CRIBBAGE RULES!

Cribbage. What is it?

I've just lately started to play the game. I've heard of it forever, but not being a card player to start with, the intrest was not there. Then during January of 1997, I read Charles Dickens' THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP. Quilp, the protagonist, let his devilish character dominate as evidenced by his cheating at the game. Richard Swiveller and the "marchioness" began playing the game which eventually proved to be the start of a relationship between them, culminating in their marriage with the playing of cribbage being a ritual of their companionship. I thought what a marvelous idea to add a new dimension of togetherness with my wife! Alas, she doesn't share my enthusiasm. She will never know what happiness we might have shared (sigh).

Cribbage was invented in Britain by Sir John Suckling. Noddy, the original version was played with each player dealt 3 cards. In keeping with its British origins, Cribbage is steeped in rituals such as cutting and dealing, playing and pegging serving to add order.

CRIBBAGE TRIVIA

The Word of the Day for September 9 is:
bilk \BILK\ (verb): cheat, swindle

Example sentence:

Kristen was outraged when a con man tried to bilk her elderly father out of thousands of dollars in savings.

Did you know?

Initially, "bilking" wasn't considered cheating -- just good strategy for cribbage players. Language historians aren't sure where "bilk" originated, but they have noticed that its earliest uses occur in contexts referring to cribbage. Part of the scoring in cribbage involves each player adding cards from his or her hand to a pile of discards called the "crib." At the end of a hand, the dealer keeps any points in the crib. Strategically then, it is wisest for the dealer's opponent to put non-scoring cards into the crib. In the early days of the game, that strategy for preventing an opponent from scoring was called "balking." Etymologists theorize that "bilk" may have originated as an alteration of that card-gaming "balk."

---------------- Brought to you by Merriam-Webster Inc. http://www.m-w.com ----------------

Enough of my opionions. Follow some of the links below to learn a little more about the game.

The American Cribbage Congress. Everything you've ever wanted to know about cribbage is here..EVERYTHING!!! It has a special link to pictures of some unusual cribbage boards. A youth cribbage organization? HMMMMM, Cribbage Moms? The new politcal powerhouse!
A great personal homepage dedicated to cribbage. You can try a shareware version of cribbage here. excellent!
The Game that started it all.
The Mega index to card game rules including cribbage! This will keep you busy during the long winter months ahead!

This Cribbage 29 Web Ring site is owned by
Denis "the artful Dodger" Jensen.

Want to join the Cribbage 29 Web Ring?
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CRIBBAGE RULES!

Cribbage. What is it?

CRIBBAGE TRIVIA

email: Mail Me

This page was last updated September 09, 1999