Beginners Guide To Cribbage Rules Free Printable

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Cribbage is a classic card game that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for centuries. If you're new to the game, it can seem intimidating, but don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll break down the cribbage rules and provide you with a free printable guide to get you started.

What is Cribbage?

Cribbage is a card game that involves counting points for pairs, runs, and combinations of cards. The game is typically played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and the objective is to be the first player to score 121 points or more.

Number of Players

Cribbage can be played with 2-4 players, although it's most commonly played with 2 players.

Deck and Cards

The game uses a standard deck of 52 cards, without jokers. The cards are ranked in the usual order, with the Ace being the highest and the 2 being the lowest.

Setup

To set up the game, each player draws 6 cards from the deck. The remaining cards are placed face down on the table, with the top card turned over to form the discard pile. The player to the left of the dealer goes first.

The Crib

The crib is a set of 4 cards that the dealer sets aside at the beginning of the game. The crib belongs to the dealer and is counted as part of their hand.

Gameplay

The gameplay in cribbage is divided into three main parts: the play, the crib, and the show.

The Play

The player to the left of the dealer goes first, and then play moves clockwise. Each player's turn consists of two parts: the draw and the discard.

• The draw: The player draws a card from the deck or the top card from the discard pile.
• The discard: The player discards one card from their hand face up on top of the discard pile.

The player can then try to form combinations of cards in their hand, such as pairs, runs, or combinations of 15. If they can form a combination, they score points for it.

The Crib

After the play, the dealer scores points for the crib. The crib is counted as a separate hand, and the dealer scores points for any combinations they can form.

The Show

Finally, each player scores points for the cards in their hand. The show is the final part of the game, and it's where players can score the most points.

Scoring

In cribbage, points are scored for combinations of cards. Here are the different ways to score points:

• Pairs: Two cards of the same rank score 2 points.
• Runs: Three or more cards of the same suit in sequential order (e.g., 3-4-5 of hearts) score 3-6 points.
• Combinations of 15: Two or more cards that add up to 15 (e.g., 5-5-5 or 2-3-10) score 2 points.
• Combinations of 31: A hand that adds up to 31 exactly scores 2 points.

The game continues until a player reaches 121 points or more. That player is the winner.

Free Printable Cribbage Rules Guide

Click here to download our free printable cribbage rules guide. This guide summarizes the rules and scoring system of cribbage, making it easy to reference during gameplay.

Conclusion

Cribbage is a fun and challenging card game that's perfect for players of all ages. With our beginner's guide and free printable rules guide, you'll be well on your way to becoming a cribbage pro. So gather your friends and family, and start playing today!