Cribbage Discard Strategy
The most important decision in every hand is which two cards to put in the crib. Good discarding is where most cribbage games are won.
Know whose crib it is
If you are the dealer, the crib is yours, so you want to throw cards that score well together. If you are the non-dealer, every point in the crib goes to your opponent, so throw cards that are unlikely to combine.
Best cards to throw in your own crib
- 5s: they make 15 with every 10-value card, and a third of the deck counts as 10.
- Pairs and cards that add up to 15 (7-8, 6-9, 5-10).
- Close cards like 7-8 or 6-7 that can form runs.
Best cards to throw in your opponent's crib
- Cards far apart in rank, like K-9 or Q-8, or K with an Ace.
- Kings are the safest, since nothing ranks above them for runs.
- Avoid throwing 5s, pairs, and two cards that add to 15.
Keep the hand, not just the points
Count the points in each possible four-card keep, then think about which starter cards would improve it. A hand like 4-5-6-6 already scores and gains from many starters. Keeping a Jack gives you a chance at nobs.
Balance hand and crib
Sometimes the best keep for your hand gives the crib too much. As non-dealer, it is often worth keeping a slightly weaker hand to avoid giving away a 5 or a pair. As dealer, you can break a hand to put strong cards together in the crib.