Geocaching is a great game. But it’s not the only game I play!
At the time of placing this geocache New Zealand is under the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic ‘lock-down’ and we’re confined to our homes, with our immediate loved ones in our family-group bubbles.
Unlike other card games, Cribbage is a great game for two people, although it can be played by three individually or four, as two teams of two.
Cribbage involves scoring points by playing and grouping cards into pairs, runs and combinations of cards that sum to fifteen.
The winner of a game is the first person to score a total of 121 points. Score is usually kept on a Cribbage board.
The game is played in rounds and each round consists of four stages...
1. Discarding into the crib
2. Pegging
3. Counting points in hand
4. Counting points in the crib
Discarding
At the beginning of the round, each player is dealt six cards and the player must choose two cards to discard into the crib
Strategy: Keep in your hand cards that make pairs, runs and groups that sum to 15. All face cards are worth 10 and aces are worth 1 point.
The non-dealer then cuts the deck and the next card is turned face-up on top of the deck. If the cut card is a Jack the dealer scores 2 points, ”for doing it.”
Pegging
Starting with the person who is not the dealer, each player lays in turn one card from their hand face up in front of them on the table. The cumulative value of the cards is called by the player as each card is played until neither player can play a card without exceeding the cumulative total of 31. At that point the cumulative sum is reset to zero and the same process continues until both players have played all four cards in their hand.
During pegging points are scored for...
Cumulative sum of 15 = 2 points
Cumulative sum of 31 = 2 points
Last card below 31 = 1 point
Run of N cards = N points
Pair = 2 points
3 of a kind = 6 points
4 of a kind = 12 points
To get the points for a run the last card played that contributes to the run scores the points. For example, if the cards played are 2, 4, 3, then the player of the 3 scores the 3 points for the run. If the next card played is an Ace or a 5 then that card scores 4 for a run of 4.
Counting the hand
Starting with the person who is not the dealer, each player counts the points that can be made in their hand including the shared card on top of the deck. Five cards all together.
When counting, points are awarded for...
Set of cards that sum to 15 = 2 points
Run of N cards = N points
Pair = 2 points
Three of a kind = 6 points
Four of a kind = 12 points
Flush (not including the top card) = 4 points
Flush (including the top card) = 5 points
Jack of the top card’s suit = 1 card (that’s called “Nobs”)
This is nearly the best hand you can get. (29 is the top hand count!)
Counting the crib
After both players have counted the points in their hand, the dealer is given the crib cards. (The cards that were discarded at the start of the round.) The crib is counted the same as counting the hand except a flush in the crib must include the top card = 5 points.
Now the other game... the geocache is at S 40° AB.CDE E 175° VW.XYZ
|
Top
Card |
Your Cards |
| A |
7♥ |
3♠ |
6♦ |
J♥ |
Q♠ |
| B |
6♠ |
10♠ |
J♣ |
J♠ |
K♦ |
| C |
3♦ |
A♥ |
2♥ |
8♣ |
9♦ |
| D |
3♥ |
9♦ |
K♣ |
K♦ |
K♠ |
| E |
9♥ |
A♣ |
2♣ |
3♣ |
9♠ |
| V |
J♦ |
A♣ |
7♠ |
Q♠ |
K♦ |
| W |
2♥ |
6♣ |
7♦ |
9♠ |
Q♦ |
| X |
4♠ |
2♥ |
8♣ |
8♠ |
9♠ |
| Y |
7♥ |
A♣ |
2♣ |
3♣ |
Q♣ |
| Z |
4♦ |
A♦ |
J♦ |
J♠ |
K♦ |
It’s not as popular a game as it once was. I was taught to play by my Grandfather about the time I started school. By the age of six I could count and do mental arithmetic. I’ve been playing it ever since. Seems that most who do play, were taught to play by one of their grandparents. Now I’ve taught you.