THE ENDGAME PART 2
A lot of Cribbage games are decided by proper discarding and pegging techniques - especially on fourth street. When both players are approaching the end of a game at the same time, "first count" and positioning becomes very critical. It all comes down to the cards which you are dealt, and the number of pegs you need to reach the finish line.
Let's look at a typical senario. You are 14 points shy of a win, and your opponent is right on your tail, needing 18 points for a win of his own. You own the crib. There is always a chance that he may hold a big hand in which case, you can do nothing. - Or perhaps your opponent has a ten or twelve hand - in which case, you must play some defense, and limit his pegging to a minimum. Here are some quiz deals to test your skill. Remember, it is your crib (hands A,B, and C). What is your best discard for each hand? (Assume no flushes)
- 2 3 4 7 8 J
- 2 4 5 9 Q Q
- A A 4 8 9 9
Now assume that your opponent owns the crib. (You obvisouly have first
count). Here are three more hands. How do you handle these deals (best
discard)? Assume no flushes.
- 3 4 4 7 8 K
- 2 5 6 9 J J
- A 2 3 7 9 10
Finally, you are dealt this collection:
- 2 3 10 J J Q
- How do you discard if you have the crib?
- How do you discard if your opponent has the crib?
(The above score still applies. You need 14 points to win, and the opponent needs 18 points to win).
Answers
- Real easy - keep the 2 3 4 J, and load up your crib with the 7 8 !
- Toss the 2 4 into your crib, and hope for a cut of a 5 or face card.
- I suggest discarding an 8 9 to the crib, and keeping A A 4 9 - hoping for a cut of and Ace, 4 or 9 (for a dozen). The 8 9 in the crib may also pay off.. AN alternative approach is to keep the 8 9 9 in the hand - hoping for a seven or ten. This is not as strong as the first approach.
- Now defense comes into play! Keep the 3 4 4 8, and hope for a decent cut. Here are five cuts which will do the job: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8.
- Toss the 2 6 and keep the 5 9 J J. A cut of a 10 will win outright. A Jack will be nice, as well. Lots of cards will provide some help here.
- This is tough one. Dumping the 7 9 to the opponent's crib is quite dubious. Safety first! Toss the 7 10, keeping a sure five points and nice pegging cards. If your table mate has discarded two eights and a nine or eight or seven is cut, it is not your day.
- Your Crib - Keep the double run!
- Opponent's Crib - This a close call, and really brutal when you do not own the Crib.
- Keep the double run (and pray) - or - Toss the 10 Q, keeping six points in your hand. I prefer the latter choice, as it is safer.
In summary, you must be aware of the positioning and first count aspects of close games on fourth street. There is a luck factor, to be sure; however, proper play will decide a lot more games than favorable cuts. The idea is to allow for high percentage possibilities with minimal risk.
Good luck in your games!
- Joe Andrews
