Published: August 8, 2026
Everyone starts somewhere. But these five mistakes cost beginners games they should win. Fix them and you'll immediately play at a higher level.
The most common opener from beginners — and the most exploitable. A lead of 5 lets your opponent play a face card for an easy "fifteen for 2." The safest opening lead is a 4 — the opponent needs an Ace (unlikely), a 5, or a face card to make a 15. Statistically, a 4 lead gives your opponent fewer scoring opportunities.
When discarding to your opponent's crib, avoid giving them: pairs (2 points), cards that add to 5 (a 2 and 3, or A and 4), or cards that add to 15 (a 5 and a face card). Never put a 5 in your opponent's crib — a 5 in the crib is statistically worth about 4 points more than an average card.
Nobs — holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter — is worth 1 point. Beginners miss it constantly because they're focused on counting 15s, runs, and pairs. After counting everything else, make a habit of checking: does my Jack match the starter? One point can win games.
New players often just play any card during pegging without thinking. But pegging is a strategic battle. Lead cards that are hard to pair (end-value cards like A, 2, 3, face cards). Trap your opponent by setting up a run they can't avoid completing. Pegging can score 4-8 points that make the difference between winning and losing.
If you count your hand in a random order — checking for pairs, then runs, then 15s, then back to pairs — you WILL miss points. Always use the standard order: 15s first, then runs, then pairs, then flushes, then nobs. It becomes automatic and ensures you never skip a category.
Play Cribbage | How to Play Cribbage | Cribbage Strategy
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