How to Play Cribbage Wars – Rules & Strategy

April 15, 2025

How to Play Cribbage Wars – Rules & Strategy

Cribbage Wars is a fast-paced, elimination-style variant of cribbage that turns every hand into a tactical battle. The goal? Not just to reach 121 points—but to be the last player standing. This version blends classic cribbage scoring with cutthroat mechanics that make game night unforgettable.

👥 Players

2 to 6 players
Best with 3 to 5 players
Each player needs their own track (either a multi-track board or separate boards)

🎴 What You Need

One standard 52-card deck
One cribbage board per player
Pegs for scoring
Optional: Pen and paper to track crib ownership

🧱 Setup

Each player is dealt six cards.
Each player discards two cards into a shared crib.
The crib owner rotates clockwise each round.
Flip one card from the deck to act as the starter (cut card).

🔄 Game Phases

1. Pegging Phase

Players lay down cards one by one in turn, scoring points for:

15s (2 points)
Pairs, triples, runs
Reaching exactly 31 (2 points) or the last card played before 31 (1 point)

2. Hand Scoring Phase

Each player scores their hand (including the starter card) using standard cribbage scoring.

3. Crib Scoring Phase

The crib is scored by the crib owner only.

⚔️ Elimination Rules (This is War!)

🔺 Leapfrog Elimination

If a player’s peg is passed on the track by another player, they are eliminated.

Example: You're on space 63. If another player jumps from 62 to 65, you’re eliminated.

🔺 Simultaneous Elimination

If a player leapfrogs multiple players in one move, all those passed are eliminated.

🔺 Safe Ties

If two players land on the same space, no elimination occurs—only passing causes elimination.

🏆 Winning the Game

The last player remaining on the board wins. Reaching 121 doesn’t guarantee victory—survival does.

⚙️ Optional House Rules

Double Crib: In games with 4+ players, divide into two cribs (e.g., top and bottom of table).
Battle Cards: Add house-rule cards with one-time powers (swap pegs, block elimination, etc.).
Sudden Death: In a final tie, play one hand—highest total score wins.