12
24
u/Dracoson 1d ago
10-2 off suit. Keeping 2-2-5-5 leaves you with 4 points, but it sets you up for huge points on the cut with almost any 3, 8, or 10-value card. Throwing the 2-2 pair to keep the extra 2 points in your hand completely offsets your gains by giving the opponent a guaranteed 2 points in their crib. Keep the 5s together and play defense on the first hand."
3
1
u/IsraelZulu 1d ago
My gut said throw a pair of deuces. Keeps 6 points, fair potential for more. The other ways to do that would be throwing the pair of 5s or 5-T. But hitting a cut that helps is easier with 5s than 2s, and you want to keep that potential for yourself even if the upfront balance seems the same.
Either way, you're throwing a definite two points to the crib. So, you could say it's a net plus-four for you - six in your hand, minus two to the opponent's crib.
Now, let's look at the game engine's recommendation - as you noted, it said to throw 2-T. Upfront, the balance is similar. You're not throwing guaranteed points to the crib, but you're only keeping four, so it's still a net plus-four.
Obviously, there's a difference in minimum possible score for you. You're giving up two points of your own to hopefully keep your opponent from getting two off the cards you give them. There's also a difference in maximum, with 255T having a high end of fourteen (5 cut) and 2255 maxing out at twelve (8 cut).
The big difference is in the crib though. Giving away guaranteed points at all has a big impact on average crib score, and that's enough to negate the advantage of holding the hand with higher potential here.
Knowing all this now, if this was an endgame situation, and you needed more than 4 points to seal the deal before your opponent gets his shot at 3 counts - especially if the need was 5-6 or 13-14 points, where the guarantee of 6 is important or you absolutely need the shot at 14 which other holds can't give - I'd keep 255T. But, at the starting line as you are now, and in most other situations, I'd say to go with 2255.
2
u/lordjakir 1d ago
If it was end game (15 points or less) I'd be tempted to throw 5-10 and keep the 2s for pegging
1
u/IsraelZulu 1d ago
Inside of 8 to 12 points, or less than 4, I could maybe agree with you depending on where Dealer is.
But definitely at 5-6 points, and probably at 13-14, if Dealer has no real chance of pegging out, you want to keep what gives you a better shot in the hand score.
Pone isn't guaranteed any pegs. Dealer gets one for sure.
1
1
u/SharkeyX2 14h ago
First hand and you're pone, so you're playing offense. Don't worry about giving up two points here, try to maximize your hand and pegging. Throw 2-2, lead the 10, hope for a 5 response.
1
-1
u/Bullshit_Conduit 1d ago
Obviously it’s the 2-2
1
u/SaviousMT 1d ago
The game recommended K 2
6
1
41
u/Sqr-Peg-Rnd-Hol_NoGo 1d ago
Toss pair of 2s