Restriction Plays and Pegging Traps

Restriction   Plays   and   Pegging   Traps

S is a smll card,   M a middle card,   X a high card,   and   ? is any unimportant card


When board position suggests maximization you may be able to spring a trap against a frequently held hand

Use with caution: a trap against one hand may backfire against another!


PONE TRAPS
  Pone      Dealer     Play        Result 
 A A 4 X    5 X X X    4   X   A   A(31-4)
                         X   5

 A A 5 9    A 4 X X    5   9   A   A(31-8)
                         X   4   A

 A A 5 9    5 X X X    5   9   A   A(31-4)
                         X   5
 
 A 6 6 8    6 7 8 8    A   6       6(27-7)
                         8   6

 A 6 7 8    6 7 8 8    A   6       9(31-6)
                         8   7

 A 7 8 8    6 7 8 9    A   8       8(31-8)
                         6   8

 A 7 8 9    6 7 8 9    A   8       9(31-6)
                         6   7

 3 4 8 ?    5 X X X    8   4       3(30-4)
                         X   5

 3 4 9 ?    5 X X X    9   4       3(31-5)
                         X   5

 4 6 6 ?    5 X X X    6   6       4(31-5)    
                         X   5 

 5 7 7 ?    X X X X    5   7       7(31-4) 
                         X

 5 8 8 ?    9 X X X    5   8       8(31-4) 
                         X
 
 6 7 X ?    5 X X X    X   7       6(28-4) 
                         5

 6 M X X   S 5 X X   6   M     X X(30-4)
                         X  S  5  X
 
 8 8 X ?    5 X X X    X   8       8(31-4) 
                         5

DEALER TRAPS
  Pone      Dealer     Play        Result 
 5 X X X    3 4 4 ?      3   4     4(31-4)
                       X   X   
 
 A 4 X X    A A 4 X      4   X   A A(31-8)    12 (even 14) points possible!
                       4   X   A

AVOID the TRAP
  Pone      Dealer     Play        Result 
 A A 4 X    A 4 X X      X   A   4 
                       4   X   A   A(31-2)

 A 4 X X    A A 4 X      4   A   X A(31-2)
                       4   A   X

As pone you have 6 M X X.   Lead the 6 and play M on Dealer's X to force Dealer's small cards out before the next series.   This restriction play may let you steal last card.


When board position suggests minimization avoid Pone's various 5 traps by playing a safe 5 as your first card when possible.   Most traps involve restriction so the early play of the 5 prevents this.   Similarly, if you have a singleton A or other small card, play the A or small card early.

As Pone, you have 5 - ? left in the next series.   Dealer has not shown a X card, and may have purposely kept touching cards such as 3 - 4, 6 - 7, or even 4 - 6 to trap your 5.   Avoid the run-trap and lead the 5!

As pone you have 6 M X X.   Lead the 6 and play M on Dealer's X to force Dealer's probable 5 out before the next series.   You can use restriction to lead a X-card without a probable 15-2.

As a bonus, Dealer may have to play another card, resulting in only one Dealer's Go, instead of two that he often gets.   This play works especially well against   A 4 X X.


E-mail me if you have any comments or questions.