Appreciating the colors of the season

There is snow in the mountains, fog in the valleys and stores are filling up with costumes and candy. The red leaves of the scrub oaks line the canals and riverbeds with color. The golden leaves of the cottonwood shimmer as the wind blows storms in from the North.

Each year, I love the rituals of late fall. Home is just not prepared for winter until I have raked the leaves, harvested those last garden vegetables, drunk gallons hot apple cider, and walked in the crisp mornings, crunching leaves underfoot.

Still, it is one of my favorite months for seeing the changes Mother Nature does so beautifully.

Here at the Dragon's Lair, we are starting a season of change as well. We have sadly said goodbye to online friends and have finished the work on a new website look. Our games are going through a last update before we begin new and exciting projects. And with our cribbage hint for this month, you may change the way you think and play this classic game.

Welcome to a new look at our free game site. Located at dqfree.com, the new look is cleaner and sleeker, with plenty of games to peruse. Finding a new game for your tastes is only a click away. Our free games are featured, and plenty of other games are available for free download trials.

Use the tabs on top of the site to locate the genre of game you're seeking, and the possibilities display from different sources. Overtime, you should find many games to try, give as gifts, or share with your friends.

If you're scared by all the possibilities, some of our staff have favorite recommendations for you. Try our favorites, or let us know which ones you think we should feature.

Cribbage Tip of the Month:
The Magic Eleven by DeLynn Colvert

It's back to basics, as we explore a familiar defense for Cribbage.

Cards that total eleven are especially important in Pegging. The 6-5, 7-4, 8-3, 9-2, and x("ten" card)-A combinations aid offensively and defensively in Pegging. These eleven combinations are especially important when you need a strong defense. When Jake needs a couple of peg points to win the game, make every effort to keep a Magic Eleven.

The reasons are obvious. Sixteen "ten" cards (combined with 5s) are one of the most common hands held. And since 5s are rarely led in Pegging, the "ten" cards are played first. The Magic Eleven easily scores 31, shutting out Jake, and scoring for you. If you are playing desperation defense and don't have two cards totaling eleven, try to keep three cards that total eleven. For example, 5-3-3, 9-A-A, 8-2-A, 7-2-2, 6-3-2. It's amazing how often this eleven defense works.

Even if defense is not of prime importance, when studying your six cards and an obvious discard is tough to figure, base your decision on the Magic Eleven. Keep cards that total eleven. Your score in pegging will improve.

And your defense will improve! An example of a tough hand to discard: A-2-6-9-J-K (your crib). Discard the J and K instead of the 6-9. Even though the J and K, combined with the A, adds to eleven, the 9-2 combination is preferable. Since the Magic Eleven is especially designed to stop "ten" leads, your J-K, combined with the A, are not nearly as effective as the 9-2. If Jake plays a 10 or J first, play your 2. But if Jake plays a Q or K first, play your 9.

Another example: A-2-6-J-Q-K (opponent's crib). Discard the 2-6, keeping the eleven combinations intact. And the odds for hitting the Starter card for maximum remain the same, whether you hold the A or 2 with the J-Q-K. Holding the A, eight cards will give you a nine-point hand (4-4-4-4-5-5-5-5). Holding the 2, again eight cards will give you a nine-point hand (3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5). Holding the A will give you that little extra edge in Pegging.

Make the effort to count and observe, and your game will improve by leaps and bounds.