May 13, 2019

*** This hand was suggested by james500 on ecribbage.com
68-68*  ?
33%
28%
25%
6%
5%
0%
Total votes: 175
dec
6359 votes

Joined: April 2008

 
 
 
Monday 3:10 AM
Not keen on 3-6 and 2-3 is out of the question here unless I really needed a three point win here. Alas 3-6 might be the more viable choice at least still have a chance to hit that 85 goal with this keep. Lead the six of hearts and muddy the pegging here. defense. dec
Rosemarie44
2052 votes

Joined: March 2016

 
 
 
Monday 3:24 AM
Chose the safer 3-6 to opponent's crib. This hand has 15 cuts for 12 or 16 points. Defense.
Rosemarie44 says: Great hand, james500.
james500 says: Thanks for the kind words Rosemarie, but I can't take the credit for it. The computer dealt it to me.
james500
3924 votes

Joined: June 2013

 
 
 
Monday 3:53 AM
Don't need to travel far, but need to prevent Dealer from doing so. No to 2-3 and the flush then, but either of an offsuit 3-6, 3-7 or 2-7 could work. I'll try 3-6 (with a second 6 known to be out of circulation).
Ras2829 says: Hi james500: Whatever the source, appreciate you submitting a puzzle of such quality.
glmccuskey
4102 votes

Joined: April 2011

 
 
 
Monday 3:57 AM
I lead the seven of diamonds and peg as defensively as I can. If dealer plays an eight I’ll escape with my two.
dgergens
938 votes

Joined: January 2018

 
 
 
Monday 4:19 AM
My thinking seems in line with current voters.
Gougie00
5731 votes

Joined: March 2008

 
 
 
Monday 5:23 AM
Interesting puzzle. I tossed 3-6 because I already know where one of the sixes are. Not tempted by the flush or holding 6677. Lead the 7 of diamonds. If the dealer has a similar hand we will get creamed. Use the 2 to escape run situations.

It has rained nearly every day here in northern Massachusetts for about 3 weeks, and rain is in the forecast again.
mfetchCT425
1400 votes

Joined: February 2009

 
 
 
Monday 5:26 AM
Like the 3-6 toss here. A 2nd 6 already accounted for and we get 16 if an is cut with this hold vs. 14 if we hold 2-6-6-7. I might lead the 2 here. If opponent plays a face, would play my 7d (flush fake). If he plays 8/9, would play my 6. If he plays a 7 would play 7d with chance to peg big with pairs royal. 6 response, 7d again. If he plays a 5 or lower, 7d again.
mfetchCT425 says: * if an 8 is cut with this hold...*
mfetchCT425 says: * meant double pairs royal above: pegging sequence of 2,7,7,7,7 (30 for 12 and probably a go).
horus93
1282 votes

Joined: December 2017

 
 
 
Monday 6:33 AM
At +8/-2 holding good cards this is a pretty defensive position. I only really thought about 3-6 and 3-7 and went with 3-6 as it's obv the safer of the two and both hands start with 6.

Our goal isn't 85, our goal is to be dealing a few points past 70 next hand (attainable without pegging anything w these cards) and to keep opponent from being pone at 86+.

I'd play fairly defensively and lead the 7 but seeing as we only hold 6 points, we're still just coming into third street and double pair royals are one of the rarest occurrences in the game I'd triple if opponent pairs it.
travelingman2019
513 votes

Joined: December 2018

 
 
 
Monday 9:24 AM
I will take my chances with the 63 offsuit toss.....Barlow specifically talks about never giving combos totaling 10 into opponent's crib.............
Jazzselke
2587 votes

Joined: March 2009

 
 
 
Monday 9:35 AM
Late to the party, it's all been said. No need to take chances, and 36 safer than 37 knowing of a second 6.
cribbagepogo
3251 votes

Joined: October 2007

 
 
 
Monday 1:28 PM
Don't want to give away a 7 the only reason this is better than the 2,6,6,7.
Ras2829
5155 votes

Joined: November 2008

 
 
 
Monday 2:09 PM
It pays to flush! Here we have a flush that benefits from the cut of any denomination and from those remaining diamonds. Besides the potential pegging value of 2-3-6-7 is much superior to other available combinations. It matters not whether playing defense or offense, the 2-3-6-7 has the edge. With dealer at hole 68, want to minimize dealer pegs. That three-card eleven (2-3-6) gives me a clear chance to do so. Since choosing a defense pegging strategy, will lead the trey. Would play the six if dealer puts a 10-point card on my trey and plan to close the count at 31-2 with the deuce. If choosing offense, would have taken the 15-2 with the deuce and hoped to close the count at 31 with the six. That's my take on it.
Guest says: Hi Ras: I am still waiting in suspense from yesterday's hand!. No comments from anyone! Rosemarie44
Ras2829 says: Hi Rosemarie44: I was very late voting yesterday so didn't comment. I chose the flush yesterday as well as combined values were slightly higher and holding the trey with the 3 other spades gave me a safer hand from which to peg. HalscribCLX is right on today with the lead of the deuce if playing safe. Dumping the five on the next play would also be the right course of action. Those are the two most likely cards in this hand to result in some pegging damage by dealer. Purpose of a safe strategy is to limit pegs of opponent. Besides that after the first two cards played, some distance has been gained between the remaining cards of 3-7.
Coeurdelion
5595 votes

Joined: October 2007

 
 
 
Monday 4:54 PM
I think the choice must be between 2-3-6D-7D (6H-7H) and 2-6D-7-7 (3-6H):

2-3-6D-7D: 6pts - 6pts (Schell: 6.42) = 0pt

2-6D-7-7: 6pts - 5pts (Schell: 4.87) = 1pt

Potential:

2-3-6D-7D: Improves with AAAA, 222, 333, 4444, 5555, 66, 77, 8888, 9999 + 16xXs = 46 cuts = 46/46 = 100.0% up to 9/10/11/12 with AAAA, 222, 333, 4444, 5555, 66, 77, 8888 = 26 cuts. Plus 9 diamonds for 1pt extra for the flush = 9/46 = 0.20pt.

2-6D-7-7: Improves with AAAA, 222, 5555, 66, 77, 8888, 9999 = 23 cuts = 23/46 = 50.0% up to 12/16pts with 222, 5555, 66, 77, 8888 = 15 cuts.

Position:

Dealer is 2pts short of positional hole but we're 18pts short of where we need to be so I'll play Offense.

Pegging:

I think the flush will peg better and be harder to read.

Summary:

Although the starting value of 2-3-6D-7D is 1pt less than 2-6D-7-7 (1½pts according to Schell) 2-3-6D-7D has many more cuts for improvement and also will peg better. So I'll throw the somewhat risky suited 6-7.
HalscribCLX
5318 votes

Joined: February 2008

 
 
 
Monday 4:57 PM
At 68-68* playing an Optimal strategy for the pegging the dynamic expected averages and Win/Loss %s are:

_________________Net
Optimal____Hand__Pegs____Crib___Total___W4 %____W5 %
2-3-6D-7D__9.59+(-0.57)+(-5.61)=3.41____53.5____55.8
2-6D-7-7___8.65+(-1.70)+(-4.10)=2.85____43.6____54.9

Optimal_______L4 %____L5 %
2-3-6D-7D_____42.1____26.6
2-6D-7-7______35.4____28.1

The flush is better for expected averages by 0.56pt and is considerably better for Win %s. Although it is worse for Loss %s because of the risk of the 6H-7H I'll still select this discard.

After the 10 cut I'll lead the 2 and play Safe:

Defense______Dealer's Pegging Pts.
2___________________(-1.94)
3___________________(-2.00)
6___________________(-2.42)
7___________________(-2.51)