Are you ready to master the classic card game of Cribbage from the comfort of your home? Whether you’re a seasoned card player or completely new to the game, understanding the rules is your first step to enjoying countless hours of Online Cribbage Play. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know to get started and excel at Cribbage online.
Understanding the Objective of Online Cribbage
The primary goal in Cribbage, whether you’re playing online or face-to-face, is to be the first player to reach 121 points. A game of online cribbage is typically divided into three key phases: The Deal, The Play, and The Show. Each of these stages offers unique opportunities to score points and outmaneuver your opponent. These rules are specifically tailored for the two-player version of Cribbage, the most popular format for online play. While variations exist, this guide focuses on the standard rules you’ll encounter on most online cribbage platforms, like gmonline.net. For further reading and alternative rule sets, you can explore resources like Pagat.com or Cribbage Corner.
The Deal: Setting the Stage for Online Cribbage
In a game of online cribbage, the deal is automated, but understanding the process is crucial. Initially, to determine the first dealer, each player would traditionally draw a card, with the lower card becoming the dealer. In subsequent rounds, the deal alternates between players, ensuring fairness over multiple games of online cribbage.
At the start of each round, the dealer virtually deals six cards to themselves and six to their opponent. Each player then strategically selects two cards to discard face down into the crib. This crib is a separate hand that belongs to the dealer and will be scored by them at the end of the round, adding a layer of strategic depth to online cribbage play. Choosing which cards to place in the crib is a critical decision, influencing your potential score and your opponent’s.
After discarding to the crib, both players are left with four cards in hand, and the crib contains four cards. The remaining deck is set aside, and the non-dealer, known as the pone, virtually cuts the deck. The top card of the cut portion is then revealed as the starter or cut card. A key moment in online cribbage – if this starter card is a Jack, the dealer immediately scores 2 points, known as Two for his heels. Once the starter card is displayed, the online cribbage game moves into the next exciting phase: The Play.
The Play: Strategic Card Placement in Online Cribbage
The Play in online cribbage is where tactical thinking truly shines. The pone begins by playing a card from their hand and announcing its numerical value (Ace=1, Face cards=10, number cards at face value). The dealer then plays a card, announcing the cumulative value of all cards played so far. This continues back and forth.
Players take turns adding cards, aiming to reach a cumulative value as close to 31 as possible without exceeding it. If a player cannot play a card without pushing the count over 31, they declare “Go.” The other player then continues playing cards until they also cannot play without exceeding 31. The player who played the last card scores 1 point if the total is under 31, or a valuable 2 points if they reach exactly 31. Afterward, the count resets to zero, and play resumes with the player who didn’t play the last card, using their remaining hand. This intricate back-and-forth is a hallmark of engaging online cribbage play.
Scoring opportunities abound during The Play. Points are awarded instantly as cards are played. For example, if your opponent plays a 4, and you play another 4, you immediately score a pair. Remember, the starter card is not used in The Play; it comes into play later during The Show.
In online cribbage interfaces, the cumulative count is typically displayed automatically, simplifying gameplay. However, understanding the scoring combinations is vital to maximizing your points during The Play. Players announce the running total and any points scored with each card played, for example, “Fifteen for 2,” or “31 for 2.” If a player takes the last card under 31 after a “Go,” they announce “1 for the Go” or “1 for last,” both signifying the same 1-point bonus for playing the final card in a sequence under 31.
Scoring Points During The Play in Online Cribbage
- Fifteen: Reaching a cumulative count of 15 scores 2 points.
- Pair: Playing a card of the same rank as the previous card scores 2 points.
- Pair Royal (Three of a kind): Playing a third card of the same rank in a sequence scores 6 points.
- Double Pair Royal (Four of a kind): Completing four cards of the same rank in a row scores a significant 12 points.
- Run (Sequence) of three or more cards: Forming a numerical sequence (regardless of suit or order of play) of three or more cards scores 1 point per card in the run. For example, playing a 6, then a 7, then an 8 creates a 3-card run for 3 points.
- Last card, total value less than 31: Playing the last playable card and keeping the total under 31 scores 1 point.
- Last card, total value exactly 31: Playing the last card to reach exactly 31 scores 2 points.
It’s important to note that while face cards are all valued at 10, pairs, pair royals, and double pair royals must be formed with cards of the same rank. A Queen and a King, though both 10-value cards, do not form a pair. Similarly, in runs, Aces are always low, and sequences cannot wrap around (King, Ace, 2 is not a run).
Clever players can score multiple combinations with a single card. For example, if the current cards in play are Ace (1), 7, and you play another 7, you score 2 points for reaching 15 (1+7+7=15) and 2 points for forming a pair of sevens, totaling “Fifteen for 4.”
The Play continues until both players have exhausted their hands. Points are tallied immediately as they are scored, and if a player reaches the winning score of 121 at any point during The Play, the online cribbage game ends instantly.
The Show: Hand and Crib Scoring in Online Cribbage
Once The Play concludes, it’s time for The Show, where players count the points in their hands and the dealer scores the crib. In online cribbage, scoring is often automated, but understanding the combinations is key to strategic play. The scoring sequence is always: pone’s hand, dealer’s hand, and finally, dealer’s crib. Points are added to the scoreboard as each hand is counted. Crucially, if the pone reaches 121 during their hand count, they win immediately, even before the dealer counts their hand or crib. This adds an element of suspense to online cribbage.
Show Scoring Combinations for Online Cribbage
The scoring in The Show utilizes the starter card in combination with each player’s hand and the crib. The starter card acts as a fifth card for both hands and the crib, opening up numerous scoring possibilities. A single card can contribute to multiple scoring combinations simultaneously – part of a pair and a run, for example.
- One for his nob: Holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter card scores 1 point. For example, if the starter is the Heart 4, and you hold the Jack of Hearts, you score “one for his nob.”
- Fifteen: Any combination of cards totaling 15 scores 2 points. Cards can be reused within a hand for different 15 combinations. For example, a hand with Jack, Queen, and 5 can score twice for 15 (Jack-5 and Queen-5).
- Pair: Any pair of cards scores 2 points.
- Pair Royal (Three of a kind): Three cards of the same rank score 6 points.
- Double Pair Royal (Four of a kind): Four cards of the same rank score a substantial 12 points.
- Run (Sequence) of three or more cards: A sequence of three or more cards scores 1 point per card. For example, Ace, 2, 3, 4 scores 4 points for the run.
- Flush, 4 cards: If all four cards in your hand are of the same suit, you score 4 points. A 4-card flush applies only to the hand, not the crib.
- Flush, 5 cards: If all four cards in your hand plus the starter card are of the same suit, you score 5 points. A 5-card flush can also be scored for the crib if all crib cards and the starter card are of the same suit.
Skunks and Double Skunks in Online Cribbage
In the world of online cribbage, as in traditional play, winning by a large margin is recognized with “skunk” and “double skunk” designations. A skunk occurs when the winner reaches 121 points while the loser scores less than 91. A double skunk is even more decisive, happening when the winner reaches 121 points and the loser has less than 61. While online platforms like gmonline.net may not track multiple game scoring in skunks, achieving a skunk or double skunk adds to the satisfaction of a dominant online cribbage victory.
Variations in Online Cribbage Rules
While these rules represent the standard form of Cribbage played online, variations do exist. Some online cribbage platforms might incorporate rule tweaks, such as the “stinkhole” variation where the second to last peg hole has special scoring implications. However, the rules outlined here are the most common and will serve as an excellent foundation for your online cribbage play. gmonline.net adheres to these standard rules to ensure a consistent and enjoyable experience for all players.
About Online Cribbage at gmonline.net
This online Cribbage game was developed by me, Einar Egilsson. Cribbage has been a highly requested game, and I’m thrilled to bring this online version to you. I hope you find it enjoyable and a great way to experience online cribbage play!
I extend my gratitude to Norm Fred for his invaluable beta testing and to the cardgames.io Facebook page community for their helpful insights into Cribbage.
The game is built using html+JavaScript+css with jQuery for animations. Graphics are sourced from OpenClipArt, with the Cribbage board designed by myself. Playing card images are by Nicu Buculei, and player avatars by Gerald G.
Contact and Community
For any comments, bug reports, or questions, please reach out to [email protected]. While we can’t reply to everyone, we do our best to address as many inquiries as possible. For quick questions, our FAQ might be helpful. Join our Facebook community group to connect with other players and get tips on online cribbage play.
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Version 1.29.2 of Cribbage.
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