In laying out cards for the crib, the player should consider not only
his own hand, but also to whom the crib belongs, as well as the state
of the game; for what might be right in one situation would be wrong
in another. Possessing a pair-royal, it is generally advisable to lay
out the other cards for crib, unless it belongs to the adversary.
Avoid giving him two fives, a deuce and a trois, five and six, seven
and eight, five and any other tenth card. When he does not thereby
materially injure his hand, the player should for his own crib lay out
close cards, in hope of making a sequence; or two of a suit, in
expectation of a flush; or cards that of themselves reckoned with
others will count fifteen. When the antagonist be nearly up, and it
may be expedient to keep such cards as may prevent him from gaining at
play. The rule is to baulk your adversary's crib by laying out cards
not likely to prove of advantage to him, and to lay out favourably for
your own crib. This applies to a stage of the game when it may be of
consequence to keep in hand cards likely to tell in play, or when the
non-dealer would be either out by his hand, or has reason for thinking
the crib of little moment. A king and a nine is the best baulk, as
none can form a sequence beyond it; king or queen, with an ace, six,
seven, eight, or nine, are good ones to put out. Low cards are
generally the most likely to gain at play; the flushes and sequences,
particularly if the latter be aiso flushes, are eligible hands, as
thereby the player will often be enabled either to assist his own
crib, or baulk that of the opponent; a knave should never be put out
for his crib, if it can be retained in hand.