omitted; but in others that is not done, the inattentive person being only prohibited from afterwards scoring them. Each player may place his own cards, when done with, on the pack. In five-card cribbage, the cards are to be dealt one by one alternately, but when played with six cards, then it is customary to give three, and if with eight cards, four at a time. The non-dealer at the commencement of the game in five-card cribbage scores 3 points, called taking three for last, but in six and eight-card cribbage that is not to be done. Some parties permit of flushes in play to be reckoned, when three or more cards of a suit are laid down successively, that is, the person playing the third card reckons 3, and the player laying down a fourth of the same suit scores 4, and so on if five, six or more can be played. MODE OF PLAYING FIVE-CARD CRIBBAGE. CRIBBAGE boards are so universally known, that it is unnecessary to describe them; and the 61 points or holes marked thereon make the game. The party cutting the lowest card deals, after which each player is first to lay out two of the five cards for the crib, which always belongs to the dealer; next the adversary cuts the remainder of the pack, and the dealer turns up and lays on the crib the uppermost card, for which, if a knave, he marks 2 points. The card turned up is to be reckoned by both parties, whether in shewing their hands or crib. After laying out and cutting as above mentioned, the eldest hand plays a card which the other endeavours to pair, or to find one, the points of which reckoned with the first will make 15; then the non-dealer plays another card, trying to make a pair, pair-royal, sequence, flush where allowed of, or 15, provided the cards already played have not exceeded that number, and so on alternately till the points of the cards played make 31, or the nearest possible number under that. When the party whose turn it may be to play cannot produce a card that will make 31, or come in under that number, he then says, Go, to his antagonist, who thereupon is entitled to score 1, and must play any card or cards he has that will make 31 or under; and if he can make exactly 31, then is to take two points; and besides, the last player has often opportunities to make pairs, or sequences. Such cards as remain after this, are not to be played; but each party having, during the play, scored his points gained, in the manner as directed before, proceeds, the nondealer first, then the dealer, to count and take for his hand and crib as follows, reckoning the cards every way they can possibly be varied, and always including the turned-up card. For every 15 2 points. Pair, or two of a sort. 2 points. Pair-royal, or three of a sort.. 6 points. Double pair-royal, or four ditto 12 points. Sequence of any suits, according to the number. Flushes according to the number. Knave, or noddy, of the same suit as turned up, 1 point; but when turned up it is not to be reckoned again, nor is any thing to be taken for it when played. N. B. Three cards of the same suit in hand, or four in crib, usually entitle the player to reckon that number as a flush, and also one more when the turned-up card happens to be of the same suit; but among professed gamesters it is not customary to allow flushes in crib, unless all the cards, including that turned up, are of a similar suit. In laying out cards for the crib, it is always requisite that every player should consider not only his own hand, but also to whom the crib belongs, as well as the state of the game; for what might be proper in one situation would be highly imprudent in another. When any player possesses a pair-royal, it is generally advisable to lay out the other cards for either crib, unless those others consist of two fives, a deuce and trois, five and six, seven and eight, fifth and any tenth card, or the crib belonging to the adversary, or the game almost finished. A player, when he does not thereby materially injure his hand, should, for his own crib, lay out close cards, in hopes of making a sequence, or two of a suit, in expectation of a flush, or any that of themselves amount to 15, or such as reckoned with others will make that number, except when the antagonist is nearly up, and it may be expedient to keep such cards that probably might prevent him from gaining at play. The direct contrary method should be pursued in respect to the adversary's crib, which each person should endeavour to baulk, by laying out those cards that are not likely to prove of advantage, unless at such a stage of the game, when it may be of conse quence to keep in hand cards likely to tell in play, or when the non-dealer would either be out by his hand, or has reasons for judging the crib of little moment. A king is the best card to baulk a crib, as none can form a sequence beyond it, except in some companies where queen, king, ace are allowed as a sequence; and either a king, or queen, with an ace, six, seven, eight, or nine, are good ones to put out. Low cards are genenerally the most likely to gain at play. Flushes and sequences, particularly if they are also flushes, are for the most part eligible hands, as thereby the player is often enabled either to assist his own crib, or baulk that of the opponent; to whom a knave should never be given, if with propriety it can be retained. Sequences in play need not be laid down in order; it is sufficient that the cards on the table will form a sequence without any other one intervening: as for instance, suppose a six first played, then a four, and afterwards a trois, if a deuce follows, it will make sequence of three; then if a five, it will be a sequence of five; and if an ace or seven succeeds the five, a sequence of six; though should a ten, or any other card that will not run on regular, be played as the fourth, the sequence then will be totally prevented. Twenty-nine is the greatest possible number that can be gained by the shew of any hand, or crib, either in five or six-card cribbage, and is composed of three fives and a knave, with a fourth five, of the same suit as the knave, turned up; this very seldom happens; but twenty-four is not an uncommon number, and may be formed of four threes and a nine, or two fours, one five, and two sixes; and some other combinations that a little experience will point out. The almost endless variety in cribbage renders it impossible to give, in a small compass, sufficient directions for learners to put out, retain, or play their cards to the best advantage in all the different situations of the game; experience and attention combined with calculation will soon do the whole. The chances are often so extraordinary and unexpected, that even between skilful gamesters it is possible at five-card cribbage, when the adversary is 56, for a lucky player, who had not previously made a single hole, to be more than up in two deals, his opponent getting no further than 60 in that time; and in fourhand cribbage a case may occur, wherein none of the parties hold a single point in hand, and yet the dealer and his friend, with the assistance of knave turned up, may make 61 by play in one deal, while their adversaries only get 24; and though these particular games, as stated hereafter, may not happen of many years, yet others nearly similar may now and then be met with. Suppose A to be 56, and B, whose turn it is to deal, not having gained a single point, gives A one six, two sevens, a three, and a four, and to himself three sixes, a deuce, and a three, he laying out the deuce and three: A the three and four to the crib, for which the turn-up card proves another three. A then plays a seven, B a six, making 13; then A another six, making 19, and scores 2 for a pair; B a third six, making 25, and a pair royal, for which he scores A not being able to come in B plays the fourth six making a double pair royal, with 2 for 31. A shews and marks 2 for the pair of sevens in his hand; B shews and sets up 12 for his hand, and 17 for crib Second deal, A gives B three, four, and five of the same suit, with any two tenth cards; and to himself seven, eight, nine, and likewise two tenth cards; each person laying 6 14 29 |