Cribbage

Cribbage is played by two with a standard 52-card deck. Each round both players get six cards and put two face down into the crib, an extra hand that belongs to the dealer. The deal alternates; the computer deals the first round. The top card of the rest is turned up as the starter; if it is a jack, the dealer scores 2 ("his heels").

Card values: aces 1, number cards their number, jacks, queens and kings 10. For runs, cards go in order ace (low) to king.

• The play (pegging): the non-dealer starts. Players take turns laying a card face up and saying the running total, which can never pass 31.
• Pegging points: bringing the count to 15 or to 31 scores 2; matching the rank of the card just played scores 2 for a pair, 6 for three of a kind, 12 for four; making a run of three or more among the last cards played (in any order) scores one per card.
• A player who can't play without passing 31 says "go"; the other keeps playing while they can. The last card before the count starts again scores 1 (if it made 31, the 2 for 31 already counts). Then the count starts from 0 with the other player.
• The show: after all cards are played, each hand is counted with the starter, the non-dealer first, then the dealer, then the dealer's crib.
• Hand points: every combination of cards adding up to 15 scores 2; every pair 2; every run of three or more its length (a double run counts twice); four cards of one suit in the hand 4, or 5 with the starter (the crib only counts a five-card flush); the jack of the starter's suit 1 ("his nobs").
• The first player to reach 121 wins at once, even in the middle of the play. The highest possible hand is 29.

Tap two cards and press "Put 2 in the crib". During the play, tap a card to lay it: cards that would take the count past 31 are dimmed. Saying go and the go point are handled for you, and every point is named in the line under the table ("fifteen for 2", "pair for 2", "go for 1").

At the end of each round the show is counted for you and the summary lists every hand: fifteens, pairs, runs, flush and nobs. Scores stand in the bar above the table.

Pick how strong the computer is. Easy throws and plays at random, normal keeps the four cards worth most and pegs carefully, hard also deals out the crib in its head and plays the rest of the pegging against many possible hands of yours. It never sees your cards or the crib. Your game is saved as you play, and Daily gives everyone the same cards today.

Good cribbage is about the cards you keep and the count you leave.

• Keep fives and cards that make 15 with them (tens and faces); keep runs and pairs together.
• Into your own crib, throw cards that help each other (a pair, two cards making 15, a 5). Into the computer's crib, throw cards far apart, and never a 5 if you can help it.
• Lead a card below 5: nobody can make 15 with one card on it. A 4 is a classic lead.
• Avoid leaving the count at 5 or 21: a ten-card makes 15 or 31 for the other player.
• Careful with a pair: if you play the second card of a rank, the other player may make three of a kind for 6.