INSTRUCTIONS FOR CRIBBAGE OBJECT of the Game The object of the game is to reach 121 points first. Players attempt to form various counting combinations, such as pairs, triplets, four-of-a-kind, sequences and 15's. Combinations can be made by the cards played, or in the hands and Crib in conjunction with the UpCard. A full deck of 52 cards is used to play 2-handed cribbage (you against the computer). Ace is low with value 1, while King is high. All face cards are value 10. All other cards are their face value. The CRIB After each player has had six cards dealt to him, the "Crib" is formed by each player discarding 2 cards facedown. The Crib belongs to the dealer and is not used until the hand has been played out. The dealer scores any points contained in the Crib, combined with the UpCard. The UpCard The dealer's opponent cuts the deck and turns up the top card on the lower portion of the deck. In this game, the cut is simulated by choosing a card number from 1-40. This "UpCard" is turned face-up on top of the remaining deck and is used only during the counting of points in the hands and the Crib. If the UpCard is a Jack, (called "Nobs"), the dealer gets 2 pts. If a player's hand contains the Jack of the UpCard suit, 1 point is scored. METHOD of PLAY The opponent plays any card from his hand face-up on the table in front of him, at the same time announcing the numerical value of the card. Dealer then plays a card, and announces the value of the sum of his card and the opponent's card. The total sum of all cards played cannot exceed 31 points. (In this respect, Cribbage is similar to Blackjack). The GO If a player has no unplayed card which will play within the 31 limit, he announces "Go". This entitles the opponent to play and continue to play until he reaches 31, or until impossible for him to play without exceeding 31. The player who most closely approaches 31 scores 1 point (the "last" card prior to exceeding 31). If he makes 31 exactly, he scores 2 points. Once a "last" card has been played, the player whose next turn it is begins play again exactly as before, from the remaining cards in his hand, starting with a fresh total count. This manner of play is continued until both hands are played out. In no event can a player exceed 31. The players must always play alternately except when there is a Go, and the other can still play more cards. POINTS of PLAY Fifteen - if a player plays a card, making the numerical total of the cards played exactly 15, he scores 2 points, and announces "fifteen-two". Pairs - if either player plays a card which makes a pair (ie. two 6's or two Jacks), he scores 2 points. Triplets - if, after a pair has been played, either player immediately plays another card of the same denomination, the third card scores 6 points ( for 3 pairs). Fours - if a fourth card of the same denomination is played (as in triplets above), the fourth card scores 12 points ( 6 pairs). Sequences - when 3 or more cards, all in numerical sequence, are played, the player of the last card counts 1 point for each card in the sequence, even though they are not played in numerical rotation. Thus, 10-Queen-Jack scores 3 points. Ace-King-Queen is NOT a sequence, since Ace is scored as 1. An intervening card breaks the sequence. Thus 5-4-3, 3. The 2nd 3 is not a sequence, but the 5-4-3 is. Flushes - If all four cards in a hand are the same suit, 4 points are scored. If the flush suit matches the UpCard card, 5 points are scored. Final Scoring Once both players' hands have been played out, each player takes his cards and calculates any possible points earned by making Fifteens, pairs, triplets, and fours (as described above), merging the UpCard card in as part of the hand for counting purposes. Each player uses the UpCard card for scoring. The dealer also scores the crib as a second hand, separately from his regular hand, but also using the UpCard card as above. Any time a player overlooks scoring valid points, his opponent is entitled to take the points overlooked, ie. 14 earned, only 10 recognized, opponent scores 4 points. First person to reach 121 points wins, thus counting first when just a few points away from winning can be very critical.