Cribbage
How to play
Cribbage is played by you against the computer with one deck of 52 cards. The first dealer is chosen at random and the deal then alternates. Each player gets 6 cards and puts 2 of them face down into the crib, an extra hand that belongs to the dealer. A starter card is then cut and turned up, and if it is a jack the dealer pegs 2 points for his heels. Aces count 1 and face cards count 10 whenever cards are added up.
In the play, also called pegging, the non-dealer starts, and the players lay their cards one at a time while the running count may not pass 31. Bringing the count to exactly 15 or 31 scores 2, a pair with the previous card scores 2, three of a kind 6 and four of a kind 12, and the last three or more cards forming a run in any order score one point per card. A player who cannot play without passing 31 says go, the other player continues as long as possible, and the last player to lay a card scores 1 before the count starts again from 0. The last card of the play also scores 1, unless it made 31.
In the show the non-dealer counts first, then the dealer counts his hand and then the crib, each with the starter as a fifth card. Every combination adding up to 15 scores 2, every pair 2, every run of three or more scores its length, four cards of one suit in the hand score 4 or 5 with the starter, the crib only scores a flush of all five cards, and the jack of the starter suit scores 1 for nobs. The game computes every score and lists each item, and a hand of 5, 5, 5 and the jack of the starter suit with a 5 turned up scores the maximum of 29. Points move pegs along the board, and the first player to reach 121 wins at once, even in the middle of a hand. The computer keeps the four cards with the highest average score over every possible starter and pegs for points while avoiding counts of 5 and 21.
Controls
To discard, click two cards so they rise, then press the button that sends them to the crib. During the play, click or tap a bright card to lay it, and a go is said for you automatically when none of your cards fits under 31. After the show, the itemised counts of both hands and the crib stay on the table until you press Next hand. The peg board above the cards shows the front and back peg of each player, and the score table lists the points of each hand for pegging, hand, crib and heels.