Cribbage, a classic card game steeped in tradition and strategy, has seamlessly transitioned into the digital age. Whether you’re a seasoned peg-mover or a curious newcomer, Online Cribbage offers a fantastic way to enjoy this engaging pastime. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play and excel at online cribbage, from understanding the fundamental rules to mastering scoring and strategy.
Delving into the Basics: The Objective and Gameplay of Cribbage
In the captivating world of cribbage, the ultimate goal is to be the first player to reach 121 points, meticulously tracked on a distinctive cribbage board using pegs. The game unfolds in three distinct phases: The Deal, The Play, and The Show, each demanding its own set of skills and tactical considerations. This guide focuses on the two-player version of cribbage, the most common and readily available format for online play. While variations exist, mastering these core rules provides a solid foundation for any cribbage enthusiast.
For those who prefer visual learning, numerous online resources, including video tutorials, can further clarify the nuances of cribbage gameplay. Reputable sources like pagat.com and Cribbage Corner offer extensive rule explanations and deeper dives into cribbage strategy, complementing this guide and enhancing your understanding of the game.
The Deal: Setting the Stage for Strategic Play
The game commences with determining the dealer. In the first round, each player draws a card from the deck; the player drawing the lower card becomes the dealer. Subsequent rounds see the deal alternate between players. The dealer’s role carries a slight advantage, making this initial draw a minor strategic element.
The dealer then deals six cards to each player. This is where the first layer of strategy emerges: discarding to the crib. Each player strategically selects two cards from their hand to place face down, forming the crib. This crib is a separate hand that belongs to the dealer and will contribute to their score later in The Show. Choosing which cards to discard is a crucial decision, influencing both your hand’s potential and the points your opponent might gain from the crib if you are not the dealer.
After discarding, both players hold four cards, and the crib contains four. The non-dealer, also known as the pone, cuts the deck. The top card of the cut deck is revealed, becoming the starter card or the cut. If this starter card is a Jack, the dealer immediately scores 2 points – a fortunate bonus known as “Two for his heels.” With the starter card revealed, the game moves into the dynamic phase of The Play.
The Play: Skillful Card Laying and Point Accumulation
The play phase is where cribbage truly comes alive. It begins with the pone leading, placing a card face-up and announcing its value. Number cards are face value, face cards (King, Queen, Jack) are 10, and Aces are 1. The dealer then plays a card, announcing the cumulative value of all cards played so far. This continues back and forth, with each player adding a card and announcing the running total.
The crucial constraint is that the cumulative value cannot exceed 31. If a player cannot play a card without pushing the total over 31, they declare “Go.” The other player then continues to play any remaining cards, as long as they don’t exceed 31. Once neither player can play without exceeding 31, the player who played the last card scores. They earn 1 point if the total is 30 or less, and a valuable 2 points if they reach exactly 31.
After scoring, the count resets to zero, and any remaining cards are played out in the same fashion, starting with the player who did not play the last card in the previous sequence. This continues until all cards are played.
Points are not just earned at the end of each sequence. During the play, players can score points immediately by creating specific card combinations:
Scoring Points During The Play: Quick Points for Strategic Advantage
- Fifteen: Reaching a cumulative total of 15 scores 2 points.
- Pair: Playing a card of the same rank as the immediately preceding card scores 2 points.
- Pair Royal (Three of a Kind): Playing a third card of the same rank in sequence scores 6 points (cumulative with the initial pair).
- Double Pair Royal (Four of a Kind): Completing four cards of the same rank scores 12 points (cumulative).
- Run (Sequence): Forming a sequence of three or more cards in rank (regardless of suit or order of play) scores 1 point per card in the sequence. For example, playing a 6, then a 7, then an 8 creates a run of three, scoring 3 points.
- Last Card (Go): Playing the last card in a sequence when neither player can continue without exceeding 31 scores 1 point (or 2 points for exactly 31).
It’s important to remember that while face cards are all valued at 10, pairs and sets must be formed with cards of the same rank. For example, a King and a Queen do not make a pair. Similarly, runs are based on numerical sequence, with Aces always low (Ace, 2, 3…) and no wrap-around sequences (Queen, King, Ace).
Players should announce both the cumulative count and any points scored with each card played, for example, “Fifteen for two” or “Pair for two, making twenty-one.” This clear communication is essential for smooth online cribbage gameplay. The play continues until all cards are exhausted, and scores are updated immediately, bringing players closer to the 121-point target.
The Show: Hand and Crib Scoring for Maximum Points
Once The Play concludes, attention shifts to The Show, the final scoring phase of each round. Players count the points in their hands and, for the dealer, in the crib. Scoring always proceeds in this order: pone’s hand, dealer’s hand, then dealer’s crib. Crucially, the starter card is used in combination with both hands and the crib to form scoring combinations.
Similar to The Play, points in The Show are awarded for combinations of cards, but with some key additions. The starter card becomes a shared card, potentially contributing to scoring combinations in every hand and the crib.
Scoring Points During The Show: Hand and Crib Combinations
- One for his Nob: Holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter card scores 1 point.
- Fifteen: Any combination of cards (using hand cards and the starter) that totals 15 scores 2 points. Cards can be used in multiple combinations.
- Pair: Any pair of cards (hand cards and starter) scores 2 points.
- Pair Royal (Three of a Kind): Any three cards of the same rank (hand cards and starter) score 6 points.
- Double Pair Royal (Four of a Kind): All four cards of the same rank (hand cards and starter) score 12 points.
- Run (Sequence): A sequence of three or more cards in rank (hand cards and starter) scores 1 point per card in the sequence.
- Flush (4 Cards): If all four cards in your hand are of the same suit, score 4 points. This flush must be in the hand cards only and does not include the starter card. A hand flush can not be counted for the crib.
- Flush (5 Cards): If all four cards in your hand and the starter card are of the same suit, score 5 points. A 5-card flush can be scored for both your hand and the crib if all crib cards and the starter share the same suit.
Scoring in The Show can often yield significant points, making careful card selection during the discard phase paramount. The dealer, by scoring both their hand and the crib, typically has an advantage in accumulating points. However, the pone scores their hand first, which can be decisive if both players are nearing the 121-point victory threshold. The game ends immediately when a player reaches 121 points during scoring, preventing ties and emphasizing the importance of every point.
Skunks and Double Skunks: Adding Stakes to Online Cribbage
In traditional cribbage, achieving a significant victory margin is recognized with “skunk” and “double skunk” designations, adding a layer of friendly rivalry. A skunk occurs when the winner reaches 121 points while the loser scores less than 91 points. A double skunk, a more decisive victory, happens when the loser scores less than 61 points.
While online cribbage platforms may not always track skunks explicitly in terms of game scoring, they often visually represent these wins, perhaps with a fun skunk animation or badge. These achievements add an extra layer of satisfaction to a dominant online cribbage victory.
Variations in Online Cribbage: Adapting to the Digital Table
While the core rules of cribbage remain consistent, online platforms may introduce minor variations or optional rules. One such variation is the “stinkhole,” where the second-to-last hole on the cribbage board carries a penalty or restriction. However, many online cribbage platforms, including this site, adhere to the standard rules without such variations, ensuring a consistent and widely understood gameplay experience.
If you encounter rule variations in online cribbage, the platform should clearly outline them. Generally, focusing on mastering the standard cribbage rules outlined in this guide will equip you for success across most online cribbage environments.
Dive into Online Cribbage Today
Online cribbage offers a fantastic way to enjoy this classic card game anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re looking for a quick game during a break or a longer strategic session, the digital realm provides a convenient and engaging cribbage experience. With its blend of luck and skill, cribbage continues to captivate players of all levels. So, shuffle up your virtual deck and start pegging your way to victory in the world of online cribbage!
About the Creator of this Online Cribbage Guide
This guide, and the online cribbage game itself, was created by Einar Egilsson. Cribbage was developed due to popular demand from users of this website, cardgames.io. Despite initial hesitation due to the game’s complexity, Einar embraced the challenge and developed this online version, hoping players would find it enjoyable and a faithful representation of classic cribbage.
Sincere gratitude is extended to Norm Fred for his invaluable beta testing and bug finding, and to the helpful community on the cardgames.io Facebook page for answering rules questions and providing insights.
The game is built using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS, with jQuery for animations. Graphics are sourced from OpenClipArt and Nicu Buculei for card images, and Gerald G for player avatars. The cribbage board graphic is original work by Einar.
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Version 1.29.2 of Cribbage.
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