Use and Care Manual
Rules of Cribbage
Ages 7 to Adult
Set Up:
Place all the dominoes face down on the table and mix them.
For Double Six Dominoes: 2 to 4 players. Each player takes 5 dominoes.
For Double Nine Dominoes: 2 to 7 players. Each player takes 7 dominoes.
For Double Twelve Dominoes: 2 to 10 players. Each player takes 9 dominoes.
Stand the pieces up with the dots facing you. Do not let the other players see your dominoes.
The remaining dominoes become the draw pile.
Each domino is divided into two parts or ends, each containing a set of dots. A double domino
contains matching ends (9-9, 8-8, etc.) The player who draws the highest double domino places it
in the center of the table to begin the game. Play then proceeds to the left. (If no double was
drawn, all dominoes are returned to the draw pile, remixed and redrawn.)
The second player then tries to match one of his dominoes to either end or side of the double. For
example, if the first domino played is a double four, the second player may add any one of his
dominoes containing four dots on one end. The next player may play to the remaining double
four or he may try to match the end of the second domino played. Blanks match other
blanks. Only one domino may be played at each turn. Dominoes are placed lengthwise rather
than at right angles, except in the case of a double as shown.
Players match ends of the
dominoes but may play to either
end or to either side of a double,
thereby giving two new directions
in which to place dominoes.
If a player cannot match the dots at any open end of a row, he must pick from the draw pile until
he is able to play a domino. If he draws the last domino and still cannot play, he passes and then
tries again on his next turn. A player must play a domino if he is able to do so.
Play continues until one player has used all of his dominoes or until no one can play. If no
further plays can be made and all dominoes have been drawn, the player with no dominoes or
with the least number of points (dots on his remaining dominoes), wins the round. He subtracts
the total of his points from the total of each of his opponents' points and adds the balance of