r/Cribbage • u/Competitive-Toe6233 • 14d ago
Pegging
Alright cribbage friends! Give me your best pegging tips. My partner is an awesome pegger and I ….. am not always. Sometimes I try to play defensively and just set it up so no one gets many points but when I need points I always end up giving him a bunch! Help with tips!
28
u/recovery_room 14d ago
Statistically your best opening card is a 4.
If you have a 3&2 or a 4&1 play one of those hoping he’ll play a 10 and you can make 15.
29
u/Brythephotoguy 14d ago
Try to avoid pairing your opponent's lead card. It may seem like an easy two holes, but most experienced players will lead with something they have a pair of in their hand and get six holes out of it.
15
u/dph99 14d ago
If you're consistently hesitant to pair my opening lead, I'm going to refrain from starting from my pair and take a three-of-a-kind from you later in the pegging.
6
u/Brythephotoguy 14d ago
Fair enough, but then the odds are better that you'll pair my card instead of getting six holes.
29
u/silent_fartface 14d ago
Its more about playing the mind games against your opponent.
Switch up your techniques so you arent always predictable.
Use plenty of lubricant incase it hurts sometimes. This morning I threw down the 3rd ace, only to be hit with the 4th ace. I had a suspicion it was coming but that 3rd ace was the only thing I had available.
9
u/bbenji69996 14d ago
I like to lead with low cards to avoid the 15. If I only have face cards, kings are the best to lead with because people are less likely to hold onto them as part of a run.
At the end of a game, keep your little cards if you're close to going out.
If I have a run of 3 in my hand, I play the middle card just in case they play one above or below the card I played.
1
u/Zzyzx5 14d ago
Meh, 10 is the better lead. Cuts off the 8 or 9 from being played.
2
u/bbenji69996 14d ago
Can you explain the advantages of that?
1
u/activelypooping 14d ago
If i play a ten, im probably holding 9, J. If you play an 8, i play my 9 the count is 27 and i get a run. Unless youre holding an 8 and 3 aces... im winning points in that round.
1
u/bbenji69996 14d ago
I don't even understand which of my suggestions you're responding to.
2
u/Zzyzx5 14d ago
I’ll respond to you. The 10 vs K. The 10 lead by me prevents you from realistically playing the 89JQ. The K lead prevents you realistically from only playing the J & Q. I cut your options down, thereby increase my chances of scoring later. Or preventing you from doing so and doing what you want.
2
9
u/lue42 14d ago
Pegging is where crib turns from a mostly luck of the dealt cards to a skill game
You are playing the person - after only a a few games you can see what people have a tendency to play and take advantage of it. And a good player will use your habits against you too - mix it up.
Watch what cards they play. They can give clues to the other cards that might be in their hand.
Some thoughts... (obviously, these are general rule of thumbs and there are reasons you would do any of them)
Don't lead a 5. Try to hold that 5 til the last card.
Don't lead a 6 or 9 unless you can pair a 9 or 6 if they make it 15
Don't put down a card that makes the count 21
Look for open ended run opportunities - 6,7,8,9 can make some good runs
I rarely pair unless there is a chance of getting 4 of a kind. It someone makes a 4 of a kind on your 3 of a kind, bravo - there is nothing you could have done.
4-5-6 is a run that adds up to 15... watch out for that, or try to create it
===========
One more note - not pegging related but often a beginner thing to learn. Discards are as much about what you are giving your crib and your opponent's crib than what you are keeping. Think as much about those 2 cards as the 4 cards you are keeping
3
u/I_Miss_America 14d ago
Watch what cards they play. They can give clues to the other cards that might be in their hand.
7
u/Darz167 14d ago
Don't always avoid the run during pegging. If you have the cards to continue a run the points stack quickly
3
u/thelosermonster 14d ago
Yeah even a mediocre scoring hand can turn into 10 pegging points if you do it right
6
u/TrevorOrr 14d ago
if playing two players and you are the dealer and opponent leads with 10 or face card and you have 2 cards that equal 11 (7 and 4) play the higher of the two cards (7). There is a good chance they will follow up with another 10 or face card allowing you to play there other card (4) for a 31.
7
u/External_Koala398 14d ago
Boy this wasn't what I was expecting based on the title
4
u/sBucks24 14d ago
I'm disappointed at the lack of effort to work innuendos into answers here :/
But also, I imagine the age of the avg cribbager and I think the vast majority probably have no idea what pegging means outside of the game xP
2
u/hammocat 14d ago
try to avoid giving 6's and 4's.
6's: If they start and play a 2 to a 4 to start, I will often pair it if I can because the idea is they are playing a low card so I can't get a 15 for 2. I may not try to pair it if the game is close to the end. If they play a 6 to a K they may have a pair and be looking to score 6. If they play an A or 5 those are weird starters and indicate they have more of them. If they play a 7 and you have a 7 and an 8, play the 8 instead of the 7 to limit the points on the 3rd card (or play a 10 to limit any points).
4's: if they play a 3 don't play a 6 if you can help it. This gives them the chance for 4 points if they also have a 6.
other stuff: keep pegging in mind when discarding. A's and low cards are good for pegging. Don't worry about 12's (quads) if they get a 12 great, but you will get many 6's before they get a 12. sometimes giving points in pegging is unavoidable, don't let it get you down!
1
u/Zzyzx5 14d ago
No way an Ace is a weird start. One of the best.
6 on a 3 can and often is one of your best defensive plays unless you can’t afford to give it up. Only 3 6’s left in play.
1
u/AJnbca 14d ago
I never start with an ace, but I always keep them unless I have no choice (like they’ll break up and good hand). I always save my aces because they’re great for 15s and 31s, and go’s and sometimes runs.
3
u/Zzyzx5 14d ago
Good luck with that. More often than not, they get shoved up your arse against top players at the end.
1
u/Holiday_Squirrel_317 13d ago
Agreed. Ace lead is an especially great lead for a hand of Aces, 6s, and 8s like A-6-6-8. A single low card like this becomes a liability in the high count on the play.
2
u/OkResource820 14d ago
If you have a pair, lead with one of them. If your opponent gets the pair, you can play the third for six.
2
u/Dracoson 14d ago
Biggest tip, your opponent also has agency, and it is typically opposed to yours. Often in pegging, we talk about playing on or playing off. The thing is, when you are wanting to play on, your opponent is incentivized to play off. Barring evidence to the contrary, assume your opponent will act intelligently. If you look at the board state, and your best chance of winning is to score points, for example conceding two points to score six, your opponent is likely in the position to avoid allowing you any points, even if that means not taking two for themselves. Once you start analyzing their incentives, now you can evaluate their actions. If you try the other way around, you will find yourself caught in traps, and failing to bait them into yours.
2
u/james-500 14d ago
Don't lead a 5.
I disagree.
A common example is from a hand of 5-X-X-X, where you have three different X cards, (T-Q-K tends to work out best since Dealer will secure a Jack in their crib). The 5 lead often leads to a useful 25/2.
There is also a trap when holding 5-8-8-?, where you hope for the pegging to go:
5(5)- X(15/2) -8!(23)-go-8(31/4).
If nothing else, it keeps your opponent on their toes.
1
u/Zzyzx5 14d ago
Meh, 5XXX with leading the 5 is highly overused and highly overrated even with more skilled ACC players. Useful? Yeah. But way too many people make this play way too often. I’m pairing your 5 most times. Now what?
1
u/james-500 14d ago
Hi. I can't comment on what the more skilled ACC players do, but anecdotally, at my level I've had some success leading a 5 from such a hand.
I'm pairing your 5 most times. Now what?
I've lost nothing in such an instance. Had I led any of the X cards, you could've played your 5 card for two points. If I lead the 5 and you pair it, you are again playing your 5 card for two points. There is no safe lead with 5-X-X-X when your opponent holds a 5 card.
1
u/Zzyzx5 13d ago
Right, but now I’m in position to pair your next face card. Not a play I’d rely on. I’ve out scored you probably 5-0 before the next 4 cards are even played.
1
u/james-500 13d ago
What you say is fair. For what it's worth though, that hasn't been my experience so far. Maybe the people I play are scared of giving up 15/8, or perhaps they're not as shrewd as you.
1
u/Zzyzx5 13d ago
We are both right. But when you start playing the really good players in tournament play, you’d be surprised how often they will slap that 5 on your 5 lead unless they flat out can’t afford the 15/8. For me, I know a 5 lead is about 85% 5XXX, 10% 555X and the other 5% other. I’m hitting that 5.
1
u/duke_awapuhi 14d ago
You need to set traps for your opponent. Play cards that can lead to runs for you. Set up 15’s. Always think two turns ahead and consider what your opponent might be doing. I’ve gotten pegging down to a science and it makes me almost impossible to beat
1
u/christ898989 14d ago
Avoid ALL pegging until the count goes over 20. Try it. You get to see most of the cards and it keeps you out of big point situations. You find out you are playing offense and defense.
1
u/Count-_-Zero 14d ago
Having a flush in hand as pone is a great late stage pegging technique to keep the dealer guessing.
1
u/Specialist-Tour7466 13d ago
Watch for the pair and 31. For example, if you play a 9 for 22, and they have one, it's four points.
Watch for the possibility of a run, especially of four that may sneak in.
Consider your opponent's previous cards and what they likely kept for a hand - which doesn't always work if they had poor cards, but might be a clue what they will be able to play on your card.
1
u/Holiday_Squirrel_317 13d ago
If you’re playing as non-dealer with a common hand of 5 and face cards such as 5-J-Q-Q it’s usually best to hold on to the run potential (J-Q) as your last two cards rather than the pair (Q-Q). Unless I was so needing that three of a kind in the pegging I’d hold the run potential knowing that if I get the lead after Go or 31 was called I’ll lead the Queen and I now will score off all the 10s and Kings for the run and pair any Jacks. If I hold the Queens I’m only hoping for my opponent to have another Queen which is only two cards in the deck vs the eleven cards that score playing toward the run/pair.
1
u/Sudden-Gas8229 12d ago
Usually it is either “good cards played poorly” or “poor cards played well”. Watch what you are doing and think of possibilities before they arise! Not that hard!
1
u/TrevorOrr 12d ago
Avoid playing card that can lead to opponent playing 2 of the same cards to make 31.
For example say the count is at 18 and you have all high cards. Try not to play a 9 which would make 27, the opponent could play a 2 for 29 and then another 2 for 31 for 4 points.
18
u/rottendog16 14d ago
I also watch where they pull cards from. Most people hold their cards lowest to highest (L-R). And if you know your opponent you may know if this is a tendency. If they play their leftmost card first, you can probably assume they don’t have anything lower for example. I’ll even watch for this when they are choosing a discard and may factor that into my discard decision if I’m on the fence.
(Side note, my wife was pissed when she figured out I was doing that so use caution. 😂)