How to Play Cribbage: A Beginner's Guide to This Classic Card Game
Cribbage, a beloved card game for centuries, blends strategy and luck. This comprehensive guide provides clear instructions on how to play, ensuring you'll be pegging points like a pro in no time.
Getting Started: What You'll Need
Before diving into the gameplay, you'll need a few essentials:
- A standard 52-card deck: No special cards are needed.
- Two to four players: While cribbage can be played solo (against yourself), it's best enjoyed with others.
- A cribbage board (optional but recommended): This helps track the score and adds to the game's charm. It's not strictly necessary, as you can keep score using paper and pencil.
Dealing the Cards
- Shuffle the deck: Give the cards a good shuffle to ensure a fair game.
- Cut the deck: One player cuts the deck, and the bottom card is dealt face down and discarded. This is sometimes called the "starter" card. The suit of this card will sometimes have special significance later in the game.
- Deal the hand: Each player is dealt six cards.
The Discard (The "Crib")
Once everyone has six cards, each player selects two cards to place face down in the "crib." This crib belongs to the dealer, who will score the crib later.
The Play
The non-dealer starts the play by laying down a card face up. Players then take turns adding cards to the pile, aiming to reach 31. The rank of the cards follows the standard card values: 2-10 are their face value; Jacks are 10; Queens are 10; Kings are 10; Aces are 1.
Pegging Points
During the play, players score points based on various combinations:
- Pairs: Two cards of the same rank (2 points).
- Pairs Royal (Three of a Kind): Three cards of the same rank (6 points).
- Four of a Kind: Four cards of the same rank (12 points).
- Runs: Three or more consecutive cards in sequence (one point for each card in the run). For example, 5-6-7 is a three-card run worth 3 points.
- Fifteen: Any combination of cards totaling 15 (2 points). This can be a combination of multiple cards. For example, 7+8 is 15 (2 points).
- Thirty-One: Reaching exactly 31 (2 points).
- Go: If a player cannot add a card without exceeding 31, they say "Go." The next player can continue playing or say "Go" as well. If a player says "Go" and the subsequent player also says "Go", the current round ends, and points are reassessed for that round.
Ending a Play
A round ends when:
- One player reaches exactly 31.
- No player can add a card without exceeding 31 (both players say "Go").
Once a round ends, the next player starts a new round. This continues until all cards have been played.
The Show (Scoring the Hands)
After all cards have been played, each player (including the dealer) scores points from their hand and the crib (if they are the dealer). Points are awarded for:
- Fifteen: Two points for any combination of cards that add up to 15.
- Pairs: Two points for each pair.
- Three of a Kind: Six points for three cards of the same rank.
- Four of a Kind: Twelve points for four cards of the same rank.
- Flush: Four cards of the same suit (Four cards in hand is 4 points; Five cards including the starter is 5 points).
- Runs: Points for sequences of cards (the same as the Play phase).
- Jack (or Knave): One point if the player holds the Jack of the same suit as the starter card. (Called his Nob)
Winning the Game
The first player to reach 121 points wins the game.
Tips and Strategies
- Learn to count quickly: Efficiently calculating combinations during the play and show is crucial.
- Strategize your discards: Careful selection of cards for the crib impacts both your score and your opponent's.
- Pay attention to the starter card: This influences your hand scoring and the Jack potential.
- Practice makes perfect: The more you play, the better you'll become at strategizing and anticipating your opponent's moves.
This comprehensive guide provides a strong foundation for mastering cribbage. Now go forth and enjoy the game!
