OBJECTIVE OF CRIBBAGE: Be the first player to score 121 points (or 61 points).
- When playing the table game at cribbage or crib, you may count the runs or straights of 3 cards and more. This is regardless of the suites, and each card gives you one point. Runs made in a non-sequential way do count. So if you play a 3 then the opponent play a 5 and you put a 4, you get 3-5-4 that is a run of 3 cards.
- Nope, that is entirely legal to score two 5 card runs. The rules of cribbage state that the runs don't have to be in order. So you get the first run with the first 5 cards (4 2 6 3 5) but whoever played the 5 scores that run. And the second run counts as (6 3 5 2 4) but whoever played the 4 scores that run.
Cribbage is a challenging game that can be played with 2-6 people (not 5). Although it may seem intimidating at first, the basic game is very easy to learn and play. If you have a cribbage board (or pen and paper) and a deck of cards.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2-3 players
NUMBER OF CARDS: standard 52-card
RANK OF CARDS: K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A
MATERIALS: Cribbage board
TYPE OF GAME: Other
AUDIENCE: 10+
INTRODUCTION TO CRIBBAGE
Cribbage is a 400-year-old game that descended from an English card game known as “Noddy.” The creator of the game was Sir John Suckling, who was an English poet. The most interesting facet of cribbage is its use of a cribbage board to keep score, rather than a pen and paper. This also makes scoring more efficient which in turns makes the game more fast-paced and engaging.
This game is tailored for 2 or 3 players, however, players can form teams of two in a four player game.
The goal of the game is to accumulate points to the target 121 points (or 61 points). Points are earned by making card combinations.
THE CRIBBAGE BOARD
A Cribbage Boards has 4 rows with 30 holes in each row. The rows are split into two sets of rows by a middle panel. Each player receives a total of 121 continuous holes on some boards. The board is kept between the players. Each player grabs two pegs that are the same color. Every time a player scores, they move a peg along their side of the board. 1 hole = 1 point. Pegs jump each other to demonstrate the increment of the points gained between turns. A game of 61 points is referred to as a “once around” and a game of 121 points as a “twice around.”
THE DEAL
Using a shuffled deck, each player cuts a single card, leaving a minimum if four cards at the end of the deck. If two players draw cards of equal rank they must draw again. The player who has the lowest cut card deals first. The deal alternates after the first hand. However, when starting a new game the loser of the previous one is the first dealer. The dealer shuffles the cards last and lets a non-dealer cut the deck before dealing.
After, the dealer passes each player 6 cards face-down, starting with their opponent or the player to their left.
THE CRIB
Players examine their 6 card hand and must “lay away” two cards for a total of four cards in hand. Those four cards laid away are “the crib.” The crib is the dealer’s, however, these cards are not revealed until after the hands are played.
PRE-PLAY
Once the rib is “laid away,” a non-dealer player cuts the deck. The top card of the lower part of the deck is placed on top. This is the starter card. If this card is a jack, it is referred to as “His Heels,” dealer pegs 2 (scores 2) points. This card is not used in Cribbage play but is used rather later when players make card combinations.
THE PLAY
After the starter was flipped, the nondealer plays a single card on the table, face-up. Then the dealer follows, revealing a card. This continues back and forth, their hands being exposed one card at a time. Players keep the cards in their hands separate.
Each player must announce the running total of the value of cards by adding the one they are playing to the one previously played. For example, play beings with a 2, the nondealer says, “two.” Next, the dealer plays an 8, they say “ten.” Kings, Queens, and Jacks are all worth 10 points. Number cards are worth face value or pip value.
THE GO
The cards running total cannot exceed 31. Once a player cannot play a card without going over 31, they must say “go.” Their opponent then pegs 1. After the Go, the opponent can play any cards in hand that can be played without making the total exceed 31. They can also score points for pairs and runs, which are described below. If a player hits 31 exactly, they peg 2. Whoever called Go leads in the next phase of play, the count begins at zero again. You cannot lead the next phase with cards previously used to score combinations. Whoever plays the last card gets to peg 1 for Go and an extra peg if they land directly on 31.
PEGGING
The goal of the game is to collect points through pegging. Players can score points for a Go and the following combinations:
Fifteen: Playing a card that makes the total = 15, Peg 2
Pair: Playing a card of equal rank as the one previously played, Peg 2
Four (Double Pair, Double Pair Royal): Adding the 4th card of same value, Peg 12
Run (Sequence): Adding cards, that with cards previously played, form:
- Sequence of 3, Peg 3
- Sequence of 4, Peg 4
- Sequence of 5, Peg 5
- Each next card in a sequence, Peg 1 each
Be careful to keep cards in the order which they were played.
THE HANDS
Once play finishes, the three hands are counted in this order: non-dealer, dealer, crib. Non-dealers can “count out” near the end of the game and win before the dealer has the opportunity to count their hand. The starter applies to each hand so they both total 5 cards. They are counted as follows:
Fifteen: Each set of cards that total 15, 2 points each
Pair: Two cards of equal rank, 2 points each
Run: Sequence of 3+ cards, 1 point per card
Flush: 4 cards of the same suit (not including the crib or the starter), 4 points
4 cards in hand or in the crib that are the same suit as the starter, 5 points
His Nobs: Jack of the same suit as the starter either in hand or in the crib, 1 point each
END GAME
Cribbage can be set at either 121 points or 61 points and the game ends once a player reaches the target points. If the non-dealer goes out first the dealer does not get to score their hand and the game ends. If one player goes out before the other reaches half the target score, the loser is said to be “lurched,” and the winner scores for 2 games rather than just 1. Some variations play “skunk” or double game, which means if the loser fails to meet 3/4 the target point the winner wins a double game. And, if the player doesn’t reach the half of the target score, it’s a “double skunk” or quadruple game.
REFERENCES:
http://www.cribbage.org/rules/rule1.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_of_cribbage
amazon.com stocks a selection
of cribbage boards and pegs
which can be ordered on line.
Cribbage Rules Run Of 5 Years
Introduction
Cribbage is traditionally supposed to have been invented in the early 17th Century; it evolved from the earlier game Noddy. It is basically a game for two players, though adaptations for 4 players in fixed partnerships, and for 3 players also exist.
The more modern Six Card Cribbage has now almost entirely replaced the original Five Card Cribbage game described on this page. However the five card version does still survive in parts of Britain. For example, in South Wales it is played in pub leagues in combination with Nine Card Don (see the Don page for details). Matthew Probert reports that Five Card Cribbage is popular around Hampshire and Surrey, although the six card game is also played there.
Players and cards
Two players using a standard 52 card pack. Cards rank K(high) Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 A(low).
Object of the Game
To be the first to score 61 points accumulated over several deals. Points are scored mainly for combinations of cards either occuring during the play or occuring in a player's hand or in the cards discarded before the play, which form the 'crib'.
Board and Pegs
The points are recorded by means of a board and pegs. The holes in the board represent scores from 1 to 61.
The above diagram shows the players starting at opposite ends of the board and pegging in opposite directions, which is the way I was taught and is consistent with for example Popular Card Games by Lawrence H Dawson - Wills, Bristol & London (1933). However it is clear that it is now more common for both players to start from the same end, like this:
In any case, each player has two pegs: the forward peg shows the player's score to date, and the rear peg shows the previous score. When a player scores points, the rear peg is moved in front to show the new score. That way the distance between the pegs shows the amount most recently scored, and the opponent can thereby check it has been scored correctly.
Deal
Cut cards to determine who deals first. The player cutting the lower card deals, and the other player immediately pegs 3 points for 'last' as compensation. This is scored on the firstdeal only. Subsequently the turn to deal alternates.
The dealer shuffles, the non-dealer cuts the cards, and dealer deals 5 cards to each player one at a time. The undealt part of the pack is placed face down on the table.
Discard
Each player must choose two cards to discard face down to form the 'crib'. These four cards are set aside until the end of the hand. Any card combinations in the crib will count for the dealer, so non-dealer will try to throw cards that are unlikely to make valuable combinations.
Start Card
The non-dealer cuts the pack of undealt cards, lifting the upper part without showing its bottom card. The dealer takes out the top card of the lower part, turns it face up and, after non-dealerreplaces the upper part, places it face up on top of the pack. This turned up card is called the 'start' card.
If the start card is a jack, the dealer immediately pegs 2 points - this is called 'two for his heels'.
Play of the cards
Starting with the non-dealer, the players take turns to play a single cards face up in front of themselves. In this stage of the game the total pip value of the cards played by both players must not exceed 31. The pip values of the cards are:
Ace = 1; 2 to 10 = face value; jack = 10; queen = 10; king = 10.
As each card is played, the player announces the running total, but this total must not exceed 31. A player who cannot play without exceeding 31 does not play a card but says 'Go'. If your opponent says 'Go' then you may continues playing cards and scoring for any combinations you make (see below). When neither player can play without going over 31 (either because both players have played all their cards or because all cards left in the players' hands have pip values so high that they would take the total over 31 if played), the play ends.
If the play ends with a total lower than 31, whichever player was the last to play a card pegs 1 point for 'last card'. If the play ends at exactly 31, the player who played the last card pegs 2 points instead of 1 point.
Notes.
- Players familiar with Six Card Cribbage will be used to carrying on playing until all the cards have been played, starting again at zero each time 31 is reached or both players say 'Go'. Five Card Cribbage is different: you only play up to 31 once and one or both players may have unplayed cards at the end of the play.
- As in 6-card Cribbage, when neither can play the last person to play scores either 2 for 31 or 1 for last card. It is not possible to make both these scores at once.
Scoring during the play
How To Score A Run Of 5 In Cribbage
A player who makes any of the following scores during the play pegs them immediately.
- 15:
- If you play a card which brings the total to 15 you score two points ('Fifteen two')
- 31:
- As mentioned above if you play a card which brings the totalto exactly 31 you score 2 points.
- Pair:
- If you play a card of the same rank as the previous card (e.g.a king after a king) you score 2 points for a pair. Note that(for example) a 10 and a queen do NOT make a pair even thoughthey are both worth 10 points.
- Pair Royal:
- If immediately after a pair a third card of the same rankis played, the player of the third card scores 6 for 'pairroyal'.
- Double Pair Royal:
- Four cards of the same rank, played in immediate succession.The player of the fourth card scores 12.
- Run:
- A 'run' or 'sequence' is a set of 3 ormore cards of consecutive ranks (irrespective of suit) - suchas 9-10-jack or 2-3-4-5. Note that ace is low so for example ace-king-queenis not a run. The player of a card which completes a run scoresfor the run; the score is equal to the number of cards in therun. The cards to not have to be played in order, but no othercards must intervene.
Example: cards are played in the following order:4-2-3-5-6. The player of the 3 scores 3 for a run, then the playerof the 5 scores 4, and the player of the 6 scores 5.
Another example: 4-2-3-4-3. The player of thefirst 3 scores 3 for the run 4-2-3. Then the player of the second4 score 3 for the run 2-3-4. The player of the second 3 scoresnothing because the 3 does not complete a run.
Another example: 4-2-6-5-3. The final 3 scores 5 points for a 5-card run. Nothing is scored before then, because there is no run until the 3 is played. - Last Card:
- If neither player manages to make the total exactly 31, whoeverplayed the last card scores 1 point.
The Show
Players now score for combinations of cards held in hand. Firstthe non-dealer's hand is exposed, and scored. The start card alsocounts as part of the hand when scoring combinations. All validscores from the following list are counted.
What Is A Run Of 5 Worth In Cribbage
- 15:
- Any combination of cards adding up to 15 pips scores 2 points.For example king, jack, five, five would count 8 points (fourfifteens as the king and the jack can each be paired with eitherfive). You would say 'Fifteen two, fifteen four, fifteensix, fifteen eight).
- Pair:
- A pair of cards of the same rank score 2 points. Three cardsof the same rank contain 3 different pairs and thus score a totalof 6 points for 'pair Royal'. Four of a kind contain6 pairs and so score 12 points.
- Run:
- Three cards of consecutive rank (irrespective of suit), suchas ace-2-3, score 3 points for a run. A hand such as 6-7-7-8 containstwo runs of 3 (as well as two fifteens and a pair) and so wouldscore 12 altogether. A run of four cards, such as 9-10-J-Q scores4 points. This is slightly illogical - you might expect it toscore 6 because it contains two runs of 3, but it doesn't. Theruns of 3 within it don't count -you just get 4.
- Flush:
- If all three cards of the hand are the same suit, 3 pointsare scored for flush. If the start card is the same suit as well,the flush is worth 4 points. There is no score for having 2 handcards and the starter all the same suit. Note also that thereis no score for flush during the play - it only counts in theshow.
- One For His Nob:
- If the hand contains the jack of the same suit as the startcard, score 1 extra point.
Note that when scoring a hand, the same card may be counted andscored as part of several different combinations. For exampleif your hand is 7 8 8 and the start card is a 9 you score 'fifteen2, fifteen 4, and a pair is 6, and a run is 9 and a run is 12'- 12 points to peg, with each of your 8s forming part of a fifteen,a pair and a run.
After non-dealer's hand has been shown and the score pegged, dealer'shand is shown, scored and pegged in the same way. Finally thedealer exposes the four cards of the crib and scores them withthe start card. The scoring is the same as for the players' handsexcept that:
- a flush in the crib only scores if all four crib cards andthe start card are of the same suit. If that happens the flushscores 5 points
- it is now possible to have a run of five cards, which scoresjust 5 points.
Winning the game
As soon as someone reaches 61 points, that player wins the game. This can happen at any point - during the play or the show, or even by dealer scoring 'two for his heels'. Note thatit is not necessary to reach 61 exactly - for example if you overshoot by scoring 2 more points when you had 60 you still win.
Other Cribbage WWW pages
Cribbage Rules Run Of 5 Days
Here is the web site of the Salisbury and District Licensed Houses Cribbage League, where five-card cribbage is played.
The Cribbage page of Card Game Heaven also describes Five-Card Cribbage.
Other versions of Cribbage:
- Noddy, the precursor of Cribbage.
- Six Card Cribbage, which is now the most widespread form.
- The Noddy and Early Cribbage page of the Period Games site has further information.
Cribbage Rules Run Of 5 Digit
With Meggiesoft Cribbage you can play Cribbage on-line or against a computer opponent. The target score is configurable and Muggins and Skunking are available as options. The program supports 5-card, 6-card and 7-card Cribbage and also Noddy.