Game: Cribbage

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Groomporter — 2008-10-19T19:24:10+00:00

A used Cribbage table refurbished and decorated with Celtic designs by MacGregor Historic Games

Thread: Re: Classic game for two, three, four

Talisinbear — 2008-09-03T16:24:07+00:00

Around here the tourneys are generally for pairs, making it an ideal couples game.

And three-way plays fine

Yes different crib decisions, but at least here pairs is the usual way it plays

Thread: Re: Classic game for two, three, four

ssmooth — 2008-09-03T16:19:34+00:00

Thank you for the review. Cribbage is a wonderful game!

However, the classic game is strictly for two players, being the version in which each player gets to throw TWO cards to the crib, not just ONE as in three-handed or four as partners. The difference in how interesting your decisions are is huge.

Thread: Classic game for two, three, four

Talisinbear — 2008-09-03T15:56:50+00:00

When is a board game more than a board game? Well, how about when it's also a card game?
And, in this case the combination is a classic winner.

Of course what we're talking about this week is the game of cribbage, a game which was first introduced in 1630.

Of course it's no surprise this game has withstood the test of time, because it has just a ton of features which makes the game endearing.

The game was created by Sir John Suckling, a man with a definite flair for being creative. Cribbage has one of the most interested array of scoring possibilities of any game out there. In fact, at first glance it all looks rather chaotic in the way you can score points by counting 15s, 31, runs, pairs, three-of-a-kind, flushes, and even when cutting a Jack, for what is called 'nibs'. As wild as it all seems, the learning curve is easy, and the game play smooth.

It is also interesting how the dealer actually ends up scoring from essentially two hands, since players toss cards into a 'crib' which stays hidden until the hand plays out, and the dealer then gets to score points out of the crib too.

With each score you peg along the board, with the winner the first to 121 points.

It is possible to score a maximum of 29 from a hand, although you can play a lot of games and never see a perfect hand, one reason when you do it is often something local newspapers in smaller communities will run in the news.

The diverse ways to score is one of the most interesting aspects of the game because the players' choices on which cards to toss to the crib, and how to play out a hand actually do influence scoring, something many card games lack by the sheer randomness of drawing cards.

The game is also highly portable, and that is a huge asset. It should be standard gear for anyone heading to the lake, or out camping, just in case bad weather keeps you in doors. Cribbage can help the hours pass.

Interestingly too, cribbage can be played by two, three, or four players. Few card games can boost that, at least doing it as well as cribbage. The game plays as well with three, as it does with two, as an example. That makes it a great game for husband and wife, or for when two couples get together, and even if grandpa shows up and you need to go three-handed.

While cribbage seems near perfect in terms of what it offers as a card game, like most things there have been efforts to enhance and improve the game. For example in 2002 a wild deck expansion was released by TDF Artists. The deck of 32 cards sits on the table with players drawing one and following the instructions, which of course impact the game, anytime they score off a five card.

There has also been a larger board produced with various spots where players can take short cuts, or are forced longer routes depending on where their scoring takes them.

Another board design called crash cribbage was released in 1999 from designer Joe Kane, which has players pegging on a board in the shape of an '8' which means players can actually crash into each other's pegs, pushing them ahead, or back depending on the situation. If you hit your opponent's tail peg you will send it forward, if you hit your opponent's head peg you will send it backward.

The expansions, or variants, are at best a novelty, for a game that really never needed improvement.
As it is plain old cribbage offers easy portability, the smooth mechanics for two, three, or four players, interesting scoring, and enough tactical decisions for players to have an impact on the game. A total package to be enjoyed.

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Groomporter — 2008-09-02T14:10:04+00:00

An odd shaped Cribbage board refurbished with a Celtic design by MacGregor Historic Games

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Groomporter — 2008-08-26T13:14:55+00:00

Detail of an old giant cribbage board refurbished with a Celtic design by MacGregor Historic Games

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Groomporter — 2008-08-25T20:17:30+00:00

A "recycled" large Cribbage board updated with a Celtic bird design

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LostDice — 2008-07-12T20:22:05+00:00

Drueke's Once-A-Round Three Track Cribbage Cribbagemaster Board from early 1960s

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LostDice — 2008-07-12T16:57:20+00:00

Drueke's Once-A-Round Three Track Cribbage Cribbagemaster Box from early 1960s

Thread: Re: Cribbage - A Light Review

jkandell — 2008-07-02T15:18:08+00:00

Nice review. My only qualm is your breakdown 55% skill to 45% luck. One of the reasons the game's "a keeper" is that the more you play the more skill you realize is there--I'd put it closer to 70%-30%. There's dealer versus pone differences. There's discard to the crib strategy. There's deciding to play the hand or the crib. There's deciding to play "on" (trying to maximize your own points) or "off" (to minimize opponent's points). There's peg position--because pone scores hand first, you need to make sure you're in the right place to win or you can lose it all at the end; as you get better you think further and further back where you need to be. Then there's the strategy of scoring during play itself. Then, card counting and probability, especially, which are richly rewarded. And, finally, reading the other's body language and habits, a la poker. Sir John Suckling really hit the sweet spot compared to the original Knoddy.

The thing that separates cribbage from most card games for me is its multiple distinct elements: the crib can go against the play can go against peg position. There's always some choice to be made, which you live or die by, and sometimes just try to recover from if luck goes against you. There's just enough luck (the random card) to make it exciting so it's not chess or go or bridge. There's that primal "lottery" fun of turning up your crib and seeing the booty!

Then there's the "Muggins" rule (others can score if you miscount, but only if it passes the "gentleman's" test) sounds petty and stupid--but it's integral: it forces you to always be "on" in terms of concentration or you'll lose big.

Let's not forget the aesthetics of the board, that's usually the first thing people notice. And, yah, the language of "his nobs" "his heels" is fun too, especially if you ad lib your own ribald terms as you go.

Thread: Re: Cribbage - A Light Review

NateStraight — 2008-07-02T15:15:31+00:00

jkandell wrote:
The equivalent (ironic) term in cribbage for a nothing hand is "29", since that score is not possible.

You've got it backwards.

19 is the cribbage term, being impossible to achieve. 29, on the other hand, is the maximum value of a cribbage hand (shown above, 5-5-5-J-[5]).

Thread: Re: Cribbage - A Light Review

jkandell — 2008-07-02T15:00:50+00:00

The equivalent (ironic) term in cribbage for a nothing hand is "29", since that score is not possible.

Thread: Why I like cribbage

jkandell — 2008-06-30T19:38:03+00:00

I love most of all that cribbage has these distinct cross-cutting components: dealer versus pone strategies; crib donation; scoring during the hand; and attempting to gain peg/board position. Then there's the aesthetics of the board itself. Then there's the fact games go relatively quickly. And, finally, it's also a game of skill that is lighter than chess or go or bridge, but not as easy as many card games.

Thread: Re: 3/4 Player "Passing" Cribbage variant

NateStraight — 2008-06-16T17:08:58+00:00

Wow. That's a really brilliant idea.

Thread: Re: 3/4 Player "Passing" Cribbage variant

pHr0sT — 2008-06-16T15:15:54+00:00

To spice things up when we play 4 player Crib, we sometimes play what we call 'pass crib' which is very similar to this variant. The only difference is that everybody gets dealt 5 cards, and the card you pass goes to your partner only. Then everyone discards a card into the crib and the game continues on normally.

Thread: Re: 3/4 Player "Passing" Cribbage variant

ipgyst — 2008-06-16T07:25:48+00:00

Of all the Cribbage games, I think 4-player is the least fun, just like you. Your variant has potential, and I might try it sometime. If you want to speed things up, you could also deal everybody 6 and then discard one to the bottom of the deck and one to the crib. Just make sure you don't cut down that far.

Thread: 3/4 Player "Passing" Cribbage variant

rsmithx — 2008-06-16T06:17:21+00:00

So my coworkers and I play cribbage close to every day on our break. This means we play between 15 and 20 games of crib per week (2 games per break, 2 breaks a day).

What we found was that in the 4 player "partners" variant that we played, our games would often go slow due to only dealing 5 cards to each person and the hand values being somewhat underwhelming. Not only that, but the strategy involved in a 4 player game was reduced and with equal skill a lot of the game came down to "luck of the cut" cribbage.

So we developed our own cribbage variant that not only breathed new life in to cribbage for us, but quickened the pace of the game, allowing us to get more games in on our break.

The game is scored just like standard 4 player cribbage, with the 2 players opposite one another as partners working together on one track. Cut for deal and deal 5 cards out to each player.

This is where our version of the game is different. Of the 5 cards you receive you choose one card, set it aside, and then pass the remaining 4 cards counter clockwise. You will then receive 4 cards from the player in front of you, you will choose 1 of those cards, set it aside, and pass 3 cards. Repeat until you are receiving a final card. At this point you have "built" your hand, and now you select 1 card to throw to your crib and play just as you would normal 4 player kid.

The advantage this has is that you can try and build larger hands, block certain cards if you believe the person in front of you is going a certain way (say you have passed on a bunch of middles 2 times in a row, and then a 7 comes along, maybe you take it more for a block than for your own hand). Not only that, but both pairs and triples become interesting because now you can try and setup combinations during the pegging phase of the game between you and your partner.

I am sure 4 player passing isn't for everyone, but amongst our group it is the only way we play now, when we play standard 4 player we all think it is boring and slow and end up wishing we had played "passing."

Also note the rules outlined above for a 4 player passing variant also works for 3 players as well, although instead of working with a partner now you are just acting alone. It isn't quite as strategic as the 4 player passing variant, but we even prefer 3 player passing over standard 3 player crib most times when we play.

Hopefully others out there at least give it a try and see how they like it. The first game or 2 you play it feels a little weird, but once you get the feel of what cards you should start with (3's, 5's, and 7's are usually nice) and start to understand the strategy I am sure you will agree that it if nothing else, it is an fun twist to an old classic.

Thread: Re: Ryan's Review: Lunchtime Cribbage

keithlard — 2008-05-29T09:24:07+00:00

There's a lot more to the game than meets the eye, that's for sure. I have a web site about cribbage with a whole section devoted to strategy and tactics! I'd really appreciate some feedback on it and if anyone has any suggestions for things to add, I'll be happy to include them!

Cribbage strategy at Cribbage Corner

Thread: Played on line with Skype - 2 thumbs up!

Hendal — 2008-05-14T16:36:41+00:00

Hey All,

I have been a cribbage player since I was 6 years old, a old family favorite ( I am the youngest of 5 kids and we where all about games ). I still play at least 1 game a day with my Dad when ever I visit him, and I play with my brothers likewise. I have a friend, Mike, who loves playing cribbage and plays online all the time. Being a traditional gamer I have resisted playing him on line. One of our other friends bought a camera for my friend Mike and set it up for him. So we have been skpyeing a lot and talking ( I live in Costa Rica he lives in Ohio so the phone calls can add up ). He finally got me to try out cribbage on line at:

http://www.gamecolony.com/

I must say it was actually a lot of fun. I don't think I would have liked it as much with out skype and us talking and seeing each other. The site has chat on it, but typing is way different them seeing and talking, so I was very very happily impressed. And I want to point out that I would still rather play him face to face, but since that is not possible this has turned into a super cool way for me to get in a little extra gaming and shoot the shit with a good friend. I highly recommend this.

OK, on with the reporting you are saying. My friend Mike fancies him self a very good Cribbage player and has a good high ranking at the gamecolonly. He was playing for $ for a while, but figured out he was actually losing $ at it, so he gave that up. So traditionally I have always kicked his butt at cribbage and Mike knows this, even though he reads books on it, studies the game and wants to be really good. I explain that you can not study luck, you just have to be lucky. Cribbage has a lot of skill, and pegging well is an art form of its own, but if I get better cards then you most of the time you are probably going to lose.
So we play the first game and I am ahead the whole time , except in the middle where he caught up for 1 turn. But then his luck went South and he was still in the North with out her. The computer was adding up our hands, which meant no muggins, which is fine for the first game, but I prefer counting my own points, but on the computer I have to admit it was very easy to just sit back and let the computer add them up. Mike said he also prefers self counting the points, so we can get muggin points. I pointed out that he basically never gets to muggins me, where as I catch him every once in a while, so we played our second game with the computer adding our hands - Mike said I should play one more to get use to the new system and all. I think he didn't want to lose a 2nd game to me, so went with the better option for him .

So after the first game I ask Mike if I am going to get a good ranking for beating him, he just laughed. I asked what was so funny and he informed me that this isn't a ranked game. I asked what was up, and he said if he lost to me it would lower his ranking way to much , so he wasn't willing to take the hit to his ranking - meaning he new I was going to win . He informed me he has a 2nd membership that he would play me a ranked game at since he is not worried about that accounts ranking. I said don't waste the time and lets just play another unranked game.

I hadn't played cribbage for about 6 months, so I was happy to win the first one. The 2nd game was a back and fourth game for the first half, then I pulled away for the 2nd half and had a pretty easy win all said and done. We where tied but then I got really good flipped over cards ( brain fart* can't remember the name of the card that gets turned over and is part of all 3 hands , anyways that card super helped me 2 tunes in a row and I took a nice lead from it ) that helped my hand perfectly He was already for a 3rd but I had to go meet some people so I said it would have to wait till the next day.

So both games where fun, as cribbage always is for Mike and Me. But the amazing part of this report is that you can play the game on line with a friend on the other side of the world and still trash talk and see them make faces at you. which is an amazing thing about our modern society. The only thing I can say about the session was - I think I may be playing less Zombie in My Pocket then I figured since instead of pulling out a solo game when I have some time to kill I will be checking if My friend can get a game of Cribbage in.

Game On'

Thread: Re: Percentage: Luck versus skill?

Freitag — 2008-05-13T22:42:06+00:00

I'll lean towards a mix of luck and skill, a good player can limit damage from a bad hand, tell what his opponent most likely has, and come out ahead over the course of a game.

Getting dealt 6 cards is luck, getting a 29 is TOTAL luck. Deciding what to throw, that's skill. The core of the game though, is the play. That's when you interact with the opponent, and try to steal away a few critical points from the opponents.

If anything, it's a unique game, most other classic card games fall into 3 types, Meld games, Poker games, and trick taking games.

Thread: Re: Solitaire Cribbage

asutbone — 2008-05-08T14:37:07+00:00

It's pretty tough. You have to score 121 in six hands, meaning you have to average just over twenty per hand - that's with the peg, hand, and crib. It's possible, just difficult. It all depends on the luck of the cards.

Thread: Re: Solitaire Cribbage

slaven41 — 2008-05-04T22:16:30+00:00

I may have to give this a try sometime.

How hard is it to win?

--Dave

Thread: Re: Cribbage microbadge now available

harris_family — 2008-05-01T13:31:10+00:00

ynnen wrote:
... or a null hand (like 1-3-8-10-Q)
... or '19' as we call it

Simon

Thread: Re: Cribbage microbadge now available

ynnen — 2008-05-01T13:15:30+00:00

Woot... Proudly displaying it... Though my hand should show either a double run (I'm uncanny at getting 6-7-7-8-8) or a null hand (like 1-3-8-10-Q)

Thread: Re: Cribbage microbadge now available

harris_family — 2008-05-01T11:42:31+00:00

jgrundy wrote:

[inlineimg]http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mb_cribbag...[/inlineimg] (Buy one.)
Excellent! Now all we need is to cut the 5 of hearts and we're in business

Simon

Thread: Cribbage microbadge now available

jgrundy — 2008-05-01T09:40:03+00:00

[inlineimg]http://files.boardgamegeek.com/images/microbadges/mb_cribbag...[/inlineimg] (Buy one.)

Thread: Solitaire Cribbage

asutbone — 2008-04-29T22:25:12+00:00

I can never find anyone to play cribbage with me. No one wants to take the time to learn the rules. It's very sad. Fortunately, there's always solitaire cribbage.

The basic rules are the same. You have to score 121 points to win, you have to discard to a crib, you have to peg. However, you never get to shuffle the deck, and thus you must score your 121 in what amounts to six hands. It's very difficult.

Here's how to play:
1) Deal two cards to yourself, then one card to the crib, then two to yourself, one to the crib, and two more to yourself. Put the rest of the deck down.

2) With your six card hand, choose two cards to discard to the crib, leaving yourself with four cards in the hand, and four in the crib.

3) Turn over the top card of the deck. This is your starter card.

4) Peg your hand as you would in normal play. Without an opponent, you can even lead with a five if you want. Try to make the pegging score as much as possible, remembering not to go over 31, and always taking GO and last card when applicable.

5) Count your hand and the crib.

6) Discard those eight cards. They will not be used again.

7) Deal the next hand, dealing the starter card as the first of the two cards to your hand. Continue.

8) At the end of the sixth hand, there will only be four cards remaining in the deck, and thus the game is over. If you broke 121, good for you. If not, you can count those extra four cards to see if they'll get you over the top if you want, but that's technically cheating. However, in solitaire, if you can live with yourself, all's fair.

Thread: Re: How dum can a person get????

Chaz Donnell — 2008-04-16T16:49:21+00:00

Now, that's funny...

Thread: Re: How dum can a person get????

okiedokie — 2008-04-16T12:14:52+00:00

I'll have to try that with my wife. hee hee

Thread: Re: How dum can a person get????

Sphere — 2008-04-16T05:08:13+00:00

Hey, at least you figured it out on the second hand. If you'd been on third street, that would have been some serious dum!

Thread: How dum can a person get????

Dutch Boy — 2008-04-16T04:00:25+00:00

(Yes, the "b" was left off intentionally)

Sometimes I amaze myself.

A few nights ago at work, I sat down to play a game of cribbage with one of the residents. We grabbed the best deck that we could find, being that most of them are missing cards or are in super-rough shape. My opening hand was a 10, 10, Jack, Jack, Queen, King. I just kept the double-run of the J,J,Q,K and prayed for a 5 to be pulled up. No 5. Just another Queen.

We start our count to 31. Royalty galore. Nope, we still haven't figured out that something isn't right. We're just both astonished at the similarity of our hands. "OH MAN! You really could've used a 5, too!!!!"

The next deal comes around. Now divine intervention is on my mind. This hand is just like the last! Come on 5, come on 5! No 5. Just another Jack. At least it's 2 points for me.

I lay down my Queen. He lays down his queen. He's thrilled that 2 points are coming his way.

"Wait a second! I already laid down the Queen of Spades....you can't have the Queen of Spades too!!!! Dang it, we grabbed a bunk deck!"

We proceed to pick up the cards and scan through the deck. It's definitely not "bunk"....it's a pinochle deck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A damn pinochle deck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How dum could we be?

Thread: Re: Do It Yourself Pattern Uploaded in Files Section

Daddys_Home — 2008-04-13T14:15:25+00:00

No problem. I need you to help me make a nice table for my Subbuteo game. I am going to try to mount the board today, but I may only get to cut the board. Nice looking Dvonn board. Thanks for sharing!

Thread: Re: Do It Yourself Pattern Uploaded in Files Section

Gamegrunt — 2008-04-13T05:38:43+00:00

I bought a set of cribbage pegs at (arguably) the best brick and mortar game store in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, that being The Game Chest in the Valley View Mall (North Dallas.) The six metal pegs with gold and silver finish set my back five bucks, but I thought I'd use them if I found a nice board in a thrift store without pegs. I turns out that I'll use them for this DIY cribbage board.

I use a drill press in my high school's (the one I teach at) wood shop. I used to do a lot of wood working, but I haven't for awhile.

Here's my last game...

DVONN

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I enjoyed making some tables using Simpson Strong connectors...

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Anyways, thanks for the pattern!

Gg

Thread: Re: Do It Yourself Pattern Uploaded in Files Section

Daddys_Home — 2008-04-13T04:52:39+00:00

Cool can't wait to see it. I finished mine and just need to take and post pictures. I redid a board that had a blank outside, the pegboard opened with track on the inside, the track sucked. So I have a place to hold cards and pegs and this pattern on the outside.

Thread: Re: Do It Yourself Pattern Uploaded in Files Section

Gamegrunt — 2008-04-10T00:50:30+00:00

I printed out the pattern and enlarged it to 135%. I have a nice piece of cherry wood and will post an image when it's completed.

Gg

Thread: Do It Yourself Pattern Uploaded in Files Section

Daddys_Home — 2008-04-08T19:25:03+00:00

I just got a gmail telling me the pattern I uploaded has been approved. This means it is now available for your consumption. You can find the file here: www.boardgamegeek.com/fileinfo/31543. Get yourself a drill press and have fun with it!

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kdickerson_az — 2008-04-05T20:29:20+00:00

Here is one I made for a couple who loves football. Mahogony w/ maple inlay and leather stitching.

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teabo — 2008-03-17T17:21:18+00:00

An interesting old cribbage board.

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The Troubadour — 2008-03-16T07:28:12+00:00

Nice picture. Crappy hand.

Thread: Re: Lowball!

Trenton — 2008-02-27T03:34:57+00:00

My wife and I play this one lots, and find it more challenging. My favourite part is laying your cards and trying not to peg.

Thanks for posting it - I hope other will try as well.

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electricvomit — 2008-02-14T21:06:05+00:00

Large and small boards.

Thread: Re: Ryan's Review: Lunchtime Cribbage

teabo — 2008-02-04T23:25:52+00:00

I have recently rediscovered this game through teaching my girlfriend, and I have really been enjoying it, too. You make a good point that the game does a great job taking the randomness of a hand of playing cards and making you work to juice it for all it's worth.

Thread: Ryan's Review: Lunchtime Cribbage

Ryno8 — 2008-02-04T18:52:28+00:00

After several weeks of playing nothing but quasi Blackjack over lunches at work, A friend and I set out to find a more compelling 2 player card game. After searching high and low and realizing that the vast majority of card games available are largely partnership games or are simply for 4 players, I remembered that I had enjoyed cribbage games with my dad.

The Game:
Cribbage is one of the best two-hand games - and one of the most enduring. 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.

Play involves forming combinations of cards to accumulate points over a series of hands. Cribbage has several distinctive features, including the use of the cribbage board for scorekeeping, the crib, or box (a separate hand made up of discards from each player, counting for the dealer), the existence of two distinct scoring stages (the play and the show) and a scoring system that includes, among other things, points for forming groups of cards that total fifteen.

The object of the game is to be the first person to score at least 121 points. Points are mainly scored for runs (groups of three or more sequential cards, regardless of suit); pairs, triples and quadruples (cards of same rank); flushes (all cards in your hand the same suit, can also include the starter); combinations of cards that add up to 15; and a jack in your hand whose suit matches that of the starter. It is generally played by two people, but can be played by three (as individuals or 2 vs. 1 team), four (as two two-person teams), or six (as three two-person teams).

My take on Cribbage:

Cribbage is indeed a fantastic game for 2 players. I have yet to play with more, so I'll reserve judgment except to say I see no real downside to adding that 3rd 4th or 6th hand.

As a beginner it is difficult and stressful to count points and you'll often find yourself playing into the hands of a more experienced player. As you play more games, (for beginners, I suggest playing several short games, to 61 rather than 121. You'll quickly catch on to the elegance of the scoring and will quickly formulate your own strategies for discard and play.)

Cribbage is a great exercise in managing the luck inherent in a standard deck of 52 cards. Luck, quite often, accounts for some very large scores, but players can mitigate it partially by discarding to the crib well, and exercising logic during play. I often find myself anxious over my choice of cards for the crib... sometimes you have to break up a good hand to keep your opponent from scoring. With such stringent scoring rules, especial the order in which you score during the show; non-dealer first, then dealer, and finally crib, you'll find yourself stressing over where those pegs are at when your getting close to the end. Being left in the 'stink hole' (scoring either 60 in a 61 game or 120 in a 121 game) and watching your opponent peg out is massively frustrating... but I find myself yearning for another shot at that opponent.

Great game! Spend the money on a 'good' cribbage board... avoid plastic pegs if you can... they break off in the holes.

GamePlay:
Replayability:
Design/Art/Bits: This is all dependant on the boad you buy and the cards you play with.
My Desire to own: I enjoy the game so much I am looking to purchase a $100+ board.

Thread: Lowball!

asutbone — 2008-01-16T05:11:00+00:00

So...lowball. This is a different way of playing cribbage, and it's really for experts only as it is not NEARLY as easy as it looks. Lowball cribbage is played with the exact same rules as regular cribbage, but the object of the game is to lose. This one change completely changes the strategy of the game. You'd think it would be easy to lose, but it's not. As the non-dealer, it's fairly simple to get rid of big point cards (fives, pairs, fifteens, etc.) As the dealer, though, you have no idea what is going to your crib. Plus, if you got dealt a pair of fives as the dealer, you're in trouble. Let's play a few hands to see how this all works, me vs. THEM.

HAND #1 - My crib.
I'm dealt 3D-6H-7-S-8H-QD-KH. First of all, I have to break up the run of three. However, if I throw the 7-8, I'm still putting two points in the crib, along with whatever my opponent throws. I could throw 6-7, but that would put a greater potential for a run in the crib, especially with the danger of 5s being thrown. Also, throwing 6-8 would give me potential for a run in the crib. I think I'll throw the 7 and the Q.
CUT: 10H. Good for me. Let's peg.
THEM: 3S (getting rid of the low cards early, eh?)
ME: Don't want to pair. 6H for 9.
THEM: 9S for 18.
ME: Good time to play my 3D for 21.
THEM: 6S for 27.
ME: Hah! Go, one point for them! My lead...8H.
THEM: JH for 18.
ME: KH for 28. One point for me. Let's see their hand.
THEIR HAND: 3S-6S-9S-JH, 10H cut.. Six points in their hand. Tough luck. Their hand must've been really bad.
MY HAND: 3D-6H-8H-KH, 10H cut. Zero points! Whoo!
CRIB: 2C-3H-7S-QD, 10H cut. That 2-3 thrown by my oppenent made me get 4 points. Oh well. I still trail 7-5.

HAND #2 - Their crib.
I'm dealt AH-2D-4S-7C-9D-10C. I could throw out the A and the 9 to cut down on my run chances, but I want to throw five to their crib. I'll throw the A and 4.
CUT: 6S. Dang. Let's peg.
ME: 2D.
THEM: 7D for 9.
ME: I'm not pairing that 7. 9D for 18.
THEM: QD for 28.
ME: HAHA! Go, take a point! My lead. 7C.
THEM: KC for 17.
ME: 10C for 27.
THEM: 2H for 29. Go for one more. They got 2 points on the pegging. My first count.
MY HAND: 2D-7C-9D-10C, 6S cut. Four points on two 15s. Should I have thrown A-9?
THEIR HAND: 2H-7D-QD-KC, 6S cut. Two points there.
THEIR CRIB: AH-4S-5C-8D, 6S cut. Yes! Seven points! They had a tough hand, and my A-4 was the best throw. I still trail, 18-9.

HAND #3 - My crib.
AD-2H-7D-8C-8H-JD. Not good. I wish this was their crib. I'll have to throw two points to my own crib, because I can't keep that 7-8-8 combo. If I throw some form of 7-8, I run the risk of seeing a 6 or 9 and making a run, or a 7 or 8 for 6 points. If I throw two 8s, I'm only running the risk of a 7, or a 7-9, or a 9-10. That's less likely, right? Let's do that.
CUT: AS. Not bad. We'll see.
THEM: 4S.
ME: 7D for 11.
THEM: 10D for 21.
ME: Oooh, tricky. OK, AD for 22.
THEM: 6H for 28.
ME: Curses. 2H for 30.
THEM: Go. Nyeah.
ME: Fine, one for me. Lead.
THEM: KH for 10.
ME: JD for 20. Another point. Whatcha got?
THEIR HAND: 4S-6H-10D-KH, AS cut. Four points.
MY HAND: AD-2H-7D-JD, AS cut. Two points from the pair. Coulda been worse.
MY CRIB: 8C-8H-9C-10H, AS cut. NOOOOOOOOO!!!! Yeah, that's the best move they could've made. They had a 6-9 and a pair of 10s. Nothing personal, I suppose. It's still 8 points for me. Grrr. Bad hand. So, 2 from the peg, 2 from the hand, 8 from the crib...12 total. 22-21. I still trail, but the lead has evaporated.

HAND #4 - Their crib.
I get 2H-5D-7D-9D-9S-JS. Well, I don't want the five, and I don't want the pair of 9s. I'll throw 5D-9S.
CUT: 6H. Not my first choice. My lead.
ME: 2H.
THEM: AC for 3.
ME: 7D for 10.
THEM: 2C for 12.
ME: 9D for 21.
THEM: 8D for 29.
ME: Hee hee. Go, one for you. Um, JS for 10.
THEM: 10D for 20, and the go. One more.
MY HAND: 2H-7D-9D-JS, 6H cut. Four points.
THEIR HAND: AC-2C-8D-10D, 6H cut. No points. Dang!
THEIR CRIB: 4S-5D-8H-9S, 6H cut. That's better. 4 for the 15s, 3 for the run, seven points. So, after 4 hands, the score stands at 31-25. I still trail!

----
And so on. One game of lowball lasts a lot longer than one game of regular cribbage. Most standard cribbage games reach 121 in 8-9 hands. Lowball cribbage games could potentially be played to only 61 points, but I'm a purist and I never want to play to anything but 121.

Warning - stress levels get very high in this version of cribbage, especially with people who have been playing cribbage a long time (when I introduced it to my dad, who's been playing cribbage since he was a kid, he freaked out). It's a good time, but don't try to play to win. Just enjoy it.

By the way - this is just how I would play these hands. Other viewpoints are appreciated.

Thread: Re: Board for the visually impaired?

CameronL — 2008-01-09T20:33:20+00:00

Here's one:

http://sightconnection.com/plu-286.html

Also, Drueke makes a giant tournament board that's 31" long, white printing on dark wood:

http://www.chessusa.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&P...

Thread: Re: Cribbage Slang Question

CameronL — 2008-01-09T19:52:23+00:00

avmartin wrote:

His Nobs: Jack of the same suit as the starter card, either in the hand or crib, counts one point.

I like to say "one for his 'nads," but I have the sense of humor of a 13 year old boy.

Thread: Re: Cribbage Scoring Question

dennpars — 2008-01-07T23:53:20+00:00

Neil Thomson wrote:
If that is the rule then I am defeated and I will have to don my French Maids outfit and head to the sink.

Say it ain't so.

As they say on the internet...it didn't happen without pictures!

Thread: Re: Cribbage Scoring Question

Neil Thomson — 2008-01-07T23:30:45+00:00

Ok ok...let's put this one down to a monumental brain fade.

I really can't lose here because my stupidity is my wife's victory.

There's always a silver lining.

Thread: Re: Cribbage Scoring Question

thatmarkguy — 2008-01-07T14:01:55+00:00

I shudder to think what you'd have scored using your method on a hand with A-2-3-4-5.

14 (2345) and 1 (A).
13 (A345) and 2 (2).
12 (A245) and 3 (3).
12 (345) and 3 (A2).
11 (245) and 4 (A3).
11 (A235) and 4 (4).
10 (A45) and 5 (23).
10 (235) and 5 (A4).
10 (A234) and 5 (5).
9 (234) and 6 (A5).
9 (A35) and 6 (24).
9 (45) and 6 (A23).
8 (35) and 7 (A24).
8 (A25) and 7 (34).
8 (A34) and 7 (25).

And a run of 5 (or is that 3 runs of 3? A23, 234, 345? Nah...) makes... 35! (or 39).

Thread: Re: Cribbage Scoring Question

Neil Thomson — 2008-01-07T12:02:27+00:00

Ok I'm off to the sink.

Thanks for the help everyone.

Thread: Re: Cribbage Scoring Question

Simon J — 2008-01-07T11:58:49+00:00

If the crib holds 3,3,4,5 then it scores 2 points for 3+3+4+5=15.

There is no 6+9 or 7+8!

Thread: Re: Cribbage Scoring Question

Neil Thomson — 2008-01-07T11:23:42+00:00

Excalabur wrote:
You lose.

You get 2 points for each unique combination of cards that add to 15. Two threes, a four, and a five get you a total of 10 points: two runs of three, a pair of threes, and one fifteen.

Consider: if you were correct, 7 & 8 would score four: 7 + 8 and 8 + 7.

Hmm..ok..I'm happy to be wrong here as you make the same point she did.

However I countered by saying that my example of 7+8 was different to her initial 6+9. These are different sets of totals I have created and not just reversing 2 digits .

Your point however states a unique combinations of cards. I have achieved a new combo but not with a unique set of cards. Hmm.

If that is the rule then I am defeated and I will have to don my French Maids outfit and head to the sink.

Say it ain't so.

Thread: Re: Cribbage Scoring Question

daw65 — 2008-01-07T07:35:44+00:00

I'll admit I'm no expert, but...I only see one combination of cards that make 15. Sorry, mate.

Thread: Re: Cribbage Scoring Question

Excalabur — 2008-01-07T07:34:12+00:00

You lose.

You get 2 points for each unique combination of cards that add to 15. Two threes, a four, and a five get you a total of 10 points: two runs of three, a pair of threes, and one fifteen.

Consider: if you were correct, 7 & 8 would score four: 7 + 8 and 8 + 7.

Thread: Re: Couples Cribbage, a.k.a. Dove's Cribbage

divinentd — 2008-01-07T07:08:10+00:00

We just won this variant in three turns with 10 extra points! I think the weakest hand either of us had was a double run of 4, and we had pegged several runs upon runs upon runs. Feels almost like cheating :-)

Thread: Cribbage Scoring Question

Neil Thomson — 2008-01-07T07:05:25+00:00

Ok I just had a warm debate with my wife regarding scoring. She beat me anyway, however to the question.

the crib held 3,3,4,5 and something else.

We scored the 2 runs of 3 no problem.

But then we got to the 15's.

She scored 3+3 and 5+4 to make 15.

She finished the scoring and I announced a scoring combo she missed.

I paired the above 4 cards 5+3 and 4+3 to make 15.

She insisted that this was not possible because those 4 cards had already been combined to score 15 and couldn't score 15 in any other way with only those 4 cards.

I begged to differ.

Am I wrong or is she right?

We must have an answer because the loser is doing the dishes?

C'mon people.

Thread: Re: More Cribbage Slang

origamifreak — 2008-01-04T04:57:55+00:00

Biarien wrote:
Those sayings, or at least variations on them, seem somewhat common from my (limited) experience.

This is very interesting, I've never heard of this, before!

But there are other references to this out there, especially in blogs:
http://www.chessexpressstore.com/cribbage-rules.html
http://frannymcg.wordpress.com/2006/02/20/frannymcg/
http://joanne1111.blogspot.com/2006/01/poker-mentor-do-you-h...
http://chaoticserenity1.blogspot.com/2005/06/i-stubbornly-he...

Thread: Re: The Official "I got/saw a 29 hand" thread

Gamegrunt — 2007-12-14T05:12:44+00:00

I'm still looking for my first "29" in Cribbage and my first "Hole-in-One" in Golf.

Maybe if I live long enough...

Gg

Thread: Re: Cribbage - A Light Review

Simon J — 2007-12-13T11:10:33+00:00

Daddys_Home wrote:
Another term I like is Schnieder (sp?). This is what one calls a crib hand worth nothing. Again I don't know if this is a "true" term or something my buddy and I made up, I'm guessing he got it from somewhere though.

Schneider is a term in Skat, where it's meaning has no relation to the one you're using. Maybe some other German card games use it as well?

My Grandad and I used to refer to a hand with no points as scoring 19.

Thread: Re: The Official "I got/saw a 29 hand" thread

Islay — 2007-12-13T09:28:46+00:00

I got a 29 in the fall of 1982 playing on the floor of my dorm room at the University of Illinois. The best part is I even got to score it.

I can hardly think of anything in gaming more horrible then having a 29 hand and your opponent going out before you get to score it!