OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME
The object of the game is to be the first to peg 121 points. Points can be scored by making combinations of cards in keeping with traditional Cribbage rules.
Points can also be earned (or lost) through the “crashing” of pegs (see “PEGGING” below).
THE DEAL
Crash Cribbage can be played by 2, 3, or 4 players.
- 2 players: Each player is dealt 6 cards and throws 2 cards to the crib.
- 3 players: Each player is dealt 5 cards and 1 card is dealt to the crib. Each player throws 1 card to the crib, making a total of 4 cards in the crib.
- 4 players: Each player is dealt 5 cards and throws 1 card to the crib.
THE PLAY
See the traditional Cribbage rules at http://www.cribbage.org for basic card play.
THE FIGURE-8 DESIGN
The Figure-8 design has a single track that all players share. The Start hole is also the Game (finish) hole, the center of the figure-8 is the Skunk hole and the hole furthest from the Start/Game hole is the Double Skunk. Players make a figure-8 either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Once you start out in either direction, you can not reverse your direction.
Players start with their pegs in the starting arrows (on the right side of the board in the illustration above.) When points are scored the player moves onto the figure 8 track, counting the red square as the first hole. Each player can leave the third peg in the starting arrows to indicate the direction around the board their peg is traveling.
PEGGING
Crashing occurs when the peg of one player lands on the peg of another player. When a peg is “crashed” in Crash Cribbage it will either add to, or subtract from, the player’s score who’s peg was crashed into. When the head peg is crashed into, it is sent to a position directly opposite its current position in relation to the tail peg.
EXAMPLE: If the head peg is 4 points in front of the tail peg when it is hit, it will be sent 4 points behind the tail peg (subtracting 4 points from the score.) If the tail peg is crashed it will be sent ahead of the head peg by the same amount of points it was previously behind.
EXAMPLE: If the tail peg is 6 points behind the head peg when it is hit it is moved 6 in front of the head peg (adding 6 points).
IMPORTANT NOTE: No player can move another player’s peg! A “crash” must be announced so that each player involved can be held responsible for the position of his own peg. This insures that everyone is aware of changes in their scores, and also that if a mistake in counting is made it can be corrected by other players in accordance with traditional Cribbage rules.
MULTIPLE CRASHES
Sometimes a crashed peg will crash into another peg creating a chain reaction. These resulting crashes follow the same rules as the initial crash.
PROTOCOL
Correct Cribbage protocol must be observed in Crash Cribbage. All players must be sure to peg in turn and to count their hands carefully.
STRATEGIC TIPS
Since the position of your pegs is of strategic significance you will want to pay attention to where you will end up when you count your hand. If you know you count first and will have an opportunity to bump your opponents peg back, you may want to decide if it is worth it to score points during card-play thus putting yourself out of crash position.