November 19, 2018

*** This hand was suggested by Ras2829
0-0*  ?
70%
23%
5%
0%
Total votes: 157
dec
6358 votes

Joined: April 2008
 
 
 
Monday 3:05 AM
Non dealer . Offense and a wide discard. Six lead. dec
Rosemarie44
2052 votes

Joined: March 2016
 
 
 
Monday 3:41 AM
Yes, as dec says, offense for non-dealer at this position. Tossing A-9 is a safer discard to dealer than A-3. Expected averages agree with this choice. Also, this hand increases with every cut.
JQT
4143 votes

Joined: October 2008
 
 
 
Monday 3:59 AM
Almost tempted to retain A-4-5-6 as it's such a great pegging hand! But this will do just fine.
JQT says: After the Face Card Cut, I wish I had thrown 3-9 instead. So many Cuts can and do make up for the One Point difference in starting potential. And now I'll probably have a tougher time pegging as my punishment.
james500
3924 votes

Joined: June 2013
 
 
 
Monday 4:50 AM
Knowing where a five and a six are, A-9 is my choice.
Having read John's post above, I'm interested by his suggestion of A-4-5-6 (3-9). A possible 15/2 and 31/2 with the 4-A-6 eleven, and who knows, maybe 15/2 with the 5 on the second sequence too.
Ras2829 says: Hi james500: Yes, and it works that way often with non-dealer scoring 6 pegs before dealer gets one. Dealer holds double run of X-point cards three times as frequently as does the non-dealer. Why might that be?
Inushtuk1 says: Hi Ras. I’m pretty sure I know, but I’ll let james500 answer it. I’m sure he knows too.
zeke76
1397 votes

Joined: August 2018
Monday 4:53 AM
Kept the 9 instead of the 3
Gougie00
5731 votes

Joined: March 2008
 
 
 
Monday 4:54 AM
I'll keep the 4 card run and lead the 3
horus93
1281 votes

Joined: December 2017
 
 
 
Monday 6:47 AM
I'd love to pick up a couple of points in pegging but 4-5-6 hands usually seem to peg pretty badly for pone.

I guess I'd lead the 6. If it gets paired I can pick up a 15.
Gougie00 says: If the opponent hits your 6 with a 9, then what?
Jazzselke
2587 votes

Joined: March 2009
 
 
 
Monday 6:58 AM
Solid combination of offense and defense. A six cut yields a 16 hand for either 3456 or 4569, so why not throw A9 instead of A3.
Inushtuk1
1488 votes

Joined: July 2016
 
 
 
Monday 7:25 AM
I know how much Ras likes the A-4-5-6. And I must admit I have had some success with it myself. See James’s post if you’re not sure why. But only 3-4-5-6, and 4-5-6-9 offer me a shot at a 16 point hand. So I have to agree with Dan’s advice above.

With only 8 points it’s offense and the 3 lead, hoping for a 6, 7 or an 8 response. All of which are common responses.
Inushtuk1 says: People are talking about the better pegging potential of A-4-5-6. And that’s important. But the better expected average of 3-4-5-6(A-9) is important too. Perhaps the reason Ras submitted this puzzle.
glmccuskey
4102 votes

Joined: April 2011
 
 
 
Monday 8:27 AM
I’ll lead the ace and peg away. One of my favorite pegging hands as non dealer. Kind of surprised I’m the lone ranger so far.
King Richard says: I will be your Tonto Lone Ranger. Dealer or pone. Give me this hand and watch me peg!
Inushtuk1 says: Hi King Richard. As Dealer I’d toss myself the (A-3), and hopefully keep up with you in the pegging, and have a much higher average hand and crib FWIW.
King Richard says: Depends on who you are playing, but as dealer I have with A-4-5-6, put the 6 on pone’s 8 lead, they fill it in with the 7, then I peg 10 with 5,4, and Ace.
King Richard says: No. I peg 11! 31-2.
Inushtuk1 says: Cool! Good to know. Thanks.
Inushtuk1 says: On second thought, 4-5-6-9 will get me 10 pegs on the 8 lead, and (A-3) in my crib far more likely to get me at least one (15-2) if not more, and a run or a double run.
dgergens
938 votes

Joined: January 2018
 
 
 
Monday 10:20 AM
I wanted to keep the 9 for the 7 point hand but since this was the start of the game, I sacrificed a point and kept the 3,4,5,6 to better my chance of a double run. Oh well.
JRCeagle78
1054 votes

Joined: June 2016
 
 
 
Monday 12:21 PM
Given the choice between A-3 or A-9, the best chance of blanking the crib is A-9. The pone has a decent hand, but after the starter it is very easy to find yourself in a bad position with sloppy play. I'd play a cautious offense and be prepared for a defense on my last two cards.
Ras2829
5155 votes

Joined: November 2008
 
 
 
Monday 7:10 PM
Based on my scant empirical data, holding A-4-5-6 is .2+ greater in combined value. Potential hand size is full point greater, pegging is a point better. Those two factors more than offset the smaller crib with the A-9 discard. So often this hand is overlooked by the non-dealer as is the 2-3-4-6, arguably the two finest offensive pegging hands for non-dealer in cribbage. JQT often talks of the "Sweet Sixteen". This is the sweetest of those. Lead the Ace, plays wonderfully if dealer holds X-pointers and dealer does that often. Also pegs well if dealer playing mid cards. King Richard points how that works. If the Ace draws an 8 response, we play the six for 15-2, most dealers then would take the run for three. Often will be holding mid-cards with cards of 7 rank and above. So we drop the 5 for count of 27, get a go, and play the 4 spot to close the count at 31-2. How many pegs is that? Read what james500 has to say about playing the hand against X-pointers. If it works with 3-9 which is way down the list, think how superior it must be when you can discard 10-K, 9-0K, 9-Q, 8-K, 8-Q, 7-K,7-Q, etc. Look for the opportunity to hold this hand when non-dealer. It is a potential powerhouse and all those X-pointers give you a hand of nine points to begin.