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Cribbage and Counting Games

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Number of Players	Number of Cards	Game Play	Skill Level
2 (3 or 4)	52	Easy - Complex	Luck - Skill

Cribbage is one of the best two-hand games - and one of the most enduring, for the game was entertaining card players as far back as the seventeenth century. It evolved from an earlier English game called "Noddy," and the man credited with inventing it is Sir John Suckling, a wealthy English poet. Cribbage affords players both the anticipation of the luck of the deal as well as ample opportunity to exercise their skills in discarding and play.

One of the novel features of Cribbage is that a Cribbage board is used for scoring rather than the usual pencil and paper. The rectangular wooden board is equipped with holes that accommodate pegs. The board speeds up scoring, and in this fast-moving game, pegging greatly reduces the chances for errors in computing scores.

Number of Players. Two or three people can play. Or four people can play two against two as partners. But Cribbage is basically best played by two people, and the rules that follow are for that number.

The Pack. The standard 52-card pack is used.

Rank of Cards. K (high), Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A.

The Draw, Shuffle and Cut. From a shuffled pack face down, each player cuts a card, leaving at least four cards at either end of the pack. If both players cut cards of the same rank, each draws again. The player with the lower card deals the first hand. Thereafter, the turn to deal alternates between the two players, except that the loser of the game deals first if another game is played. The dealer has the right to shuffle last, and he presents the cards to the non-dealer for the cut prior to the deal. (In some games, there is no cut at this time.)

The Deal. The dealer distributes six cards face down to his opponent and himself, beginning with the opponent.

Object of the Game. The goal is to be the first player to score 121 points. (Some games are to 61 points.) Players earn points during play and for making various card combinations.

The Crib. Each player looks at his six cards and "lays away" two of them face down to reduce the hand to four. The four cards laid away together constitute "the crib". The crib belongs to the dealer, but these cards are not exposed or used until after the hands have been played.

Before the Play. After the crib is laid away, the non-dealer cuts the pack. The dealer turns up the top card of the lower packet and places it face up on top of the pack. This card is the "starter." If the starter is a jack, it is called "His Heels," and the dealer pegs (scores) 2 points at once. The starter is not used in the play phase of Cribbage , but is used later for making various card combinations that score points (see p. 258).

The Play. After the starter is turned, the non-dealer lays one of his cards face up on the table. The dealer similarly exposes a card, then non-dealer again, and so on - the hands are exposed card by card, alternately except for a "Go," as noted below. Each player keeps his cards separate from those of his opponent.

As each person plays, he announces a running total of pips reached by the addition of the last card to all those previously played. (Example: The non-dealer begins with a four, saying "Four." The dealer plays a nine, saying "Thirteen".) The kings, queens and jacks count 10 each; every other card counts its pip value (the ace counts one).

The Go. During play, the running total of cards may never be carried beyond 31. If a player cannot add another card without exceeding 31, he or she says "Go" and the opponent pegs 1. After gaining the Go, the opponent must first lay down any additional cards he can without exceeding 31. Besides the point for Go, he may then score any additional points that can be made through pairs and runs (described later). If a player reaches exactly 31, he pegs two instead of one for Go.

The player who called Go leads for the next series of plays, with the count starting at zero. The lead may not be combined with any cards previously played to form a scoring combination; the Go has interrupted the sequence.

The person who plays the last card pegs one for Go, plus one extra if the card brings the count to exactly 31. The dealer is sure to peg at least one point in every hand, for he will have a Go on the last card if not earlier.

 

Pegging. The object in play is to score points by pegging. In addition
to a Go, a player may score for the following combinations:

Fifteen.For adding a card that makes the total 15 Peg 2

Pair. For adding a card of the same rank as the card just played Peg 2
(Note that face cards pair only by actual rank: jack with jack, but not jack with queen.)

Triplet. (also called "Threes" or "Pair Royal")
For adding the third card of the same rank. Peg 6

Four. (also called "Double Pair" or "Double Pair Royal")
For adding the fourth card of the same rank Peg 12

Run (Sequence). For adding a card that forms, with those just played:

For a sequence of three Peg 3

For a sequence of four. Peg 4

For a sequence of five. Peg 5

(Peg one point more for each extra card of a sequence. Note that runs are independent of suits, but go strictly by rank; to illustrate: 9, 10, J, or J, 9, 10 is a run but 9, 10, Q is not.)

It is important to keep track of the order in which cards are played to determine whether what looks like a sequence or a run has been interrupted by a "foreign card." Example: Cards are played in this order: 8, 7, 7, 6. The dealer pegs 2 for 15, and the opponent pegs 2 for pair, but the dealer cannot peg for run because of the extra seven (foreign card) that has been played. Example: Cards are played in this order: 9, 6, 8, 7. The dealer pegs 2 for fifteen when he plays the six and pegs 4 for run when he plays the seven (the 6, 7, 8, 9 sequence). The cards were not played in sequential order, but they form a true run with no foreign card.

Counting the Hands. When play ends, the three hands are counted in order: non-dealer's hand (first), dealer's hand (second), and then the crib (third). This order is important because, toward the end of a game, the non-dealer may "count out" and win before the dealer has a chance to count, even though the dealer's total would have exceeded that of the opponent. The starter is considered to be a part of each hand, so that all hands in counting comprise five cards. The basic scoring formations are as follows:

 

Combination Counts

Fifteen. Each combination of cards that totals 15 2

Pair. Each pair of cards of the same rank 2

Run. Each combination of three or more 1cards in sequence (for each card in the sequence)

Flush. Four cards of the same suit in hand 4

(excluding the crib, and the starter)

Four cards in hand or crib of the same 5 suit as the starter

(There is no count for four-flush in the crib that isnot of same suit as the starter)

His Nobs. Jack of the same suit as starter in hand or crib 1

 

Combinations. In the above table, the word combination is used in the strict technical sense. Each and every combination of two cards that make a pair, of two or more cards that make 15, or of three or more cards that make a run, count separately.

Example: A hand (including the starter) comprised of 8, 7, 7, 6, 2 scores 8 points for four combinations that total 15: the 8 with one 7, and the 8 with the other 7; the 6, 2 with each of the two 7s. The same hand also scores 2 for a pair, and 6 for two runs of three (8, 7, 6 using each of the two 7s). The total score is 16. An experienced player computes the hand thus: "Fifteen 2, fifteen 4, fifteen 6, fifteen 8, and 8 for double run is 16."

Note that the ace is always low and cannot form a sequence with a king. Further, a flush cannot happen during the play of the cards; it occurs only when the hands and the crib are counted.

Certain basic formulations should be learned to facilitate counting. For pairs and runs alone:

A. A triplet counts 6.

B. Four of a kind counts 12.

C. A run of three, with one card duplicated (double run) counts 8.

D. A run of four, with one card duplicated, counts 10.

E. A run of three, with one card triplicated (triple run), counts 15.

F. A run of three, with two different cards duplicated, counts 16.

A PERFECT 29!

The highest possible score for combinations in a single Cribbage deal is 29, and it may occur only once in a Cribbage fan's lifetime -in fact, experts say that a 29 is probably as rare as a hole-in-one in golf. To make this amazing score, a player must have a five as the starter (upcard) and the other three fives plus the jack of the same suit as the starter - His Nobs: 1 point - in his hand. The double pair royal (four 5s) peg another 12 points; the various fives used to hit 15 can be done four ways for 8 points; and the jack plus a 5 to hit 15 can also be done four ways for 8 points. Total = 29 points.

Muggins (optional). Each player must count his hand (and crib) aloud and announce the total. If he overlooks any score, the opponent may say "Muggins" and then score the overlooked points for himself. For experienced players, the Muggins rule is always in effect and adds even more suspense to the game.

Game. Game may be fixed at either 121 points or 61 points. The play ends the moment either player reaches the agreed total, whether by pegging or counting one's hand. If the non-dealer "goes out" by the count of his hand, the game immediately ends and the dealer may not score either his hand or the crib.

If a player wins the game before the loser has passed the halfway mark (did not reach 31 in a game of 61, or 61 in a game of 121), the loser is "lurched," and the winner scores two games instead of one. A popular variation of games played to 121, is a "skunk" (double game) for the winner if the losing player fails to pass the three-quarter mark - 91 points or more - and it is a "double skunk" (quadruple game) if the loser fails to pass the halfway mark (61 or more points).

The Cribbage Board. The Cribbage board (see illustration) has four rows of 30 holes each, divided into two pairs of rows by a central panel. There are usually four (or two) additional holes near one end, called "game holes." With the board come four pegs, usually in two contrasting colors. Note: There are also continuous track Cribbage boards available which, as the name implies, have one continuous line of 121 holes for each player.

The board is placed to one side between the two players, and each player takes two pegs of the same color. (The pegs are placed in the game holes until the game begins.) Each time a player scores, he advances a peg along a row on his side of the board, counting one hole per point. Two pegs are used, and the rearmost peg jumps over the first peg to show the first increment in score. After another increase in score, the peg behind jumps over the peg in front to the appropriate hole to show the player's new score, and so on (see diagram next page). The custom is to "go down" (away from the game holes) on the outer rows and "come up" on the inner rows. A game of 61 is "once around" and a game of 121 is "twice around." As noted previously, continuous line Cribbage boards are available.

If a Cribbage board is not available, each player may use a piece of paper or cardboard, marked thus:

Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Tens 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60

Two small markers, such as small coins or buttons, can substitute for pegs for counting in each row.

 

 

Strategy

The Crib. If the dealer is discarding for the crib, he should “salt” it with the best possible cards, but at the same time retain good cards in his hand that can be used for high scoring. Conversely, for the non-dealer, it is best to lay out cards that will be the least advantageous for the dealer. Laying out a five would be the worst choice, for the dealer could use it to make 15 with any one of the ten-cards (10, J, Q, K). Laying out a pair is usually a poor choice too, and the same goes for sequential cards, such as putting both a six and seven in the crib. The ace and king tend to be good cards to put in the crib because it is harder to use them in a run.

The Play. As expected, the five makes for the worst lead in that there are so many ten-cards that the opponent can use to make a 15. Leading from a pair is a good idea, for even if the opponent makes a pair, the leader can play the other matching card from his hand and collect for a pair royal. Leading an ace or deuce is not a good idea, for these cards should be saved until later to help make a 15, a Go, or a 31. The safest lead is a four because this card cannot be used to make a 15 at the opponent’s very next turn. Finally, when the opponent leads a card that can either be paired or make 15, the latter choice is preferred.

During the play, it is advisable not to try to make a count of 21, for the opponent can then play one of the many 10-cards and make

Five-Card Cribbage is the original game of Cribbage, and is strictly for two players.

Cut for Deal. The players cut for deal, the higher card winning the deal, but the losing player pegs three holes to compensate him for the disadvantage that his opponent has in getting the first crib.

The Deal. Five cards are dealt to each player, and each lays down two cards for the crib. The non-dealer then cuts the remainder of the pack, and the dealer turns up the starter.

The Play. The only change, and it is an important one, is that the play ends when the first Go or 31 is reached. When play ends with a Go, the person who played the last card scores 1 for it. When play ends with a 31, the person who played the last card to make the count 31 scores 2.

Counting. Counting is done in the same way as the six-card game, but the score is considerably lower because fewer cards are involved. In this version, if the player holds three cards of the same suit in his hand, he counts 3 for flush. If the starter is of the same suit as the flush, the count is 4. To have a flush in the crib, all five cards must be in the same suit, just as in the six-card game. Game is 61 points.

Three-Hand Cribbage

Three-Hand Cribbage can be a very dynamic game. The players draw for first deal, and thereafter the deal rotates to the left.

Five cards are dealt to each player, one at a time, plus one card to the crib. Each player puts one card into the crib. Thus, the crib, is four cards, as in the two-player game. The crib belongs to the dealer. The player to the left of the dealer cuts for the starter.

When a player calls Go, the next opponent must continue play if he can. If he does play, the third opponent must also play if able. If the first player after the Go cannot play, the second player does not play. The point for Go is always won by the person who played the last card.

All other rules of play and scoring are the same as in Two-Hand Cribbage . The hands are counted in order, beginning with the player to the dealer's left, continuing left, and ending with the crib. Game is usually 61 points, although many players choose to play to 121 points.

Four-Hand Cribbage

The players draw for partners and first deal. The player with the highest card deals, and the two highest and two lowest cards designate partners. Five cards are dealt to each player, one at a time. Each player puts one card into the crib, which belongs to the dealer. The rest of the rules of play are as in Three-Hand Cribbage .

Scores made by partners are combined in a running total, and one player for each side should be appointed to keep the score. Game is 121 points.

 

Number of Players	Number of Cards	Game Play	Skill Level
2-4	52	Easy - Complex	Luck - Skill

This original Cassino can be traced back to nineteenth-century Italy.
It has been a popular family game ever since, and a version called Stealing Bundles is a wonderful card game for children.

Number of Players. Two, three or four people can play. Four usually play as partners, two against two.

The Pack. The standard 52-card pack is used.

Rank of Cards. Face cards have no numerical value; an ace counts 1, any other card counts its pip value.

The Draw, Shuffle and Cut. Players draw or cut for first deal, and the player with the lowest card deals. When two people play, the winner of each hand deals the next one. When three or four people play, the turn to deal proceeds clockwise. The dealer shuffles and the person to his right cuts.

The Deal. Beginning with the opponent to the left, the dealer gives two cards at a time to each opponent face down, then two cards face up on the table, then two cards face down to himself. This round is repeated, so that each player has four cards and four cards are face up on the table. The remainder of the deck is set aside to be used in redealing. The dealer may deal the cards one at a time if preferred.

Object of the Game. The goal is for players to take in cards, which score points as follows:

Greatest number of cards taken in 3

Greatest number of spades taken in 1

Big Cassino (10) 2

Little Cassino ( 2) 1

Each ace 1

Each "sweep" 1

A sweep consists of taking in all cards on the table. (This feature is not used in the two-hand version.)

In partnership play, cards, spades and counting cards taken in by both partners are counted together.

When there is a tie for cards or spades, the points do not count. Example: If each side has 26 cards, the 3 points for the most cards taken are not scored. If in three-hand play, two players have five spades each, the point for taking the most spades is not scored.

The Play. Beginning with the person on the dealer's left, each participant must play one card; a player has the following choice of plays:

Taking in. A player may take the card he plays plus any card or combination of cards on the table that pair with it. Example: With a six he may take in any six on the table, or a four and a two, or a six and a four and a two, or two or three sixes. He places any cards gathered face down in a pile in front of him.

Building. A player may add a card from his hand to a card or cards on the table, to form any combination that the player will be able to take in on the next turn. The player must announce what he is building. Example: Having a six and two in his hand, the player may add the two to a four on the table, announcing "Building six." With two fours in his hand and a four on the table, he may place a four on a four and announce, "Building fours." Builds must be left face up on the table; they may be taken by any other player in turn who has the appropriate card.

Face cards may not be combined in any way; with two jacks on the table, a player holding a jack may take in one of them but not both. He may not build jacks, queens, or kings.

Increasing a build. A player may add a card from his hand to a build already on the table, provided the player will be able to take in the increased build on the next turn. Example: The opponent has built a seven with a six and an ace; a player holding a nine and a two may place a two on the six and ace, building nine; another opponent in turn may place an ace on the build, increasing it to ten. A player may increase his own build as well as an opponent's (or partner's in the four-hand game).

A single combination may be increased; a multiple combination may not be. Example: When a player has built fours with a four, a three, and an ace, the build may not be increased to nine by adding an ace. It may be taken only by a four.

Note that a build may be increased only with a card from the hand, never from the table unless the player can combine the table card with one in his hand. (See Adding to a Build next page.) To illustrate: A five has been built, a deuce is on the table, and the player holds an ace and an eight. The player may not take the ace , the deuce on the table, and the cards built to increase the build to eight.

Adding to a build. A player may add a card from his hand to a build already on the table, and combine a card from his hand with a card on the table to add to that build. Example: There is a build of nine on the table, and a six on the table; a player may take a three from his hand and the six on the table to add to the build of nine. If the build was made by any other player, he need not have a nine in his hand to do this. That is, a partner may add to his partner's build without being able to take in the build.

At the time of taking in a build, the player may also take in any card or combination on the table that is equivalent to his card. Example: The player is taking in a build of seven, and sees another four and a three on the table; even though these are not part of the build, he may take them in.

A card once taken in and turned face down may not be examined by the player or side taking it, and may be examined by an opponent only before the next time he plays.

Trailing. A player who does not wish to make any other play must "trail" by playing a card face up on the table. However, he is not permitted to trail while any build he made is still on the table.

Redealing. When each player has played all four of his cards, the dealer picks up the remainder of the pack and deals four more cards to each player, but no cards to the table. After these have been played, he deals four more cards to each player, and so on until the pack has been exhausted. Before dealing the final round, the dealer must announce that it is the last deal. Cards not taken prior to any new round of dealing remain on the table. After the pack is exhausted, the last player who took in a card gets all the cards remaining on the table. However, these cards do not constitute a sweep unless they are all paired with the last card played.

In some games, if there are cards remaining in the pack when a sweep occurs, the dealer turns up four cards on the table before the game continues. In other games, the next player simply trails (puts down one card face up).

Scoring. When the game ends, the players or partners turn up the cards they have taken in and count the points they have scored. A sweep is identified at the time it is taken in by leaving one card face up in the pile, so the cards representing sweeps will be facing the other way and may be picked out easily.

There are several ways to decide the winner, and include the following:

1) In two-hand play, each complete deal usually represents a game. Sweeps do not count, and the majority of the 11 points wins (except that the game may end in a tie if each player scores 4 points and gets 26 cards).

2) Eleven points constitute the game. If a player or side scores 11 points in two deals, the score is doubled to 22 points; and if it scores 11 points in one deal, the score is redoubled to 44 points. The loser's score is deducted from the winner's to determine the margin of victory. If both sides reach 11 or more points on the same deal, the higher score wins, and if both have the same score, the game ends in a tie.

3) Twenty-one points constitute game. If both sides reach 21 on the same deal, the points are counted in this order to determine the winner: cards, spades, Big Cassino, Little Cassino, A, A, A, A, and sweeps.

Royal Cassino

In this version of Cassino, picture cards can be used in building. Jacks count 11, queens 12, kings 13 , and aces are either 1 or 14 as the holder wishes. Also, there is no restriction on combining or pairing face cards. Thus, a jack and a king may be paired. The play is exactly as in regular Cassino, and 21 points constitute game. In some regions Royal Cassino is played with a 60-card pack, which includes eight special cards: four of each suit marked 11 and four of each suit marked 12.

Draw Cassino

This version is played as in regular Cassino or Royal Cassino, whichever the players prefer. As usual, after the first round of dealing, the undealt cards are placed on the table to form a stock. But in Draw Cassino, each participant, after playing, draws a card from the stock to restore his hand to four cards.

Spade Cassino

Either regular Cassino or Royal Cassino is played, but (in addition to the count for cards, spades, Big Cassino and aces) the ace, jack and deuce of spades count 2 points each and other spades count 1 point each. Twenty-six points may be scored in each deal, exclusive of sweeps, if played. Game is 61 points, and the margin of victory is the difference between the winning score and the losing score, As in Cribbage , the winner's score is doubled if the losing score is less than 31. Spade Cassino can be conveniently scored on a Cribbage board with each point being recorded as the card is taken in.

 

Number of Players	Number of Cards	Game Play	Skill Level
4+	52	Easy - Complex	Luck - Skill

This general type of game dates back some 500 years and is still seen in many forms in Europe. In the United States, the most popular games of this type are Cribbage and Blackjack.

Number of Players. Four or more people can play.

The Pack. The standard 52-card pack is used.

Rank of Cards. A (high), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 (low)

Card Values. An ace counts 11 points, face cards count 10 points, and all other cards count their face value.

The Deal. The players cut for deal and the lowest card deals, the turn to deal alternates to the left. Three cards are dealt face down to each player; then three cards are dealt face up for a "widow."

Object of the Game. The goal is to obtain a hand that totals 31 in cards of one suit; or to have a hand at the showdown whose count in one suit is higher than that of any other player.

The Play. Before play begins, all players put an equal amount of chips into a pot. The player on the dealer's left has the first turn.

On each turn, a player may take one card from the widow and replace it with one card from his hand (face up). (Variation: Players may exchange any number of cards with the widow in this manner.)

Players take turns, clockwise around the table, until one player is satisfied that the card values he holds will likely beat the other players. He indicates this by "knocking" on the table. All other players then get one more turn to exchange cards. Then there is a showdown in which the players reveal their hands and compare values. The player with the highest total value of cards of the same suit wins the pot.

If there is a tie for the highest score, the player with the highest-ranking card wins. Example: K, Q, 6 (total 26) would beat Q, 9, 7 (also total 26). If there is a tie in the highest cards, the next highest cards are compared, and so on.

Any time a player holds exactly 31, he may "knock" immediately, and he wins the pot.

If a player knocks before the first round of exchanges have begun, the showdown occurs immediately with no exchange of cards.

After the pot has been won, all the players put in chips for the next hand.