Cribbage Pegging - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Cribbage Pegging is a drinking game in the Card Games category for 2-4 players that takes about 15-30 min with a medium difficulty level.

Simplified cribbage with drink pegging

Equipment Needed

Setup

Shuffle a standard deck of cards and deal six cards to each player. Each player picks four cards to keep, while two go to the 'crib' (a separate hand scored by the dealer). Assign drinks to represent pegging points,use shot glasses, beer sips, or an agreed-upon drink size. Make sure everyone has their drink within reach, and decide who will be the first dealer by drawing cards (highest card wins).

How to Play Cribbage Pegging

  1. Set up the game according to basic rules
  2. Players take turns or play simultaneously
  3. Penalties result in drinking
  4. Success means assigning drinks
  5. Continue until winner emerges
  6. Loser faces final penalty
  7. Winner earns bragging rights
  8. Adjust rules as needed for your group

Tips & Strategies

Start small with your drink choices; a big sip for every peg can add up fast. Memorize basic cribbage scoring combos like 15s and pairs,they'll help you assign drinks strategically. Keep an eye on the pegging phase, as successful pegging not only scores but lets you assign drinks to others. If you're the dealer, remember the crib is yours, so plan your discards carefully to maximize your scoring potential (and maybe make someone take an extra drink).

Variations

The dealer drinks double for any penalties during their turn to keep them on their toes.: If a player scores exactly 31 during the pegging round, they can steal the crib and assign its drinks to someone else.: Any pegging play that earns five or more points at once forces the player who scored to chug their drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if someone forgets to peg their points?
If a player forgets to move their peg, they take a penalty drink and forfeit those points for that round. This keeps things moving and makes paying attention critical.
How do you handle scoring mistakes?
If someone miscounts their score and gets called out, they owe two penalty drinks. The correct score still stands, so double-check before assigning drinks.
What's the final penalty for the loser?
The player with the lowest score at the end has to finish the rest of their drink, so make sure not to fall too far behind during the game.
Can we mix drinks for this game?
Yes, but it's best to agree on drink proportions beforehand. If everyone else is sipping beer and you're chugging whiskey shots, it might get dicey by round three.

Players: 2-4 | Duration: 15-30 min | Difficulty: medium

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