Cribbage Discard Strategy
The discard decision is the most important strategic moment in cribbage. Learn to maximize your advantage every hand.
The Golden Rule
Your discard strategy changes completely based on whether you're the dealer (your crib) or the pone (opponent's crib).
- As Dealer: You can afford to throw good cards to your crib
- As Pone: You must balance hand strength with sabotaging the opponent's crib
Dealer Discard Strategy
As dealer, you score both your hand AND the crib. This gives you flexibility to:
Best Cards to Throw to Your Own Crib
- 5-5: Best possible discard. Almost guaranteed points from 15s.
- 5-10, 5-J, 5-Q, 5-K: Instant 15, plus more potential.
- 2-3: Works with A-4-5, good run potential.
- 7-8: Makes 15, good for runs.
- Pairs: Any pair has scoring potential.
Example: Dealer with 4-5-5-6-9-K
Keep: 4-5-5-6 (guaranteed 8 points: two 15s, pair, run potential)
Discard: 9-K to crib (OK cards, don't hurt you much)
Pone (Non-Dealer) Discard Strategy
As pone, every point you give the crib helps your opponent. You must "balk" the crib.
Cards to NEVER Throw to Opponent's Crib
- 5s: The most dangerous card. Combines with 10-cards for easy 15s.
- Pairs: Guaranteed 2 points minimum.
- Touching cards (3-4, 7-8): Run potential is high.
- 5-10 combinations: Instant 15 for opponent.
Best Balking Cards
- A-K: Far apart, don't make 15, no runs.
- 2-K: Same advantages as A-K.
- 9-K: Make 19, which doesn't score.
- A-9: Only scores if 5-5 is also in crib.
The Balking Trade-off
Sometimes you must choose between a strong hand and balking the crib. Generally, keeping 2+ extra points in your hand is worth giving 1-2 points to the crib.
Card Values for Discarding
| Card | To Your Crib | To Opponent's Crib |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Excellent | Never |
| A | Fair | Good balk |
| 2, 3 | Good together | Avoid together |
| 4 | Good with 5 | Acceptable alone |
| 6, 7, 8, 9 | Good for runs/15s | 9 is safest |
| 10, J, Q, K | Good with 5 | K best balk |
Advanced: Considering the Cut
Expert players consider which starter cards help their hand most. Keep cards that benefit from common cuts:
- 5 in hand: Benefits from any 10-card cut (16 cards in deck)
- Runs with gaps: A-2-4 benefits from any 3 cut
- Three of a suit: Flush potential with matching cut
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I always throw my worst cards to the crib?
Not necessarily. As dealer, your crib is yours, so throwing good cards can be beneficial. As pone (non-dealer), you want to 'balk' the crib by throwing cards unlikely to help your opponent.
Why are 5s so important in cribbage discard?
5s are the most valuable cards for making 15s (combining with any 10-value card). As dealer, keeping or throwing 5s to your crib is powerful. As pone, never throw 5s to opponent's crib.
What is balking the crib?
Balking means discarding cards to the opponent's crib that are unlikely to score points. Good balking cards include A-K, 2-K, 9-K (far apart, no 15s or runs).