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How to Score a Cribbage Hand

Cribbage is a board and card game that is believed to have originated in England. The cards are used to play the game and create scoring combinations, while the board is used to keep score. The first person to score 121 points wins the game. Points are accumulated by making card combinations of pairs, sums to 15, flushes, runs and his nobs. His nobs is cribbage terminology for when a player is holding a Jack with the same suit as the deck card. Each player is dealt six cards. The dealer gets the "crib." Each player selects two cards from their hand and gives it to the dealer's crib to play later, as an additional hand. Players take turns laying down cards, counting to 31. Points are accumulated during counting and again for each player's hand.

Instructions

- 1
  Use strategy to play against the dealer's crib. While you also want to assure that you have a good hand of cards, try not to give the dealer any points in his crib. Give away two cards that are not pairs, add to 15 or might create a flush.
- 2
  Add the points in your hand. Before giving away cards to the crib, count how many points you have with different cards. Take away two possible options that you might give to the crib and count the points left in your hand. Trade out the cards and count the points again to determine what cards give you the better points advantage.
- 3
  Try to score his nobs. If you are dealt a jack, try to keep it in your hand. With only four suits in a standard deck of cards, you have a 25 percent chance of scoring the additional point for your hand. The deck card is cut and drawn after everyone has contributed to the dealer's crib. If your jack matches suit, you earn an extra point.
- 4
  Score additional points during game play. Each player will take a turn and put down one card at a time, until all 4 remaining cards in each player's hand is laid down. Cards are counted as they are laid; each card counts as face value, with Aces being 1, and face cards being 10. Make combinations of 15 and create a run or pair to score extra points. For example, if the first person lays down a 5, it is counted as 5. The second person could lay a 10 or face card to add up to 15 points. This scores the second player an additional point in scoring. The second player could also lay a 5 to score two points for a pair. If the second player laid a 6 and the third player laid a 7, the third player would score 3 points for a run.
- 5
  Add up to 31. The points are only added up to 31, and they start over at 1. If a player makes a card combination and ends at 31 exactly, they score a point for hitting 31, and a second point for throwing the last card in the round of 31. If a player cannot lay a card that plays less than 31 points, they must tell the other player to "Go." Giving this reply gives the next player one point as well.

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