The game of cribbage was invented by the poet, soldier, and ne'er-do-well Sir John Suckling in the 17th century. It can be played with two, three, or four players, and is the perfect way to while away an evening at the cottage.

On the surface, it's a game of luck and arithmetic but experience reveals depths of strategy, tactics, and psychology. Each player responds in turn to the other's moves, making game play more like conversation than combat. Cribbage is a stately race, advancing to the goal of 121 points by increments of one or two. It is unlikely that it will become a sports network hit, but its fans rate it as the greatest card game ever invented. Cribbage, on the other hand, offers distinct and more subtle rewards. Bridge is the game of symbiotic partnership, grand strategy, and killer instinct. Knockout blows are common reversals are rapid. Poker games can be like barroom brawls - they are about aggression, intimidation, and opportunism. Its reach is global, and its history rich. Cribbage (or 'crib') has lasted for four centuries as one of the most beloved uses for a 52-card deck. You will find a cribbage board in game cupboards, cottages, and in every Legion Hall in Canada. Beneath, there is a hidden compartment for a set of coloured pegs. Usually, it's an unassuming plank of wood dotted with three winding tracks of small holes. The cribbage board is a familiar artifact.

Crib board game