Description

Fully referred to as the "500 Cribbage Thomas System", this game sets out to develop and modernize the classic game of Cribbage with several refinements.

Players peg points on an updated version of the original Cribbage board, with separate tracks for points scored in the Play, Hand, and Crib. Additionally, the straight-flush is recognized as an independent scoring combination, and the play of the cards until "Go" is extended to a limit of 34 instead of 31. Equal deals are played (5 each) and at the end players total their scores: points from the Play are worth 6, from the Hand 4, and from the Crib 3. If the loser failed to reach a grand total of 500, their deficit is added to the winner's final score (relevant in series play).

The most significant change is the board. The "500" Cribbage board includes, for each player: two tracks to 30 labeled "Play" and "Crib", one double-track to 60 labeled "Hand", a bank of additional pegs and 30/60/120 holes to mark if any of those tracks are exceeded, and a 5-hole track for each player to mark the number of deals. The game thus cannot be played on a classic Cribbage board, but classic Cribbage can be played on the "500" board by using the eight tracks for up to four players.

Included within the rules are variants for solitaire play, four players in partnerships, and a spinoff betting game called "Cribbage Poker".