Prepare for an exhilarating challenge and enter the fascinating world of cribbage, a classic card game that has captivated countless players for generations. This ancient pastime, with its intriguing scoring system and strategic gameplay, offers an engaging experience that will stimulate your mind and provide endless hours of entertainment. Whether you’re a seasoned card shark or a novice eager to embark on a new adventure, cribbage awaits with open arms, inviting you to unravel its secrets and master its intricacies.
Cribbage is traditionally played by two individuals, each armed with a standard deck of 52 playing cards. The game’s objective is to score points by forming various combinations, including pairs, triples, runs, flushes, and nobs. The action unfolds in a series of rounds, where players take turns playing cards to a central crib and to their own hand. The game progresses through a captivating dance of strategy and chance, as players attempt to outmaneuver their opponent and accumulate the highest score.
As the cards are dealt and played, a captivating narrative unfolds, filled with twists and turns. Players must carefully consider each move, weighing the potential rewards against the lurking risks. The game demands a keen eye for patterns and a sharp mind for calculating probabilities. As the final scores are tallied, a sense of triumph or disappointment may wash over the players, but the allure of cribbage lingers, beckoning them back for another round in pursuit of victory and the satisfaction that comes with outplaying their opponent.
Understanding the Basics
Objective of Cribbage
Cribbage is a card game where the goal is to score points by creating combinations or “cribs” with the cards in hand. The first player to reach 121 points wins the game.
Number of Players
Cribbage can be played with two, three, or four players. In this guide, we will focus on the two-player version.
Deck and Cards
Cribbage uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards. The cards are ranked from Ace (low) to King (high). Aces are worth 1 point, Jacks are worth 2 points, Queens are worth 3 points, and Kings are worth 4 points.
Deal
To deal, shuffle the deck and deal 6 cards to each player. The remaining cards form the “crib,” which is a separate hand that belongs to both players.
The Peg
Cribbage is played on a special board called a “peg board.” Each player has two pegs, one white and one red. The pegs are used to keep track of the points scored during the game.
Scoring
Points are scored in cribbage by creating different combinations of cards. The most common combinations are:
- Fifteen: Two cards that add up to 15 (2 points)
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank (2 points)
- Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank (6 points)
- Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank (12 points)
- Flush: Five cards of the same suit (5 points)
- Straight: Five cards in sequence (5 points)
- Royal Flush: A straight flush from 10 to Ace (25 points)
Crib
After each deal, both players contribute two cards to the crib. The dealer chooses one card first, then the non-dealer chooses one card. The crib is then turned face down and placed in the center of the table.
Cut
Once the crib is formed, the dealer cuts the remaining deck and places the top card face up next to the crib. This card is called the “starter” or “cut” card.
Building
The goal of the building phase is to create combinations of cards that score points. Players take turns playing cards from their hand onto the table, building on the combinations that have already been played. For example, if a player plays a 5 on a table that already has a 10, they have scored a “fifteen” and earn 2 points.
Pegging
As players score points, they move their pegs along the peg board. The first peg starts at the starting line, and the second peg follows behind. The first player to move both of their pegs into the scoring area (the last six holes) wins the game.
Play for Fifteens
Play for Fifteens is a variation of Cribbage that is played with a standard 52-card deck. The game is played by two players, and the objective is to be the first player to score 15 points. Points are scored by playing cards that add up to 15, and by playing pairs, runs, and flushes.
The game is played in rounds, and each round consists of two phases: the dealing phase and the playing phase. In the dealing phase, each player is dealt 6 cards. In the playing phase, players take turns playing cards to the table, trying to score points. The first player to reach 15 points wins the game.
Dealing the Cards
To deal the cards, one player shuffles the deck and cuts it. The other player then deals 6 cards to each player.
Playing the Game
To play the game, players take turns playing cards to the table. The first player to play a card leads. The other player must then play a card that adds up to 15, or a pair, run, or flush. If the other player cannot play a card, they must take a card from the deck.
The following table shows the different types of hands that can be played in Play for Fifteens:
| Hand | Score |
|---|---|
| 15 | 2 points |
| Pair | 2 points |
| Run of 3 | 3 points |
| Run of 4 | 4 points |
| Run of 5 | 5 points |
| Flush | 5 points |
If a player plays a card that does not add up to 15, or a pair, run, or flush, they must take a card from the deck. The other player then takes their turn.
Scoring
Points are scored by playing cards that add up to 15, and by playing pairs, runs, and flushes. The following table shows the different types of hands that can be scored in Play for Fifteens:
| Hand | Score |
|---|---|
| 15 | 2 points |
| Pair | 2 points |
| Run of 3 | 3 points |
| Run of 4 | 4 points |
| Run of 5 | 5 points |
| Flush | 5 points |
If a player plays a card that does not add up to 15, or a pair, run, or flush, they do not score any points.
Winning the Game
The first player to reach 15 points wins the game.
Peg Strategically
34. Alternating 15s:
If you have a 5-point card and your opponent has a 10-point card, you can peg 15 points by calling “one for his nob” and placing one peg in the 15 hole on your side of the board. If you are in the crib, you can peg 15 points by calling “two for his heels” and placing two pegs in the same hole. This can be a valuable way to gain an edge over your opponent.
35. Counting to 31:
When you have pegged 31 points and your opponent has not, it is known as “counting to 31.” This is a significant advantage, as it gives you an extra opportunity to earn points. You can use this advantage to try to outscore your opponent and win the game.
36. Counting to 61:
If you have pegged 61 points and your opponent has not, it is known as “counting to 61.” This is a major advantage, as it gives you an additional two opportunities to earn points. You can use this advantage to try to run out your opponent and win the game.
37. Runouts:
A runout occurs when one player pegs all of his or her pegs before the other player. This is a significant advantage, as it gives the player with the runout an additional opportunity to score points. There are several ways to try to achieve a runout, including:
Blocking your opponent:
One way to try to achieve a runout is to block your opponent from pegging points. You can do this by counting to 31 or 61, or by keeping your opponent from making any points by playing cards that will give you points. For example, if your opponent has a 4-point card and you have a 6-point card, you can peg 10 points by playing your 6-point card. This will prevent your opponent from pegging any points from their 4-point card.
Playing for multiple points:
Another way to try to achieve a runout is to play for multiple points. You can do this by playing cards that will give you points in multiple ways. For example, if you have a 5-point card and a 10-point card, you can peg 15 points by playing your 10-point card. This will give you 5 points for the 10-point card and 10 points for the 15-point run.
Taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes:
One way to try to achieve a runout is to take advantage of your opponent’s mistakes. If your opponent makes a mistake, you can take advantage of it by pegging points or by blocking your opponent from pegging points. For example, if your opponent plays a 4-point card and you have a 6-point card, you can peg 10 points by playing your 6-point card. This will prevent your opponent from pegging any points from their 4-point card and will give you a significant advantage.
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Blocking your opponent | Prevent your opponent from pegging points by counting to 31 or 61, or by playing cards that will give you points. |
| Playing for multiple points | Play cards that will give you points in multiple ways, such as a 5-point card and a 10-point card, to peg 15 points. |
| Taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes | If your opponent makes a mistake, take advantage of it by pegging points or by blocking your opponent from pegging points. |
38. Going for a muggins:
A muggins occurs when one player pegs all of his or her pegs before the other player has pegged any. This is a significant advantage, as it gives the player with the muggins an additional three opportunities to score points. You can try to achieve a muggins by playing aggressively and taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes.
39. Playing for the double runout:
A double runout occurs when one player pegs all of his or her pegs before the other player has pegged any, and the player with the double runout also has the crib. This is a very significant advantage, as it gives the player with the double runout an additional four opportunities to score points. You can try to achieve a double runout by playing aggressively and taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes.
40. Playing for the skunk:
A skunk occurs when one player wins all of the points in a game. This is a very rare occurrence, but it is possible if one player is able to achieve a runout and the other player is unable to peg any points.
How to Play Cribbage with 2 Players
Cribbage is a fun and challenging card game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a relatively simple game to learn, but it can take years to master. If you are new to cribbage, this guide will teach you the basics of the game. With a little practice, you will be able to play cribbage with confidence.
To play cribbage, you will need a deck of 52 cards and a cribbage board. The cribbage board is used to keep track of the score. Each player starts the game with 6 cards. The remaining cards are placed face down in a pile in the middle of the table. This pile is called the stock.
The object of the game is to be the first player to reach 121 points. You score points by making combinations of cards, such as pairs, three of a kind, and straights. You can also score points by pegging out, which is when you have played all of your cards.
The game is played in rounds. Each round consists of three phases: the cut, the peg, and the show.
The Cut
The first phase of the round is the cut. The dealer cuts the deck and the player to the dealer’s left cuts the bottom half of the deck. The top card of the bottom half of the deck is turned face up. This card is called the starter card.
The Peg
The second phase of the round is the peg. The players take turns pegging their cards. To peg a card, you place it on the cribbage board and move the pegs along the board to score points. You can score points by making combinations of cards, such as pairs, three of a kind, and straights. You can also score points by pegging out, which is when you have played all of your cards.
The Show
The third phase of the round is the show. The players take turns showing their hands. The player with the highest-scoring hand wins the round and scores the points.
The game continues until one player reaches 121 points. The player who reaches 121 points first wins the game.
