John Chambers - Tip #11

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Second Street consists of the next thirty holes (31-60). If you don't make it past hole 60 by the time your opponent has gone out (hole 121) you have been double skunked. If you are playing for stakes, a double skunk is worth three times the stakes.

The goal for Second Street is to be around hole 44 on your deal with your opponent behind you.

Your Deal, You are Less Than One Half Street Behind

Good or Excellent Hand: Assume that your opponent is at hole 44 while you are at hole 34. Your opponent has already beat you to this positional hole (44). You must now look towards the next positional hole (70) as your goal. In order for your opponent to get to the next positional hole he needs 26 holes in this one hand. Not very likely. All you need to do is make up ten holes, on the average, in your three counts, so play on.

Poor or Average Hand: Again, assume that your opponent is at hole 44 while you are at hole 34. Your opponent is already at his next positional hole (44). He'll really be in position after the count of this hand. Unless you can make up the points you need by pegging, you will fall further behind, so play on. You've nothing to lose. Remember, you still have the Crib to help you.

Opponent's Deal, You are Less Than One Half Street Behind

Good or Excellent Hand: With a hand such as this, more than likely you'll be able to gain points on your opponent. If your opponent is at hole 44 and you are at hole 34 and receive a twelve hand, the worst you can be after this hand is at hole 46. Your opponent is already at hole 44 and looking towards his next positional hole (70) with his three counts. Pegging can only help your opponent get better position, so play off. If he receives one below average hand and you keep his pegging to a minimum, it will make getting to the next positional hole (70) even tougher.

Poor or Average Hand: If your opponent is at hole 44 and you are at hole 34, when you receive this hand, play off. In order for your opponent to get to the next positional hole, your opponent will need average hands. If your opponent gets below average hands, but still pegs, he may get the position he wants. The advice is to play off and hope to stall your opponent so you will have the advantage of the three counts to get to the next positional hole.

Your Deal, You are One Half Street or More Behind

Good or Excellent Hand: Assume that your opponent is at hole 50 and you are at hole 35. You should play off. Assume that your opponent will get the average amount of holes in this Play and Hand. That means your opponent should reach hole 60 or 61 after this hand. On the average you will be at hole 51 not counting pegging or your Crib. If you peg the normal two or three holes during the Play and receive an average Crib of four holes, then you should be at hole 57 or 58. Next time you can get into position (hole 70). If you minimize your opponent's pegging points this time, you'll make it tougher for your opponent to be able to get position on Fourth Street, thereby giving you the chance to get position on Fourth Street.

Poor or Average Hand: Again, assume that your opponent is at hole 50 and you are at hole 35. This time you are going to have to take a chance and play on. Why? Because if you don't peg some points now, you'll need to get some unbelievably huge hands down the stretch, on Third and Fourth Street, to get back position. You've got nothing to lose and your position to gain, so play on.

Opponent's Deal, You are One Half Street or More Behind

Good or Excellent Hand: Again, your opponent is at hole 50 while you are at hole 35. Remember, it's your opponent's deal. In this situation, play on. Lets face it. If your opponent gets an average Play, Hand and Crib this time, he should get to hole 66. Then he'll have the hand as the nondealer. Remember, as the nondealer the average for the Play and the Hand is ten. Your opponent will be at hole 76 for his three counts. That means he'll need six less holes on the average to get into position on Fourth Street. Now, you're holding a sixteen hand. That means after this Play (two points on the average) and Hand (sixteen) you should be at hole 53. If you can raise that pegging average to get onto Third Street, you'll have a chance to have your three counts to get you onto Fourth Street.

Poor or Average Hand: Since your opponent is at hole 50 with your position being hole 35, you should play on. Take the chance. Why? Because you know that he'll probably get position in these next three counts. The only way you can eliminate the advantage your opponent has is to stay as close as possible and hope the hands start coming.

- Republished from Cribbage: A New Concept by permission. Text copyright © 2002 by John Chambers. All rights reserved.

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