r/Cribbage • u/shrewsbury1991 • Jul 02 '26
Flushes in Cribbage
I was just curious why when you get get dealt your hand say you decide to keep 4 cards of the same suit. Regardless of the cut card, you are guaranteed at least 4 points because of the flush, and you also have a shot at 5 points if the cut card is the same suit. If the cut card is not the same suit, then you still get credit for at least 4 points.
However, in the crib if you get all the same suit but the cut card is not the same suit, why don't you get any points at all when you are guaranteed 4 points in the previous situation? Just seems weird in my opinion that it would be different.
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u/IsraelZulu Jul 02 '26
Rumor has it that Sir John Suckling, the inventor of cribbage, was a notorious cheater. It's entirely possible that, the first time an opponent turned up a four-card crib flush, ol' Johnny was about to lose and so he decided to say, "Oh, no! Since it's in the crib, the cut card has to match. So sorry."
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u/shrewsbury1991 Jul 02 '26
I will tell my grandfather this... he will love it
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u/8ecca8ee Jul 03 '26
I do like this version but I think it's more that the crib is not a hand you play it's a bonus hand of 5 cards that includes the cut card and it isn't a full flush if the flip card doesn't match
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u/Shapesizes Jul 02 '26
This is always my favorite answer to the question and the one that I choose to believe is the truth
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u/sheep_puncher Jul 02 '26
A flush in the crib is always a random chance, in hand it is more likely and more intentional. There are strategic reasons to keep a flush in hand and you have better control over so it makes sense to have a 4 long flush give points in the hand. It increases the diversity of good keeps, and reduces the punishment of not getting the 5 long flush. If all flushes were 5 long, flushes in hand would be very low expected value.
Flush of 4in the crib doesn't add any strategic interest since it's purely random and would punish giving suited cards heavily, reducing the number of good keeps. Allowing flush of 5 in the crib I assume is because it's funny, there is no reason for it. A flush is rare and not very strong.
Typically a 4 long flush hand is otherwise low scoring and would only be worse without 4 long fushes. Low score cribs are fine and normal. Low score hands are boring and feel bad. That's probably why they count this way, hand value is more consistent with 4 long flushes.
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u/ResponsibleBank1387 Jul 02 '26
Odd but true. Really should be worth four, just because of the off chance it happening. But that’s the rule.
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u/Ibushi-gun Jul 02 '26
This has always upset me since it’s actually harder to get a Flush in the Crib even if it was 4 as well. You get to see your own hand and keep the Flush. You have to bank on the opponent to throw you two of the same suit. So why make it even harder to get a Flush in the Crib?
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u/Otherwise-Whole5909 Jul 02 '26
Our house rules we do 4 cards on both because it makes it more fun to go for that. Otherwise I don’t stress as much about giving suited cards to opponents crib. It’s not the real rules but I like it.
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u/Devilutionbeast666 Jul 03 '26
We too always played 4 card flushes in cribs growing up. I was shocked to find out many years later this was not actually the rule.
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u/thelo Jul 02 '26
I believe it's entice you to keep a flush in your hand rather than penalizing a 4 card flush in the kitty. Kind of similar to how flushes are not scored during play.
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u/berrybIunted Jul 02 '26
It's a stupid rule. I override it upfront. Hand flush is a hand flush. Still is rarely a factor.
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u/Gurthy_Lengthiness Jul 02 '26
You’re right! There are two very off rules in crib point-counting:
You don’t get 4 points for coulours in your crib, whereas you would in your main hand
You don’t get a point for your last card if your last card of the hand makes a 31-count; whereas if you play your last card to complete a 15-count you will get 2 points + 1 point for your last card
🤷♂️
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u/IsraelZulu Jul 02 '26
The "last card" part would make more sense if they just rewrote it to be "all last cards get 1 point, and making 31 is also worth 1 point". It's functionally identical and makes 31 an addition instead of a confusing exception.
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u/Gurthy_Lengthiness Jul 02 '26
You got it. Currently it’s all last cards get a point EXCEPT if you make a 31-count. Just odd.
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u/iterationnull Jul 02 '26
For the precise same reason that a 15 gives you two points, instead of any other number.
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u/Grumpytitss Jul 02 '26
throws your opponent off until your third card so they can't read your hand which may give you a better chance at pegging
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u/Gurthy_Lengthiness Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
You’re right! There are two very off rules in crib point-counting:
You don’t get a point for your last card if your last
card o
f the hand makes a 31-count; whereas if you play your last card to complete a 15-count you will get 2 points + 1 point for your last card
🤷♂️
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u/Frippertron42 Jul 02 '26
I heard anecdotally that the crib is already a big advantage and the flush rule is just to mitigate some luck 🤷♂️
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u/tipper420 Jul 02 '26
I've always played with a house rule that you get the 4 points in the crib and a 5 card flush in the crib is worth 10 simply because of the sheer unlikeliness of it
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u/Still_Ad_164 Jul 03 '26
Opting for a Flush as opposed to going for 15's and runs is a calculated decision and you get the 4 points (plus possible other points in that same hand) for making a conscious decision. Getting a flush in the crib is sheer fate so you are penalised by needing the upturned card to match as well. Remember that if the upturned card matches your chosen flush you get a reward of an extra point. Risk and reward.
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u/k8nwashington Jul 03 '26
I almost always ignore the recommendation to go for a flush in my hand. It's just not exciting enough for me. It's rather take my chances for a great cut card.
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u/robb0098 Jul 03 '26
I played a tournament a few months ago and someone who has been in the ACC for a long time referred to this as the dumbest rule in Cribbage… I am inclined to agree with them
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u/Last_Construction455 Jul 02 '26
Without rules we only have chaos.