CRIBBAGE.
This game is played with an ordinary Whist pack, and it is won by the player who first scores sixty-one points. These points are marked on what is called a cribbage-board. The board may be placed either across or lengthways between the players.
A player must begin to score from the end where his sixty-first point is, and begin at the outside edge. Two pegs are given to each player to score with, and he uses them as follows:—
Supposing his first score to be four, he places a peg in the fourth hole; then if his next score be three, he marks it off from the position of the first peg, and sticks the second peg in the third hole farther on.
Cribbage Board.
If his next score be eight, say, he counts from the second peg eight holes, and there sticks the peg, and so on. By this method confusion is avoided, and the players are able to check one another's scores. Generally, the pegs of the different players vary in colour, but this is not necessary, though one player must never touch his opponent's half of the board.
The court cards and tens rank equally, and the other cards according to their number of pips. Aces are counted lowest.
The Game.
The cards having been shuffled, the non-dealer cuts, but does not place the undermost half on the uppermost, as in Whist, but leaves the pack divided into two parts on the table. From the undermost part the dealer then deals five cards each, beginning with his adversary. The remaining cards are placed on the other heap, and the pack remains undisturbed until the crib cards are put out. In the first hand of a new game, the non-dealer counts three at starting, as a sort of set-off against the possession of crib by the dealer.
Both players then look at their hands and throw out two cards, the dealer throwing out first, and the cards being face downwards.
The non-dealer then again cuts the cards, but the number cut must be more than two, after which the dealer takes the top card of the heap left on the table, the non-dealer replaces the cards he cut, and the dealer puts the top card, which is thrown face upwards on the whole.
The two cards thrown out by each player and the turn-up card form the crib, which belongs to the dealer. If a knave be the turn-up, the dealer counts "two for his heels." The turn-up card is reckoned in making up the score of either player, as well as of the crib. The non-dealer then begins by playing a card, the value of which he calls out.
Suppose the dealer to have in his hand a queen, knave, and five, and the non-dealer a seven, eight, and queen, and that the turn-up is four; then the non-dealer plays his queen, and cries "ten;" the dealer plays his queen, and cries "twenty," scoring two for a pair, because a court card counts ten.
The first player then puts down his knave and cries "thirty." As his is the nearest attained to thirty-one, and the dealer has no ace, he cries "Go," and the first player scores one hole.
Each player's hand is then counted up, the elder one scoring four—two for each fifteen; and the dealer two for his fifteen, made up by a seven and eight.
If the knave in either hand be the same suit as the turn-up, the holder of the card scores "one for his nob." The crib is added up by the dealer, and the game goes on.
If in trying to get near thirty-one in the beginning a player can make fifteen, he counts two. If a player gets exactly thirty-one he counts two.
The hands are counted up as follows:—
| For knave turned up (heels) | 2 points. |
| For sequence of three or four cards | 3 or 4 „ |
| For a flush, that is, three cards of same suit | 3 „ |
| For a full flush, when cards in hand and turn-up are of same suit | 4 points. |
| For every fifteen, as 6 and 9; 10, 3, and 2; 7 and 8, court card and 5, &c. | 2 „ |
| For a pair (two of a sort, as 2 threes, 2 fours, &c.) | 2 „ |
| For a pair royal (three of same sort) | 6 „ |
| For a double pair royal, or four of same sort | 12 „ |
| For knave of trumps in hand (nob) | 1 „ |
If a player has in his hand, say, six, seven, and eight, and the turn-up is eight, he will count that two separate sequences, and score three for each.
The non-dealer always counts up first. This counting up is called the "show," and the first show is very important at the end of the game, as a player may just get sixty-one points and win. The dealer may also have sixty-one, but as his show has not been the first it does not count.
Should the dealer misdeal, and not discover the mistake before either of the hands is taken up, his opponent counts two, and a fresh deal must be made. If, during the deal the non-dealer expose any one of his cards to view, the dealer has the option of dealing again, without, however, looking at his own cards. If the dealer deal more than five cards, his adversary counts two, and a new deal takes place, the same penalty being enforced if he give less than five cards.
THREE-HANDED CRIBBAGE.
The theory of Three-handed Cribbage is the same as that in Cribbage, which we have already described. It is played, as its name indicates, by three people instead of by two. The board must be triangular in shape, containing three sets of holes of sixty each and the additional game hole. Each player has to fight for himself alone, and has, therefore, two antagonists to combat with instead of one, as in the ordinary game.
Five cards are dealt to each player, after which an extra card is laid down to form the commencement of the crib. To this card each player adds one of his own, the result being that the sixteen cards are equally divided among the three players and the crib. The player who first succeeds in reaching the sixty-first hole is the winner of the game, and is entitled to double the stakes which are apportioned to him by his two less fortunate companions.
FOUR-HANDED CRIBBAGE.
In this variety of the game four persons play in partnerships of two each, as at Whist. Sixty-one constitute the game, still it is very usual to go twice round the board, the number of game in that case being 121.
Before beginning to play two of the four players are chosen to have the management of the score, and between them the board is placed, because upon them only devolves the duty of moving the pegs. The other two players may not even assist in counting.
After cutting and dealing five cards to each player, the dealer places the remainder of the pack on his left hand. One card is then given by each person to form the crib, which, when complete, belongs to the dealer.
In contributing to the crib, the choice of the card given depends upon whether the crib belongs to the player and his partner or to their opponents. Fives are the best cards to give to one's own crib, therefore they should never be given to the antagonists. Aces and kings should be avoided; low cards are the best for the purpose.
The play then begins until all the sixteen cards are played out. Fifteens, sequences, pairs, &c., are reckoned in the usual way. Should either player be unable to come in under thirty-one, he declares it to be a "go," and the play belongs to his left-hand neighbour. No small cards must be kept up which would come in under a penalty.
Great care is required in playing this game of Four-handed Cribbage, as the learner will soon discover.
In leading, threes and fours are the best cards to select. Five is a bad lead, as also are ones and nines. The second player must be careful as to pairing, also he must try to avoid playing too closely on: though in some cases by doing so the adversary is tempted to form the sequence. He will learn in time to discriminate when it is wise to play on. If he can make fifteen it is generally better play than pairing the card led.
The object of the third player should be to make the number below twenty-one, in order to help his partner to gain the end hole for the "go" or the two for thirty-one.
The fourth man who in the first round is the last player will do wisely to hold aces or low cards for the purpose, especially when it is necessary to score a few holes in play, or when the only chance of securing game is to play out.
The hand being played out the different amounts are pegged, crib included, the one who led off scoring first.
As a rule the amount of points from each hand is seven, and four or five from the crib.