                                  
                                  CRIBBAGE              Page 1 of 2
                                  ========

        This is a  traditional English  card game  for two  players,  although
versions are known for three or  four players as well.  There are commonly two
variations  of  the two-handed game,  with six card and  five card hands.  The
unregistered version of  "A Handful of Cards"  includes the  six card variant,
and the five card game is included in the registered version.

        The game is played  with the full fifty-two card pack,  from Ace (low)
to  King (high).  The scores are commonly  kept using a peg board,  known as a 
Noddy board.  In this  simulation,  a Noddy board is used,  but the scores are
also displayed as numbers.  The six card game is played to 121 points, or four
"streets" (twice around the board), and the five card game to 61, two streets.

        The computer takes care of the shuffling,  dealing and scoring,  along
with controlling  the game play.  Instructions are given on-screen as and when 
required.  To select cards,  point the mouse cursor to them and  "click".  The 
same applies to any buttons that may appear at any time.

Six Card Cribbage
=================

        The pack is  cut for deal,  and the lowest  card cut deals first.  Six
cards are dealt  to each player.  The players each donate two cards from their
hand to the "box".  This is effectively an extra hand for the dealer.  The top
card of the pack is turned over, and is known as the "start". If it is a Jack,
the dealer scores 2 points,  "two for his heels".  The players now alternately
play cards to the table, scoring as follows;

        If the card played is the same rank as  the previous  card played, the 
player scores  two points  for the pair.  A third card of  the same  rank as a 
previous pair scores  six points for "Pair-Royal",  and a fourth  card after a 
Pair-Royal scores  twelve points for a  "Double Pair-Royal".  These scores are 
derived from the number of combinations of a pair that can be formed,  scoring 
two points each. (3 cards can form 3 pairs, 4 cards can form 6 pairs)
       A sequence scores 1 point for each card, with a minimum of three cards.
These need not be of the same suit, nor need they be played in order. 7-8-9 is
a sequence, as is 7-9-8-10. The sequence is broken if there is any intervening
card, whether forming a pair or not. (2-3-3-4 is not a sequence).  Players may
extend a sequence,  scoring for  the full sequence.  For example, is a 7 and 9
have been played, an 8 may be played, scoring three. This may be followed with
a 5 or a 10, scoring four, and again by a 4 or Jack, for five, and so on.
        If a player plays a  card that brings  the pip total already played to 
Fifteen, or to Thirty-One, he scores two points. 
        If a player cannot play without exceeding 31,  he misses his turn, and 
his opponent can play again. If thirty-one is not reached,  the last player to 
play scores "one point for last". 
        Once thirty-one, or last, has been reached, the cards are turned over, 
and the players continue until their hands are exhausted.

        This ends  the play, and the  players hands are examined  for pairs or
runs, including the start. The box is then examined, and the dealer scores any
points  that may be found  in it (making full  use of the start).  If a player
holds a Jack, and the start is of the same suit, he scores  "One for his Nob".
If all of a players cards are the same suit, he scores four points, or five if
the start is  also the same suit.  In the box, however, a flush is only scored
if the start is included.
        The non-dealer now deals the next hand. 
        
        When deciding which cards to put in the box, the player needs to look
at all options within the hand, retaining the best scoring combinations that
he can, whilst also retaining possible  cards for scoring during play, and at
the same time trying not to give his opponent any useful cards. For example, a 
five is best retained, unless the remainder of the hand scores best without 
                                  
                                  CRIBBAGE              Page 2 of 2
                                  ========

it. Likewise, a run of three is best retained. It only takes one of the cards 
to be duplicated by the start to convert a score of three to one of eight. If 
it is the player's box, it is quite acceptable to put a pair, or a fifteen in, 
since the points will be collected later.

        The game is over when one player has reached a score of 121 points.


Five Card Cribbage
==================

        This variation is only supplied in the registered version of "A Handful
of Cards". The game is fundamentally the same as the Six-Card game, with the 
following differences;

1) Only five cards are dealt to each player. However, two are still discarded 
   to the box.

2) In the first hand only, the non-dealer pegs  3 points, "Three for Start" as
   compensation for the disadvantage of not getting the first deal of a game.

3) The game is played to 61 points only.

4) During the play, once Thirty-One is reached, or Last, the play ceases. It
   is not continued with the remaining cards.


SCCORING SUMMARY
----------------

A Pair - two cards of the same face                          2 pts
Pair-Royal - three cards of a kind (counted as 3 pairs)      6 pts 
Double Pair-Royal - four of a kind (counted as 4 pairs)     12 pts 
Combination of cards adding up to 15                         2 pts  
A sequence of 3 or more, irrespective of suit                1 pt per card
 (during the play, this need not be in sequential order)

All hand is of the same suit (not in the box)                1 pt per card
All of the box AND the start are same suit                   1 pt per card 
Jack in hand is same suit as the start (One for his Nob)     1 pt
Jack is turned up as the start (2 for his heels)        dealer scores 2 pts 
Last card played below 31                                    1 pt
Last card played reaches 31                                  2 pts

In five-card game, the non-dealer gets 3 points "for start", first hand only.

       --------------------------------------------------------------

A card may count in one or more of these combinations at once. For example;

                Hand - 7 hearts, 8 hearts, 9 hearts, 10 hearts
                Box  - 8 diamonds

Score is;  2 fifteens (7 & 8 twice), 
           1 pair, 
           2 runs of 4 (7, 8, 9 & 10)
           A flush of 4 
                                Total score = 18

