Cribbage Pool
How to Play Cribbage Billiards
How to Play Cribbage Pool
Cribbage pool is a pocket billiards game which borrows a concept from the table top card game, cribbage. The object of cribbage pool is to "pair" balls by making the two of them one after the other. The total value of these balls should equal 15 points.
Therefore, if a player pockets the 9-ball, then the next shot requires the player to pocket the 6-ball to total 15 points.
Since there are 15 balls on the table, there are seven possible pairs, such as the 1-14 combination, the 2-13 combo and so on. Standard pocket billiards sets have a 15-ball, too, which is important in cribbage pool.
The 15 Ball
The #15 object ball is considered its own cribbage pair. The stipulation is the 15-ball cannot be pocketed until all other balls are knocked off the table.
The Object of Cribbage Pool
Since there are 8 pairs of 15 (including the 15-ball) in cribbage pool, the winner of the game must win five of the pairs.
The Cribbage Pool Rack
Cribbage pool begins like a game of eight-ball. All fifteen balls are racked with the apex of the rack on the foot spot. The center ball needs to be the 15-ball.
All other object balls are placed randomly in the rack. Of the three corner balls in the rack, no two of those three can total 15 points. Therefore, the 1-ball and the 14-ball cannot be placed together on the corners of the rack.
The Cribbage Pool Break
The breaking of the rack follows similar rules to other billiards games. One of two events must happen for the break to be legal. The shooter must pocket one of the fifteen balls. If this does not happen, then four of the object balls should strike a rail cushion.
On the Cribbage
When a player pockets any one of the object balls, that player is said to be "on the cribbage". This means that player should try to pocket the companion ball on his next shot. If this doesn't happen, the shot is considered a foul. The ball originally pocketed to put the player on the cribbage is placed back on the table, usually on the foot spot.
When the spot is already occupied, the player should place the ball as close to the foot spot as possible on a "long string" line directly behind the spot.
Penalties for Fouls in Cribbage Pool
There are no lost points for fouls in cribbage pool. The player simply loses their turn and the inning is over. Because the committing of this foul automatically robs the player of a chance to score, there is no need to penalize the shooter any further.
When a foul is committed, the opponent has two options. The opponent can shoot the ball from where it sits, or take the ball in hand and shoot from behind the head string.
If you pocket the 15-ball before the end game, this is not considered a foul. The 15-ball is simply placed back on the foot spot.
If three fouls are committed in succession by one player, that player loses the game of cribbage billiards.
Multiple Cribbages
When two non-paired balls are made on the break, the shooter has the option to target any ball which will make a pair with one of the pocketed balls. If the player pots a ball to make a pair, that player must target the other possible cribbage ball.
If the player in this scenario misses on the next shot after the break, then all balls pocketed on the break should be re-placed on the table.
If a player makes one pair and misses the next pair shot, then the non-paired balls should be placed back on the table. Paired balls remain out of play, and that cribbage counts 1 point towards the total number of pairs.
Other Names for Cribbage Pool
Cribbage pool is also known as cribbage pocket billiards, fifteen points, pair pool or simply cribbage. In billiards circles, it is quite common to hear the game referenced as simply cribbage.