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Introduction

Why Choose MeggieSoft?
The User Interface
The Games Compared
Canasta
Cribbage
Euchre & Écarté
German Whist
Gin Rummy
Pinochle & Bezique
Piquet
Rummy 500


 


Sir John Suckling, a British poet and knight, invented the card game of Cribbage about 1635, reportedly as an evolution from the earlier game of "Noddy".
  Cribbage has survived, with no major changes, as one of the most popular games in the English-speaking world.

The more modern Six Card Cribbage has now almost entirely replaced the original Five Card Cribbage game.  However the five card version does still survive in parts of Great Britain, where Cribbage is one of the few games legally permitted to be played in a public house for small stakes.  Seven Card Cribbage is reportedly less common.

Cribbage by MeggieSoft Games is the traditional game for two players, and supports the original Five Card game in addition to the later Six and Seven Card derivations, plus common rule variations.  The older game of Noddy is also fully supported.

Cribbage is a game of cunning in which the two players must balance a number of different objectives and remain alert in recognizing scoring combinations. It is a game where experience counts - together with luck.

Five Card Cribbage Six and Seven Card Cribbage
Deck 52-card deck comprising two standard decks (the Ace through King of each suit)
Deal Five, six, or seven cards are dealt to you and the same number to your opponent.  Each player then discards two cards from their hand to form the Crib.  The remaining stock cards are then cut and the exposed card is placed face up on top of the stock.  This is termed the "Starter".  
Deal Scoring Elder: Non-dealer scores three points. 
His Heels: If the Starter is a Jack, the dealer scores two points.
His Heels: If the Starter is a Jack, the dealer scores two points.
Play The players (starting with the non-dealer) play cards in turn, until all the cards have been played, or the points value of the played cards is 31 (or less if neither player can play a card without exceeding a points total of 31).  The points value of each card is its face value (ten for each of the Jack, Queen and King).  If one player cannot go without exceeding 31 points, the other player continues to play while the cards played can remain within the 31 point limit.
When 31 points have been reached (or a sufficiently low card cannot be played), the play ends. When 31 points have been reached (or a sufficiently low card cannot be played), play continues from a points total of zero.  The cards previously played are no longer candidates for scoring during play.  Play continues until both players' have played all their cards.
Play Scoring Points are scored according to the combination(s) of the currently played card and a number of consecutive previously played cards.
Fifteen: All cards so far played total fifteen face points.  (2 points.) 
Double Pair Royal: Four cards of the same rank.  (12 points) 
Pair Royal: Three cards of the same rank, not part of a
Double Pair Royal.  (6 points) 
Pair: Two cards of the same rank, not part of a Pair Royal.  (2 points) 
Sequence
: A group of consecutive card values, which need not have been played in sequential order. (1 point per card)
Thirty-One
:
All cards so far played total thirty-one face points.  (2 points)
Go
: In Six and Seven Card Cribbage, for playing the last card before
the thirty-one point limit is reached, provided that this card did not already score two points for reaching Thirty-One.  (1 point) 
Last: For playing the last card, provided that this card did not already score two points for reaching Thirty-One.  (1 point)
The Show After the end of the play phase, each player (non-dealer first) recovers their cards and scores points for combinations of the cards in their hand, taken together with the Start (upturned stock card).  After scoring for the cards in hand, the dealer then takes the crib and scores points for combinations of the cards in the crib, taken together with the Start.  
Show Scoring Points are scored according to the following combinations:
Fifteen: Any unique combination of cards which totals fifteen face points.  (2 points.) 
Double Pair Royal: Four cards of the same rank.  (12 points) 

Pair Royal: Three cards of the same rank, not part of a
Double Pair Royal.  (6 points) 
Pair: Two cards of the same rank, not part of a Pair Royal.  (2 points) 
Sequence
: A
ny unique combination of cards which represents a group of consecutive card values.  (1 point per card)
Flush
(Hand):
All cards in the hand are of the same suit.  If the Start is also of the same suit, it is included. (1 point per card) 
Flush (Crib): All cards in the crib are of the same suit as the Start. (5 points) 

Additional points are scored for:
His Nob
: When a player's hand (or crib) contains the Jack of the Start suit. (1 point) 
Optional Variations Deal one to Crib: One less card is dealt to each player and is dealt to the crib instead.  Each player then discards one card.  This increases the uncertainty of which cards are in the crib.
Restricted Heels Scoring: A player cannot score "Two for His Heels" if they need five or less points to win the game.
Restricted Go/Last Scoring
: A player cannot score "One for Go" or "One for Last" if they need only one point to win the game.
Muggins: If a player overlooks a scoring opportunity, the other player may score the unclaimed points.  This variation is also known as "Cutthroat Cribbage".
Game Successive rounds are played until a player reaches 61 points.  Successive rounds are played until a player reaches 121 points (Six Card Cribbage) or 181 points (Seven Card Cribbage). 
Noddy The original game of Noddy differs from Five-Card Cribbage in the following respects:
Deal: Three cards are dealt to each player.  There is no crib.
Play: The points in each player's hand are scored (but the cards are not shown) before the cards are played out. 

Game: The game ends when one player has achieved a total of 31 points.
Sequence Scoring
: A three card sequence scores only two points.
Twenty-Five for Two
:
This is an additional scoring combination in both the hand scoring and play phases. 

Because Cribbage by MeggieSoft Games supports all three Cribbage variants, plus Noddy, the rules and scoring conventions can be mixed-and-matched.  For example, one could choose to play a Five Card game with a goal of 181 points, without the non-dealer bonus, and include Twenty-five for Two.

Cribbage utilizes the traditional MeggieSoft Games foundation user interface, common to all our games.  In addition, Cribbage permits either the Peg Board or the Scoresheet method of scoring.

         
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