Cribbage Rules Printable: A Comprehensive Guide

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Cribbage is a popular card game that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for centuries. The game is simple to learn, but complex enough to provide a fun and challenging experience for players of all skill levels. However, the rules of cribbage can be a bit confusing for beginners. That's why we've created a comprehensive guide to the rules of cribbage, complete with a printable version for easy reference.

Number of Players and Equipment

Cribbage is typically played with 2-4 players, although it can be adapted for larger groups. The game requires a standard deck of 52 cards, without jokers, as well as a cribbage board for scoring.

The Cribbage Board

The cribbage board is a rectangular board with holes for scoring points. The board has four rows of holes, with each row representing a different scoring category. The board also has a series of holes at the top, known as the "game hole," which is used to keep track of the overall score.

Dealing the Cards

To begin the game, the deck is shuffled and each player is dealt 6 cards. 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 four cards that are set aside by the dealer at the beginning of the game. The crib is used to score points at the end of the game, and is a key part of the game's strategy.

Gameplay

The objective of the game is to be the first player to score 121 points or more. Points are scored by forming combinations of cards in the hand, as well as by using the crib to score points at the end of the game.

Play of the Hand

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

• The play: The player draws a card from the deck and then plays a card from their hand that matches the card drawn. If a player has no playable cards, they must pass.
• The discard: The player discards one card from their hand face up on top of the discard pile.

Scoring

Points are scored in two ways: by forming combinations of cards in the hand, and by using the crib to score points at the end of the game.

• Combinations: Players score points for forming combinations of cards in their hand, such as pairs, runs, and combinations of 15.
• The crib: The dealer scores points for the crib at the end of the game, using the same combinations as the players.

Combinations and Scoring

Here are the combinations and scoring rules for cribbage:

• 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 points for three cards, 4 points for four cards, and so on.
• Combinations of 15: Two or more cards that add up to 15 score 2 points.
• Jack in the same suit as the starter card: 1 point.

Scoring the Crib

The dealer scores points for the crib at the end of the game, using the same combinations as the players. The crib can score points for pairs, runs, combinations of 15, and the jack in the same suit as the starter card.

Winning the Game

The game continues until a player reaches 121 points or more. That player is the winner. If the game ends with no player having reached 121 points, the player with the highest score wins.

Printable Cribbage Rules

Here is a printable version of the cribbage rules:

[Insert printable cribbage rules chart]

Conclusion

Cribbage is a fun and challenging card game that is easy to learn but difficult to master. With this comprehensive guide, you'll be able to learn the rules of cribbage and start playing with friends and family in no time. Remember to print out the cribbage rules chart for easy reference during your games.