(FAQ) Game Rules – Cribbage

(About the Author)

These series of “Game Rules’ provide rules of many different games for the pool table. The rules here have been simplified from the official versions – to make them a little easier to understand.

There are other games that have been invented, copyrighted and generally available to the playing public. Web searches will turn these up and the rules printed out for use.

Cribbage

This is an interesting conversion of a popular card game to a pool game.

Object

One player (or side) pockets the most cribbage points when all balls have been pocketed. Each cribbage point is the total of two balls that equal 15. For example, pocket the 1 and 14 for one cribbage point.

Opponents

Two or three sides (opposing players or doubles teams).

Balls

Regular set of balls.

Racking

Standard random rack with 15 ball in center.

Breaking

Breaker determined by local rules (coin, lag, card draw, etc.)

Four balls to the rail or a ball pocketed.

If no legal break, incoming player can accept the table as is or make the breaker repeat the break.

Pocketed balls are spotted (unless equal to 15) with breaker continuing.

On a break with a foul, incoming player can accept the layout or shoot from the kitchen.

Regular play

Call ball and pocket.

Two balls made consecutively must equal 15 to count as a cribbage point.

Missing the second ball ends inning. Re-spot the first ball.

If an uncalled second (or third) ball is sunk when calling one ball, the inning ends and all balls spotted.

The 15 ball cannot be targeted until all other balls are pocketed.

House rules: The game could be extended by using the 15 ball as a break ball (similar to 14.1 Continuous). If the 15 is pocketed on the new rack shot the player continues. The 15 is res-potted after the inning ends. Game ends at a pre-determined number of cribbage points – i.e., 15, 20.

Fouls

Penalty is loss of one cribbage point. Balls are spotted. If score is zero, player owes. Owed cribbage points must be paid after the inning earned.

  • No legal shot
  • Ball off the table
  • Scratch (incoming player shoots from kitchen)
  • Illegal ball touching (optional – moved balls can be replaced with opponent’s approval and play continues with no penalty)

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