moojus' Milk |
Cribbage Tips Strategies For Ell
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