How to Improve Your Cribbage Game

Member

By Ryan Newhouse
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (5 Ratings)

Know what to discard

You can improve your cribbage skills by having a strategy for discarding when it's your crib and when it's your opponent's crib. Follow this simple strategy and win more cribbage games!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Cribbage board
Pegs
Full deck of playing cards (without Jokers)

Step 1

WHEN IT IS YOUR CRIB

It's often easier to discard when it's your crib because you don't have to worry about putting "good" cards in your own crib. However, there are a couple tips you should know.

First, simply discard what you don't need for playing your hand. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FOUR BEST CARDS!

If these cards aren't helping your hand, consider discarding an Ace or 5, or any two cards adding up to five. Also, any two cards adding up to 15, such as 7/8, 9/6, or 5 and 10/J/Q/K.
Step 2

WHEN IT IS YOUR OPPONENT'S CRIB

There is no good way to give your opponent a "safe" crib, but you can help reduce the chance of giving him/her a "big" crib.

Avoid discarding cards that add up to five, such as 3/2 or 4/Ace.

Avoid giving Q and J, or 3 and 4, as they often create runs.

Avoid giving cards that only have one card in between them, such as 3/5 because of the risk of runs.

Avoid giving 7s and 8s because these cards build big hands.

Avoid giving two cards of the same suit.

However, your first concern should always be your own hand. Again, keep your best four cards and give your opponent what is left over.
Step 3

Keep playing and practicing! Cribbage is a fun game that is easy to learn and hard to master. If you want to learn more, visit "Official Rules of Cribbage" in the Resources.