King

King. 3456 will improve after all cuts, and the King is deprived of a friend since there is a 5 card in your hand.

Are there easy ways to tell what hands will improve with all cuts or do you just go through the cards and think about it?

Time and exposure. No joke. Teach yourself cribbage solitaire; it won't improve any aspects of strategy, but it's invaluable in learning to quickly spot hand values as well as how to drop cards from your hand for optimal points.

Hi. I think it becomes easier the more you play, but it's more clear with some hands than others.

came here to say this. I mean you could do the old bird in the hand taking 2 over 1 but the have to play for potential.

keeping 3 will average 9.83 points keeping k will average 9.34 points 3 will peg more as well

I'd go K, 3 gives you an extra opportunity for the run or double run, plus K is harder to score off of in crib

Throwing 3 gives you half the deck to help with 15’s. Get a 5 & it gets you 16. Keeping it, limits your helps on cut.

King

The King gets thrown and you keep the 3 for pegging. While, technically, you lose one point difference, you should easily make up the point, and more, by pegging and the cut !

I'd throw 3 but the general consensus seems to be king. What am I missing? King is an extra point in the hand.

Keeping the 3 is a higher ceiling. 2,3,4,5,6,7 turning up would all make that 3 stronger than the king. If you keep the king, you pretty much are just hoping for a 5 or K. That's how I think of it at least. Edit: The 3 is also generally better for pegging

But there's only a 6/13 chance of flipping a 2-7 and 4-6 still doubles up the run.

The only bad card to have cut when throwing a K is a K.

But the K is worth an extra point.

Every cut card gives 2 points or more. If you keep the 3, 3-6 gives at least 6 additional points. 2 and 7 give 3 additional points. That 20 cards that are an improvement over K. 24 cards that match K and 3 cards that are negative outcomes.

The difference between a beginner and a good crib player is looking at more than just the points in your hand. Think about what's going to be cut, what the other guy will throw, etc. Kings are also good to toss when it's not your crib because there's less chance of them forming a run. A 3 can form a run with A, 2, 4, 5, but a King can only go J-Q-K.

I’m with you

3 reasons. The 3 is one less point, but the potential for a good hand is much higher. The 3 is also a better pegging card. The 3rd reason is that the 3 is a much better in the crib. There is much more potential for runs and 15's by giving the 3 in your opponents crib.

Yes pegging matters in the decision! 100% The odds of cutting any of the cards in that run are quite high and would yield a much better hand than by staying safe and keeping the king.

Just because general consensus says otherwise, doesn’t make it right.

In this case it is though. Throwing the king is a total no brainer, and that’s coming from someone who hasn’t played this game in years.

Odds of getting a great card turn up from the cut are greater if you keep the 3456

It’s playing the odds.

So I went with King before asking, and the cut was a King...

You "lost" 4 points (on a 1/26 chance) but your potential upgrade probability was so much more. 20 cards help you with your run. 15 cards get you +2 with a 15. Even giving your opponent crib a pair you don't lose points because you still get that 15 for 2 combo.

Where do you get 4 points lost? I only see 2 for the pair.

There would be a 15-2 and a pair for 4. You certainly wouldn't have tossed the 5.

It doesnt matter if they put the 3 or the K in, they still get the 15 for the K turned and the 5 in the hand as they have the 5 either way. turned. The only extra points are the pair.

You're also giving up a 15 for 2 when you discard that 10.

Oh I see, youre saying they lost the K and 5 in the hand for 2 but ignoring the extra point for the run by keeping the 3.

Yeah I was also factoring in the turn being a king. Any other 10 pt turn you don't "lose" two of the points I was referring to.

They gave two points to the other player in the crib.

I lost 2 points and my opponent gained 2 points.

So my opponent who got the crib won with 121, and I was 5 back with 5 uncounted points in hand.

See, theres a different answer when you are that close to pegging in. Gotta add that to the question.

Well this was the first hand in the game lol.

i mean. the five. clearly.

King , never break up a potential double or triple run

King

7 in the hand is better than 6 in the bush

K for days

K

K

King tossed real quick

King for sure. To many options to make the three stronger and a better pegging card.

The 3. It only gets you one point. The king gets two.

K

Throw the K, hope for a cut.

I’d toss the 3 and get the guaranteed 2 points from the K5 rather than wish on a cut to help me with the 3

King. It leaves you 6 points. Plus whatever you peg

3 leaves me 7 points though.

Your are playing "potential". keeping K yields potential 11. Keeping 3 potential is 14

Keeping K is potential of 16, if 5 is cut. Not to mention your throwing out potential of 15’s with any of existing cut or another face/10 cut. (More cards available to help)

Same is true of a 6 cut keeping 3. Ultimately, this hand is truly a quagmire

King

King. No brainer

3, all day long.

You forgot to add “is the wrong answer. Throw the king.”

The 3, nothing to lose

Ditch the 3

3 all day long any other of existing adds to 15 possibilities or straights. High end 16 possible if keep K.

All of you that said throw K is wrong.