Your opponent isn't going to play into any sequences that won't benefit her more than you. She is unlikely to pair anything, similarly. I would say you need to play for your opponent not having a scoring hand. In that case, you need to keep her from pegging. I think you need play the Q and decide from there.

Agree completely with your logic.

In hindsight, the Q is the clear play. My thinking at the time was 'I'm probably not going to count my hand, may as well try to get a run going.' which is obv not optimal here. I played the 3 instead, which I immediately hated after more thought.

Thanks, and feel free to post hands!

Bad example--

1. you have nothing to sustain the run anyhow.
2. Very hard to peg 8 without the opponent pegging 5 using runs.

You need to exactly get

A. Pone has 4 or less and does not peg OR
B. Pone has a 2 and get a 2-2-2 sequence to get within 1 or 2 (perfect is hit 31 on the nose).

How would you rank the skill levels required to play 2, 3, and 4 handed?

Great question. IDK, but I much prefer HU. I kind of loathe 3-4 handed TBH. I just hate relying on others I suppose.

3 and 4 handed really seem like they involve very little strategy compared with HU. But I am fairly new to the game so maybe I am just missing what strategy I could be using.

You are not wrong. Three handed has very little strategy. Discards to cribs are virtually automatic. You can't really set up runs during the play of the hand. You can play defensively, I suppose.

Four handed there is a little more room for strategy, since you might choose to make a small sacrifice in your own hand for a potenial big crib, and it is easier to realize the benefits of setting up a run during play.

Heads up, of course, is where the game really lives. The others are mainy a way to pass the time with friends or family.

Re: the bolded - I do this whenever I play, no matter how many players there are. Curious if you meant to single out 4 handed in particular and if so, why?

You're pone in hole 110, opponent's in 106.

67910JQ

WWYD?

I think i still throw 69

You end up with at least 1 17 1 18 with a chance of the 121 yes you're giving him 69 and he could win but I still think it's the best play

Think that's right and it's not particularly close. I guess the next best option would be Q7, but that only gets you to 115 and you need to try to finish now.

With 96, you only need 4 points from pegging and the cut. Why make things harder for yourself by needing 6?

I haven't looked at any replies, yet.

You need to win right here, realistically. Opponent can expect to win with her two hands. If not, you will be in a pegging contest next hand. I'm not worried about throwing a fifteen into the crib, if I don't win now, it won't much matter.

My gut response was to keep the clubs. 7 points out of 11 is pretty good, and you might peg enough. 13 cut cards will put you over the top, and the eights will leave you needing to peg only two. A non-8 club puts you to within 3. Club 8 for 1 away.

On the other hand, keeping 9TJQ offers 12 cut cards to give you enough, and 4 more will let you win if you peg 1 point.

I can't see keeping a different combination.

I think keeping the clubs is the way. If you can peg 1, you often can peg 2. One more cut card for the win, and the possibility of pegging 4 (low, but possible), gives it the edge for me, but I think it is close enough that I wouldn't criticize anyone for choosing the other.

You have to go for it. Keep the clubs. You don’t really pick up any outs to 11 by holding it any other way. Have to assume dealer is going out needing 15.

You’ve got a good shot to improve. 7/8 gets you an extra 2. 9/K an extra 1 and obviously 5TJQ are jackpot cards. Plus you have an extra EV of about 0.4 (5-flush plus knobs at a 9/46 frequency).

If you go the other way and neither of you go out you will be done to pegging, so you lose almost 1/2 that equity (you play 2nd so you have a small advantage).

Thanks, all. Between here and ACC feedback, it seems I really botched this one. Threw Q7. Don't remember the cut, but I ended up in dead hole while the dealer went out. Fail.

My thinking at the time was that this gets me damn close and if dealer doesn't have much, I don't want to help at all. I guess I thought 15 out was just far enough to give me another shot if I missed.

The Q7 play leaves you with 9 cut cards for the win and 6 more leave you two away.
The 67 play leaves you with 12 cut cards for the win and 4 more leave you one away.
The 96 play leaves you with 13 cut cards for the win and 4 more leave you one or two away.

Clearly, they are all close, so no really big mistakes, but I would say 96 > 76 > Q7.

This was a good question.

The flush is better than what you have listed. Remember you improve to a five flush and get knobs. Any club is worth 2 points. X=non-club.

11 or more =14
5x (4)
8c (1)
10x, Jx, Qx (9)

10 (2)
9c, Kc

9 (11)
7x (3)
8x (3)
Ac, 2c, 3c, 4c, 6c (5)

8 (5)
9x (2)
Kx (3)

14 clean
18 that need pegging, let’s discount to 12 (guesstimate)

26/46. Take that any day (plus we can probably peg 4 some fraction of the time)

Right, I forgot we had the jack. Yeah, that puts keeping the flush way out in front.

This was fun.



Any interesting hands from anyone?

Some of you might know I'm a poker dealer from some other 2P2 boards. Every once in a while I'll put out a board something like 3 4 5 5 6 and will make a comment like "Wow that's an awesome cribbage hand." So far all I've gotten from the players at the table are blank stares.

You must not deal in the upper Midwest. MI MN WI would all know exactly what you mean.

It saddens me greatly that the game isn't more popular. OMG the maths??!!!

I have made similar comments as a player. Most of the players understood.

same

Morning, all!

If anyone's ever looking for a game, I'm on Cribbage Pro Online as RichGangi. It's very much worth the $2.99 fyi.

PM me and I'll give you my cell# to text when you want to play. I'd love to battle some of you.

Game is tied, 70-70. You're pone with 678999 . WWYD?