About five years ago Tom found out there was a local cribbage club. Most of the members were elderly, but he didn't care. Tom really liked the challenge of cribbage. It was a numbers game, used lots of strategy, and above all: it was competitive. The club met every Thursday night at the Red Cross office. It cost $5.00 to play a nine game round, or tournament. Tom then found out about cribbage tournaments that were hosted on weekends in various locations around the United States. When he first told me he was going to Oregon to play in a cribbage tournament, I was a bit puzzled. I remember saying something like, "Seriously! Why in the world would you travel to play cribbage. That's just weird."
It turns out that there is a cribbage tournament available every weekend in some part of the United State and Hawaii. Again - seriously! There is a whole other world out there of people who sit at long tables during the weekend and play cribbage for 22 games. At the end, the score cards are tallied, and the top 25% of the cards go on to the play offs the next day. They play the best three out of five to move on until there is one winner of the whole tournament. Those who don't make it in the top 25% can opt to play in the nine game consolation tournament. There is an official American Cribbage Congress website where accumulated scores are kept: monthly, yearly, lifetime, etc. Those players who have been playing the longest have achieved one, two, and three star status. Some are considered masters: it's all based on your point totals. You only receive points if you win or place in tournaments. Otherwise, your tournament play counts for nothing.
There are also judges - players who have volunteered to study and pass a test of all the ACC rules of cribbage. If, during a game, one player commits a mistake of one kind or another, a judge can be called to rule. Generally two judges are needed. This brings up the point that there is a whole rule book on mistakes and misplays that can occur, as well as the penalties for each. The American Cribbage Congress has an Ethics Committee, a Rules Committee, and of course, a Board of Directors. Whew! Way to make a "game" stressful, right? But, that's how most games become.
And there you have it: the short version of official cribbage tournaments. This anniversary gift from Tom is exactly like a trophy board that some players win. We will play our first game on it soon - I hope I win!
Wow! That was stressful to read.
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