How to Play Cribbage: A Complete Guide for Beginners
Cribbage is a classic card game that has been enjoyed by millions of people for centuries. It is a game of skill, strategy, and luck that can be played by two or more players. Whether you are new to cribbage or want to refresh your memory, this guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to play cribbage, from the basics to the advanced tips.
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What is Cribbage and Why Should You Play It?
Cribbage is a card game that involves playing and grouping cards in combinations to gain points. The game is played with a standard 52-card deck and a special board with holes and pegs to keep track of the score. The goal of the game is to be the first player to reach 121 points by scoring points during the play and for making various card combinations in your hand and in the crib.
The History and Origin of Cribbage
Cribbage was invented by Sir John Suckling, a British poet and knight, in the early 17th century. He based it on an older game called Noddy, which used a wooden board with knobs for scoring. Suckling modified the rules and added features such as the crib, the starter card, and the flush. He also designed the cribbage board with two rows of 30 holes each, divided into five sections of six holes each. The game became popular among English nobility and spread across the world through British colonization.
The Benefits and Challenges of Cribbage
Cribbage is a game that offers many benefits and challenges for players of all ages and skill levels. Some of the benefits are:
It improves your mental math skills, as you have to add, subtract, multiply, and divide card values quickly and accurately.
It enhances your memory and concentration, as you have to remember the cards played, keep track of the score, and plan your moves ahead.
It develops your strategic thinking and decision making, as you have to choose which cards to play, discard, or keep in your hand or in the crib.
It fosters your social skills and communication, as you have to interact with your opponent, follow the etiquette, and use the cribbage terminology.
It provides you with fun and entertainment, as you can enjoy a friendly competition, challenge yourself, or relax with a casual game.
Some of the challenges are:
It requires you to learn and master the rules, which can be complex and confusing at first.
It involves a lot of luck, as you have to depend on the cards you are dealt, the starter card, and the cards in the crib.
It demands you to be alert and attentive, as you have to avoid making mistakes, missing points, or breaking the rules.
It challenges you to adapt and improvise, as you have to deal with different situations, opponents, and strategies.
Cribbage is a game that can be easy to learn but hard to master. It takes practice, patience, and perseverance to become a good cribbage player. But once you do, you will find it rewarding and enjoyable.
What You Need to Play Cribbage
To play cribbage, you need the following items:
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how to play three or four player cribbage with partners or alone
how to play skunk or double skunk in cribbage rules
how to play muggins or lowball in cribbage rules
how to play nobs or his nobs in cribbage rules
how to play flushes or pairs in cribbage rules
how to play runs or fifteens in cribbage rules
how to play 31 or go in cribbage rules
how to play his heels or jack in the box in cribbage rules
how to play last card or one for his nob in cribbage rules
how to play the show or the count in cribbage rules
how to play the crib or the kitty in cribbage rules
how to peg points during the play in cribbage rules
how to use a joker or wild card in cribbage rules
how to keep score with a pen and paper or a smartphone app
how to find a local or online cribbage club or tournament
how to improve your memory and math skills with cribbage
how to have fun and enjoy playing cribbage with friends or family
The Cribbage Board and Pegs
The cribbage board is a wooden or plastic board with holes arranged in two rows of 30 each for each player, plus two extra holes for holding the pegs. The board also has a separate section with four holes for keeping track of the game count. The pegs are small metal or plastic pins that are used to mark the score on the board. Each player has two pegs of a different color from their opponent. One peg is used to show the current score and the other is used to show the previous score.
The Deck of Cards
The deck of cards is a standard 52-card deck with four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. Each suit has 13 cards: ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, and king. The ace is the lowest card and the king is the highest card in cribbage. The jack, queen, and king are called face cards and have a value of 10 points each. The ace has a value of one point and the other cards have their face value.
The Scoring Chart
The scoring chart is a table that shows the different ways of scoring points in cribbage. It lists the card combinations that can make 15 points, pairs, runs, flushes, nobs, and his nobs. It also shows the number of points for each combination and some examples. You can use the scoring chart as a reference or a cheat sheet when playing cribbage. You can find many versions of the scoring chart online or print your own from a reliable source.
How to Set Up and Start a Game of Cribbage
To set up and start a game of cribbage, you need to follow these steps:
How to Choose the Dealer and Cut the Cards
The first thing you need to do is to decide who will be the dealer for the first round. You can do this by any random method, such as tossing a coin, drawing straws, or cutting the cards. To cut the cards, each player takes a card from the shuffled deck and places it face up on the table. The player with the lowest card becomes the dealer. If two or more players have the same card value, they cut again until there is a clear winner. The dealer shuffles the deck again and offers it to their opponent (called the pone) to cut. The pone cuts the deck by lifting off a portion of it and placing it next to the rest of the deck.
How to Deal and Discard Cards into the Crib
The dealer deals six cards face down to each player, one at a time, starting with their opponent. Each player looks at their cards and chooses two cards to discard face down into a pile called the crib. The crib belongs to the dealer and will be used later to score points. The crib should have four cards after both players have discarded their cards. The remaining four cards in each player's hand are called their hand.
How to Cut and Reveal the Starter Card
The pone takes the remaining deck (called the stock) and cuts it again by lifting off a portion of it. The dealer takes the top card from the lower portion and places it face up on top of the stock. This card is called the starter card or the cut and is used for scoring points in the hands and the crib. If the starter card is a jack, the dealer scores two points immediately and announces "two for his heels". The dealer then places the stock face down next to the board, out of play.
How to Play and Score Points in Cribbage
The play and the scoring of points in cribbage are done in three stages: the play, the show, and the count. Each stage has its own rules and methods of scoring points.
How to Play Cards and Announce the Total
The play is the first stage of cribbage, where the players take turns playing cards from their hands and announcing the running total of their card values. The pone starts by playing any card from their hand face up on the table and announcing its value. For example, if they play a 5, they say "five". The dealer then plays any card from their hand face up on the table and adds its value to the previous total and announces the new total. For example, if they play a 6, they say "eleven". This continues until one of the players cannot play a card without making the total more than 31 or until both players have played all their cards.
How to Score Points During the Play
The players can score points during the play by making certain card combinations or reaching certain totals. The possible ways of scoring points during the play are:
Fifteen: If a player makes the total exactly 15 with their card, they score two points and say "fifteen two". For example, if the total is 10 and a player plays a 5, they score two points.
Pair: If a player plays a card that matches the rank of the previous card, they score two points and say "pair two". For example, if a player plays a 7 after another 7, they score two points.
Pair royal: If a player plays a card that matches the rank of the previous two cards, they score six points and say "pair royal six". For example, if a player plays a 7 after two 7s, they score six points.
Double pair royal: If a player plays a card that matches the rank of the previous three cards, they score 12 points and say "double pair royal twelve". For example, if a player plays a 7 after three 7s, they score 12 points.
Run: If a player plays a card that forms a sequence of three or more cards with the previous cards, they score one point for each card in the sequence and say "run for (number of cards)". For example, if a player plays a 6 after a 5 and a 4, they score three points and say "run for three". The sequence can be in any order and can include face cards. For example, if a player plays a jack after a queen and a 10, they score three points and say "run for three".
Last card: If a player plays their last card before their opponent, they score one point and say "one for last". This only applies if the total is less than 31. If both players have played all their cards before reaching 31, no one scores for last card.
Go: If a player cannot play a card without making the total more than 31, they say "go" and pass their turn. Their opponent then plays any remaining cards in their hand that do not make the total more than 31, scoring points as usual. The player who said "go" then scores one point and says "one for go". If both players cannot play a card without making the total more than 31, the player who played the last card scores one point and says "one for go".
31: If a player makes the total exactly 31 with their card, they score two points and say "thirty-one for two". They also end the play and start a new one with the remaining cards in their hand. If no one can make 31, the player who played the last card below 31 scores one point and says "one for go" and starts a new play.
The players should announce their points clearly and move their pegs accordingly on the board. The points are scored as soon as they are made and cannot be taken back or changed later. The players should also be honest and respectful to each other and follow the rules of the game.
How to Count and Score Points in the Hands and the Crib
The show is the second stage of cribbage, where the players count and score points for the combinations in their hands and in the crib. The starter card is used as a fifth card for both players and for the crib. The possible ways of scoring points in the show are:
Fifteen: If a player has two or more cards that add up to 15, they score two points for each combination. For example, if a player has a 5, a 6, and a 4 in their hand and the starter card is a 10, they score four points for two fifteens: 5 + 10 and 6 + 4 + 5.
Pair: If a player has two cards of the same rank, they score two points for each pair. For example, if a player has two 8s in their hand and the starter card is another 8, they score six points for three pairs: 8 + 8, 8 + 8, and 8 + 8.
Pair royal: If a player has three cards of the same rank, they score six points for one pair royal. For example, if a player has three jacks in their hand and the starter card is another jack, they score six points for one pair royal: jack + jack + jack + jack.
Double pair royal: If a player has four cards of the same rank, they score 12 points for one double pair royal. For example, if a player has four queens in their hand and the starter card is another queen, they score 12 points for one double pair royal: queen + queen + queen + queen + queen.
Run: If a player has three or more cards that form a sequence, they score one point for each card in the run. For example, if a player has a 3, a 4, and a 5 in their hand and the starter card is a 6, they score four points for one run: 3 + 4 + 5 + 6. The run can be in any order and can include face cards. For example, if a player has a king, a queen, and a jack in their hand and the starter card is a 10, they score four points for one run: king + queen + jack + 10.
Double run: If a player has two runs of three or more cards that include a pair, they score one point for each card in both runs. For example, if a player has a 3, a 4, a 5, and another 5 in their hand and the starter card is a 6, they score eight points for two runs: 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 and 3 + 4 + 5 + 5.
Triple run: If a player has three runs of three or more cards that include a pair royal, they score one point for each card in all three runs. For example, if a player has a 3, a 4, a 5, and three 6s in their hand and the starter card is another 6, they score 15 points for three runs: 3 + 4 + 5 + 6, 3 + 4 + 5 + 6, and 3 + 4 + 5 + 6.
Quadruple run: If a player has four runs of three or more cards that include a double pair royal, they score one point for each card in all four runs. For example, if a player has a 3, a 4, a 5, and four 7s in their hand and the starter card is another 7, they score 20 points for four runs: 3 + 4 + 5 + 7, 3 + 4 + 5 + 7, 3 + 4 + 5 + 7, and 3 + 4 + 5 + 7.
Flush: If a player has four or more cards of the same suit in their hand, they score one point for each card in the flush. For example, if a player has four hearts in their hand and the starter card is another heart, they score five points for one flush: heart + heart + heart + heart + heart. The flush can only be scored in the hand, not in the crib, unless the starter card is also of the same suit as the crib.
Nobs: If a player has a jack of the same suit as the starter card in their hand, they score one point and say "one for his nobs". For example, if a player has a jack of spades in their hand and the starter card is a 9 of spades, they score one point for nobs.
His nobs: If the starter card is a jack, the dealer scores two points and says "two for his heels". This is scored at the beginning of the show, before counting the hands and the crib.
The pone counts and scores their hand first, followed by the dealer. The dealer then counts and scores their crib. The players should announce their points clearly and move their pegs accordingly on the board. The players should also show their cards to each other and explain how they scored their points. The players should be honest and respectful to each other and follow the rules of the game.
How to Win a Game of Cribbage
The count is the third and final stage of cribbage, where the players track their score on the board and try to reach the winning point of 121. The game can also end with some special situations, such as muggins and penalties.
How to Track Your Score on the Board
The cribbage board has two rows of 30 holes each for each player, plus two extra holes for holding the pegs. The board also has a separate section with four holes for keeping track of the game count. Each player has two pegs of a different color from their opponent. One peg is used to show the current score and the other is used to show the previous score.
The players move their pegs along the board as they score points during the play and the show. The player who is ahead on the board is said to have "the lead". The player who is behind on the board is said to have "the lurch". The distance between the two players on the board is called "the gap".
The players use the game count section to keep track of how many games they have won. Each game is worth one point, unless it is a skunk or a double skunk. A skunk is when a player wins by more than 30 points. A double skunk is when a player wins by more than 60 points. A skunk is worth two points and a double skunk is worth four points. The first player to reach a predetermined number of points (usually 5 or 7) wins the match. The players mark their game points by placing their pegs in the game count section.
How to Reach the Winning Point of 121
The winning point of cribbage is 121, which means that a player has to move their pegs around the board twice and reach or pass the final hole. The final hole is marked with a cross or a star and is called "the game hole". The first player to reach or pass the game hole wins the game. The player does not have to reach the game hole exactly, they can score more than enough points to win. For example, if a player has 118 points and scores 5 points, they win the game with 123 points.
The game can be won at any stage of cribbage, during the play or the show. The player who wins the game should announce it clearly and show their cards to their opponent. The player should also congratulate their opponent and thank them for the game.
How to Use Muggins and Penalties
Muggins and penalties are optional rules that can make the game more interesting and challenging. They are usually agreed upon by the players before the game starts.
Muggins is a rule that allows a player to claim any points that their opponent missed or miscalculated during the play or the show. For example, if a player plays a card that makes 15 but does not announce it or score it, their opponent can say "muggins" and take the two points for themselves. Muggins can only be claimed before the next card is played or before the next hand is counted.
Penalties are rules that impose a loss of points for breaking certain rules or making certain mistakes during the game. For example, some common penalties are:
If a player deals the wrong number of cards, they lose two points.
If a player plays a card out of turn, they lose two points and their card is returned to their hand.
If a player plays a card that makes the total more than 31, they lose two points and their card is returned to their hand.
If a player reneges (fails to play a card when they can), they lose two points and their opponent scores any points they could have made.
If a player looks at the starter card before it is revealed, they lose two points.
If a player looks at the cards in the crib before they are counted, they lose two points.
Muggins and penalties can add more excitement and competition to the game, but they can also cause more disputes and arguments. Therefore, they should be used with caution and respect.
How to Download and Print Cribbage Rules
If you want to have a handy reference of cribbage rules, you can download and print them from various online sources. Here are some steps to help you do that:
Where to Find Free and Reliable Sources of Cribbage Rules Online
There are many websites that offer free and reliable sources of cribbage rules online. Some of them are:
[Cribbage Corner]: This website has a comprehensive guide on how to play cribbage, including the rules, terminology, strategy, variations, and more. It also has a printable scoring chart and a cribbage board template that you can download and print.
[American Cribbage Congress]: This website is the official governing body of cribbage in North America. It has the official tournament rules of cribbage, as well as other resources such as newsletters, events, clubs, and more. It also has a printable cribbage guide that you can download and print.
[Pagat]: This website has a collection of rules and information on hundreds of card games from around the world. It has a simple and clear explanation of how to play cribbage, as well as some variations and links to other sources. It also has a printable version of its cribbage page that you can download and print.
You can choose any of these sources or find others that suit your needs and preferences. You should make sure that the source is credible, accurate, and up-to-date before downloading or printing anything from it.
How to Download and Save Cribbage Rules as PDF Files
Once you have found a source of cribbage rules online that you like, you can download and save them as PDF files on your device or computer. PDF files are portable document format files that can be viewed, printed, or shared easily. To download and save cribbage rules as PDF files, you can follow these steps:
Open the web page that has the cribbage rules that you want to download and save.
Look for a button or an option that says "Download as PDF", "Save as PDF", "Print as PDF", or something similar. It may be located on the top, bottom, or side of the web page, or under a menu or a drop-down list.
Click on the button or the option and follow the instructions that appear on your screen. You may have to choose a location, a file name, and a quality for your PDF file.
Wait for the download to finish and check if your PDF file is saved correctly on your device or computer. You can open it with any PDF reader or viewer to see how it looks.
If you cannot find a button or an option to download or save the web page as a PDF file, you can try another method. You can use a web browser that has a built-in PDF printer, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. To use this method, you can follow these steps:
Open the web page that has the cribbage rules that you want to download and save.
Press Ctrl + P on your keyboard or click on the menu icon on your web browser and select "Print". This will open the print dialog box.
Under the "Destination" section, choose "Save as PDF" or "Microsoft Print to PDF" as your printer. You may have to click on "Change" or "More settings" to see these options.
Under the "Pages" section, choose "All" or specify the pages that you want to include in your PDF file.
Under the "Layout" section, choose "Portrait" or "Landscape" depending on how you want your PDF file to look.
Under the "Options" section, check or uncheck the boxes that apply to your preferences, such as headers and footers, background graphics, margins, etc.
Click on "Save" or "Print" and choose a location, a file name, and a quality for your PDF file.
Wait for the download to finish and check if your PDF file is saved correctly on your device or computer. You can open it with any PDF reader or viewer to see how it looks.
These are some of the ways to download and save cribbage rules as PDF files. You can use any of them or find other methods that work for you.
How to Print Cribbage Rules from Your Device or Computer
If you want to print cribbage rules from your device or computer, you need to have a printer that is connected and ready to use. You also need to have a PDF file of the cribbage rules that you want to print. To print cribbage rules from your device or computer, you can follow these steps:
Open the PDF file of the cribbage rules that you want to print with any PDF reader or viewer.
Press Ctrl + P on your keyboard or click on the menu icon on your PDF reader or viewer and select "Print". This will open the print dialog box.
Under the "Printer" section, choose your printer from the list of available printers. You may have to click on "Change" or "More settings" to see more options.
Under the "Pages" section, choose "All" or specify the pages that you want to print.
Under the "Copies" section, choose how many copies of the document you want to print.
Under the "Layout" section, choose "Portrait" or "Landscape" depending on how you want your document to look.
Under the "Options" section, check or uncheck the boxes that apply to your preferences, such as duplex printing, collation, scaling, etc.
Click on "Print" and wait for your document to print. You can check the status of your print job on your printer's display or on your device's notification area.
These are some of the steps to print cribbage rules from your device or computer. You can use any of them or find other methods that work for you.
Conclusion
Cribbage is a fun and exciting card game that can be played by anyone who wants to improve their mental skills and enjoy a friendly competition. It is a game that combines luck and strategy and requires you to learn and master the rules and scoring methods. It is also a game that can be played anywhere and anytime with just a deck of cards and a cribbage board. If you want to learn more about how to play cribbage, you can download and print cribbage rules from various online sources or use a scoring chart as a reference. You can also watch some videos or read some articles that explain how to play cribbage in more detail. You can also practice your skills by playing cribbage online or with your friends and family. Cribbage is a game that can be enjoyed by anyone who loves cards and numbers. We hope this guide has helped you learn how to play cribbage and inspired you to try it out for yourself.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about cribbage:
Q: How many players can play cribbage?
A: Cribbage can be played by two, three, or four players. The rules are slightly different for each number of players, but the basic principles are the same. You can find the variations of cribbage for different numbers of players online or in the cribbage rules that you download and print.
Q: How long does a game of cribbage take?
A: A game of cribbage can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the skill level of the players, the number of points per game, and the speed of play. A match of cribbage can take longer, depending on the number of games per match and the number of points per game.
Q: What is the best strategy for playing cribbage?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as different strategies may work better for different players, situations, and opponents. However, some general tips for playing cribbage are:
Try to make 15s, pairs, runs, and flushes in your hand and in the crib.
Try to avoid giving your opponent good cards for their crib.
Try to play cards that are hard to match or follow by your opponent.
Try to keep track of the cards that have been played and the ones that are left in the deck.
Try to anticipate your opponent's moves and plan your own accordingly.
Try to score as many points as possible during the play and the show.
Try to have fun and enjoy the game.
Q: Where can I buy a cribbage board and pegs?
A: You can buy a cribbage board and pegs from various online or offline stores that sell games, toys, or hobbies. You can also make your own cribbage board and pegs from wood, metal, plastic, or other materials. You can find some instructions and templates for making your own cribbage board and pegs online or in some books or magazines.
Q: Where can I play cribbage online?
A: You can play cribbage online on various websites or apps that offer free or paid versions of cribbage. You can play against the computer, against other players, or with your friends. Some of the websites or apps that offer cribbage online are:
[Cribbage Pro]: This app allows you to play cribbage on your Android or iOS device. You can play against the computer or against other players online. You can also customize your board, cards, pegs, and settings.
[eCribbage]: This website allows you to play cribbage on your browser. You can play against the computer or against other players online. You can also choose from different variations of cribbage, such as six-card, five-card, four-card, three-card, etc.
[Cribbage Classic]: This app allows you to play cribbage on your Windows or Mac device. You can play against the computer or against other players online. You can also use a scoring chart and a hint system to help you learn how to play cribbage.
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