Cribbage Anyone?

Cribbage? You know, it’s that card game that uses the funny looking board with all the little holes in it. Your parents and grandparents used to play it. Well it seems that it’s still being played and in a big way.

The American Cribbage Congress (ACC) is a national organization comprised of over 180 local clubs (2 in Texas) and over 5000 members in the United States and Canada. Established in 1980, it now sponsors 150 tournaments a year with the largest drawing over 1000 players.

The local clubs – called Grass Roots Clubs – play once a week and report the scores to the ACC which tabulates them and keeps statistics available on their two web sites – www.cribbage.org and www.accgrassroots.org.

The Lone Star club 106 is Dallas based. The club averages 18 to 30 players every week and even though there are 68 players (up 50 new players since April 2006) we are always looking for new members.

Clubs usually have a mix of experienced players and people still learning cribbage. The more experienced players always like to help teach the game and willing to explain more than just basics.

The game of Cribbage can trace its roots back to 17th century England where the game was invented by Sir John Suckling (1609-1640). It is a fast-paced card game where points are scored for pairs, trips, four of a kind, straights, flushes and any combination of cards that add up to 15.

People who are interested in the game can go out to The Wild Turkey bar & grill where the Lone Star Club 106 plays every Wednesday at 7pm to watch and ask questions. If interested in joining the club because you know how to play – go out around an hour or two early for just social cribbage and dinner. Then go over things with the club director Brock. You can also call Brock at 972-754-5261 or email him at Brock_cribbageacc@yahoo.com … whichever you feel more comfortable with.

And that funny board with all the little holes? Since the game scores points rapidly, moving pegs from hole to hole to keep track of the score is easier than trying to constantly write them down.