Cribbage is a classic card game for two players that combines skill, strategy, and a unique wooden scoring board with rows of tiny holes. Players earn points by forming specific combinations of cards, and they track their score by moving pegs forward along the board's winding track. The first player to reach 121 points wins.

What makes cribbage special is the crib, a separate hand of four cards that gives the game its name. Each player contributes two cards to the crib at the start of each round, and these cards become an extra scoring hand for the dealer. This creates interesting decisions: which cards should you keep to score points, and which should you give away, knowing your opponent might benefit if they’re the dealer?

Cribbage has been played for over 400 years and was invented in England in the 1600s. The distinctive scoring board, called a cribbage board, isn’t just decorative; it makes keeping score much easier than writing numbers down. Many families pass down cribbage boards through generations, and the game remains popular because it rewards both mathematical thinking and the ability to read what cards your opponent might be holding.