🃏 Crib Wars – Official Rules

Crib Wars is a dynamic variation of traditional cribbage, featuring a 363-hole board with unique zones that introduce new strategies and challenges.

🎮 General Gameplay

• Standard Rules: All standard cribbage rules apply unless overridden by Crib Wars-specific rules.
• Conflict Resolution: In case of disputes, Crib Wars rules take precedence.
• Determining the Dealer: Each player cuts the deck; the player with the lowest card deals.
• Crib Formation:
  • Three Teams of Two: Each of the two non-dealing teams contributes one card to the crib; the dealer and their partner place their discards at the bottom of the deck.

🧮 Scoring & Pegging

• Pegging to 31:
  • If a player forms a run or pair that brings the count to exactly 31, they score all associated points, including two points for reaching 31, simultaneously.
  • If the run or pair does not total 31, score those points first; then, if applicable, score one point for "Go" separately.
• Card Visibility: All cards must be placed face-up on the table during counting.
• Penalties: If a player incurs a two-point penalty, all other opponents may choose to add two points to their scores, excluding the offending player.

🚨 Special Board Zones

🔴 Muggers Alley

• Location: The first 121 points on the board (equivalent to a standard cribbage game).
• Mechanic: If a player fails to tally all their points, an opponent may call "Muggins" to claim the missed points after verifying them. The opponent can choose to keep the points or return them.

🔴 Red Skips

• Mechanic: Landing on the first red box in any of the three designated areas allows a player to immediately advance to the second red box in that sequence.

🔵 Blue Penalty Boxes

• Trigger: Landing in a penalty box via pegging, hand count, or crib count.
• Two-Player Game:
  • The player who lands in the penalty box moves back 20 holes.
  • The opponent advances 20 holes.
  • The penalized player folds their hand and crib; the opponent continues counting their hand and crib.
• Three Players or Teams:
  • The first player/team to enter the penalty box sits out for three consecutive hands.
  • The penalized player/team is responsible for moving their own peg; failure to do so results in an additional hand in the penalty box.
  • If another player/team enters the penalty box while one is already there, the first penalized player/team advances one peg hole, and two-player rules apply.
• Scoring Restrictions: An award of 20 points cannot place a player in a penalty box or time trap. If it would, the player skips to the first hole beyond the penalty box or time trap.
• Total Penalty Boxes: Three are present on the game board.

🔵 Blue Time Traps

• Mechanic: Landing in a blue time trap requires the player to follow the blue path. If the hand count places a player in a time trap, the crib count continues along the blue path.
• Total Time Traps: Four are present on the game board.
• Strategic Hint: If an opponent is within two holes of a time trap or penalty box, leading a five may cause them to score 15 for 2, potentially placing them into the trap or box.

🟢 Green Advances

• Mechanic: Landing in either of the two green advance areas mandates following the green shortcut paths, allowing players to bypass sections of the board.

Enjoy the strategic depth and excitement that Crib Wars brings to the classic game of cribbage!

DOWNLOAD PDF RULES

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