Here's a basic outline of how a game of Cribbage progresses, including the order of the deal, play, pegging, and scoring phases. This overview serves as a foundation for those learning the game or as a quick reference for more experienced players.
1. Setup
- Players: Cribbage can be played with 2, 3, or 4 players, but the traditional game is for two players.
- Equipment: A standard 52-card deck and a Cribbage board used for scoring.
2. The Deal
- Players cut the deck to determine the dealer; the one with the lower card deals first.
- The dealer shuffles the deck, and the non-dealer (pone) cuts the deck.
- In a two-player game, each player is dealt six cards. In three- or four-player games, the card count may vary.
3. Discarding to the Crib
- Each player chooses two cards to discard face down to form the "crib," which will later be counted by the dealer.
- The crib provides a potential scoring bonus for the dealer.
4. The Cut
- The pone cuts the deck, and the dealer reveals the top card, known as the "starter" or "cut card."
- If the cut card is a Jack, the dealer scores two points immediately ("two for his heels").
5. The Play (Pegging)
- Starting with the pone, players alternately lay down one card at a time, announcing the running total of the card values.
- Cards are played face up, and players score points for combinations made during play (15s, pairs, runs, etc.).
- The count cannot exceed 31. Players say "Go" if they cannot play a card without going over 31. The other player may continue until they also cannot play without exceeding 31.
- After a "Go" or reaching 31, the count resets to zero, and players resume laying down cards until all cards are played.
6. The Show (Counting Hands)
- Once all cards have been played, each player, starting with the pone, scores their hand using the starter card. Combinations of cards can score points in several ways (15s, pairs, runs, flushes, and nobs).
- The dealer counts their hand last and then scores the crib in the same manner.
7. Scoring and Pegging
- Points are pegged on the Cribbage board during both "The Play" and "The Show."
- Common scoring during play: 2 points for making a total of 15, 2 points for a pair, 6 for a pair royal (three of a kind), and 12 for a double pair royal (four of a kind). Runs score one point per card.
8. Winning the Game
- The game continues through repeated deals, with players scoring points and moving their pegs along the track on the Cribbage board.
- The first player to reach or surpass 121 points (a traditional game) or 61 points (in a shorter version) wins the game.
9. Variations
- There are several variations of Cribbage, including three- and four-player games, as well as variations in dealing, play, and scoring rules.
This basic outline provides a quick overview of how to play Cribbage, highlighting the game's structure from the deal through to determining the winner.