December 22, 2025

*** This hand was suggested by scottcrib
117*-114  ?
51%
51%
11%
11%
11%
11%
9%
9%
6%
6%
5%
5%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Total votes: 221
scottcribHand during my visit to Fort Walton Beach grass roots club. What's your plan?
mrob2199

Joined: February 2009 (1819 votes)

Monday 4:08 AM
This is my plan -pone needs 7 so he has to keep a hand here-and that hand would most likely necessitate retaining a 5- so we are keeping our 5 for a potential match-I also like the 348 for a couple reason-if we 15 a picture lead and pone matches our 5, we can then play our 8 and then most likely the 3 for a 31 and out- we can also safely match a 4 and give up the trips since we have our 3 backing it up for the 15- so multiple pathways for victory-until the pone leads an A or 2 of course!!!!!
Tall Troy says: I appreciate you detailing the reasoning behind your discard. I did the same but wanted to keep at least four points and keep the 8 to give me an "out" card.....because I need an "out" card to get me out of trouble.
fentesk says: A note I'd give for getting to our four points if non-dealer can't go out, no matter what we discard we know looking at these cards as dealer we will get at least 3. We are guaranteed a point from pegging, and since we have a 5 we have to get at least two points in the hand/crib with the 5. I'd have to work out whether it's possible to get a hand and crib from these cards that don't get at least 3 combined. If possible, I would think it's so unlikely that I wouldn't worry about it, allowing for a discard that solely focuses on pegging without any discard constraints. With that said, I also chose the 3-4-5-8 today.
Gougie00

Joined: March 2008 (6344 votes)

Monday 4:38 AM
Planning to peg out. Perhaps Rob is smarter, but I plan to be luckier. Keeping the low cards.
dec

Joined: April 2008 (7098 votes)

Monday 4:48 AM
Kept defensive eleven of minimal opponents hands here. Pegging four is massively different then having to do five.That built in one at least helps here. dec
tevdodd

Joined: May 2021 (477 votes)

Monday 4:49 AM
My thought process here. I need 2 2+ pegs one way or another. 1st off I'm keeping the 2 cards with the most initial point plays (8-5). Next I kept the 2 cards most likely to make the count 31 so we only need a pair or 15 on the other side of the go. The 2 does not accomplish this in any pegging scenario. If by some miracle they get the first go, we likely have 2 running cards left in our hand that there's still a hail mary trap on the other side.

Cribbage Pro Daily Scrimmage
Score: 111 to 121 Loss
All Chalk
A cut on the final hand would've had me searching for the peg I missed somewhere along the way.
Jazzselke

Joined: March 2009 (2986 votes)

Monday 4:52 AM
When Rob lays out a comprehensive pegging plan I tend to pay attention.
scottcrib says: Yep!
Sgt Pegger says: Yep!
farleysma

Joined: March 2022 (400 votes)

Monday 5:17 AM
With a magic eleven, a three-card run, and a 5, this hand offers some good options for pegging four.
TheGrumpyUncle

Joined: June 2025 (177 votes)

Monday 5:57 AM
domandcarol

Joined: August 2023 (313 votes)

Monday 6:12 AM
Low cards to peg, magic 11 and possibly catch a run provides good options to peg out
mfetchCT425

Joined: February 2009 (1742 votes)

Monday 6:15 AM
Looking to run the low cards for a three card run and a go. The 5 too powerful a pegging card to give up as Ras always reminded us. Would pair any lead card, including the 5.

Enjoyed reading Rob’s pegging plan above.
ShinnHappens

Joined: October 2025 (35 votes)

Monday 6:55 AM
I kept the 8 as an "out" card (and makes for an "11"). In case the Pone doesn't have enough in the hand, I didn't want to keep a low-numbered run of which I couldn't get out. Pone can't trap my 5 if I put it in my crib.
Djgoat

Joined: December 2023 (440 votes)

Monday 6:56 AM
Cribbage Pro Scrimmage
22nd Dec 2025
💔Score: 115 to 121
🌟SP: 470
📅Streak: 21
https://www.cribbagepro.net/scrimmage/709/8363472/1
james500

Joined: June 2013 (4518 votes)

Monday 7:06 AM
A stab in the.dark.
8-3 eleven may be useful, or even play it as 8-2 to leave the 3-4 together?

Cribbage Pro Scrimmage
22nd Dec 2025
💔Score: 114 to 121
🌟SP: 466
📅Streak: 189
https://www.cribbagepro.net/scrimmage/709/3333658/1

A tough one today.
Assman

Joined: May 2024 (610 votes)

Monday 7:49 AM
Keeping the low cards.
PT47

Joined: December 2025 (19 votes)

Monday 7:58 AM
I stashed the 5 as I often play at the wrong time. A note of consolation, given to be so far out of the top choices, my keep might make it more difficult for the pone to “read my hand”- perhaps. Enough points to go out, plus an escape card and an 11 combo. Will have to look up Ras guidance on the 5- more to learn, for sure.
Eolus619 says: Morning..this is the link to Ras's class on hands with pegging potential https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf8L6MPgkkY and i send this along from Barlow's Killer Cribbage tip #23..Should the dealer dump his/her five as well? Actually if dealer does not have two cards with which to trap Pone's five he/she may be better off NOT dumping the five since dealer most often gets last pegging card and holding Five frequently allows him/her to pair Pone's 5 or to score 15-2.
Eolus619 says: and... remember this is an end game scenario..so pay close attention to rob & farleysma comments and in general this link about pegging hands might help too https://vashoncribbage.weebly.com/uploads/5/6/7/4/56741021/lesson5-3.pdf
Eolus619 says: and this too This is the link to Ras's end game pegging for dealer and non-dealer..Thanks Ras https://vashoncribbage.weebly.com/uploads/5/6/7/4/56741021/lesson6-2.pdf
PT47 says: Thank you. Eolus619. I am so glad you are back on posting - your approach is always one of being helpful. And raising pointers to Ras’ insights into the game is also helpful. The input from so many of the other contributors is great reading - I am reluctant to post as I feel my comments dilute the quality response found on this site- but I will keep working on it:)
HfxKen says: PT47: don't be afraid to post. We are all here to engage in the game and learn from each other. Remember, " No one can make you feel inferior without your consent".
BennieO

Joined: August 2025 (128 votes)

Monday 8:29 AM
If not holding all the low cards (2-3-4-5) I do 3-4-5-8 over 2-3-4-8. I’m really not trying to drop extra cards off before count 31, and that get’s done easier with lower held cards. 3-8 is the 11-combo and 4-5 is strength for a run or pairing a 5. Should they lead a X(10) follow with the 3(13). The 3 forces off their 5 rather than the 8(18) which would prompt any somewhat experienced player to drop their 5. We wanna trap that 5 for the end-play.

Cribbage Pro Scrimmage
22nd Dec 2025
💔Score: 111 to 121
🌟SP: 404
📅Streak: 371
https://www.cribbagepro.net/scrimmage/709/7389935/1
BennieO says: Never mind. 8(18) is better off than 3(13) because them playing 5(23) leads to my pair 5(28/2) them saying “Go” and then 3(31/2) winning the game. Had that play resulted in a “Go” leaving me one short, I would not have played this way, but 5-5 is the 10-combo we need to reach 31/2 if not just a X-card.
MiketheExpert

Joined: April 2021 (1330 votes)

Monday 9:08 AM
Similar to a puzzle from a few days ago, but only 4 pegging points to get as dealer and well within range to count out, so try and peg out with even more urgency. Keeping the highest value pegging cards here gives me a lot of confidence that I should be able to peg out.
MiketheExpert says: Meant to say "pone is well within range to count out"...
MiketheExpert says: The only lead of a low card I am pairing is the 4. The 5 will be played on the lead of a 3, and the 4 will be played on the lead of a deuce. The 5 lead is a very interesting case. A smart pone may decide to lead it, as it is an indicator that his hand is likely strong enough to count out, and puts us on high alert. Do we pair this 5 and risk losing the game immediately, or do we play for the "run" and peg out later in the sequence? (Playing the 4 over the 5 gives us plenty of opportunities for our run out and scoring responses, but it also risks preventing us from pegging enough...Is this a situation of "knowing your opponent" and then deciding what to do? I believe it will work out better in most instances not to panic when we see the 5-lead, and proceed with caution but aggression.
Eolus619

Joined: June 2020 (1933 votes)

Monday 9:11 AM
This is the link to Ras's end game pegging for dealer and non-dealer..Thanks Ras

https://vashoncribbage.weebly.com/uploads/5/6/7/4/56741021/lesson6-2.pdf
Tall Troy says: I find reading a .pdf is much more informative than listening to Ras' videos. Thank you.
Eolus619 says: welcome TT..how one learns/absorbs is always quite interesting to me...I know DCH players who have created a log book just from his charts & pdfs..
Sgt Pegger

Joined: July 2017 (849 votes)

Monday 9:40 AM
Rob & Jazz speak for me today.
HalscribCLX

Joined: February 2008 (5871 votes)

Monday 11:59 AM
At 117*-114 playing an Optimal strategy for the pegging (cautious offense) the Dealer Peg Out %s are:

Optimal__________Dealer Peg Out %
3-4-5-8________________61.9
2-3-4-5________________60.5
2-3-5-8________________57.0

3-4-5-8 is best for chances of Dealer Pegging Out so I'll select a 5-8 to discard.

After the A cut I'll play Defense to the lead.
Eolus619 says: Hal…you need a re post….all your keeps contain a five. and two have 5-8 in them…THANKS for all you do on DCH..all the best for 2026