I learned it from my Grandfather, Arthur Robinson, on a visit to England with my cousin in 1978.
Part of the game he taught was rhymes for many of the counts and plays, and I have tried in vane to find them on the internet. So here for the first time ever on the internet: Granddad's cribbage rhymes and scores...(I'm confident variations are possible - responses and alternatives invited and encouraged!)First, counting approaching 31:
21, ten's a gun.
22, 9's a shoe.
23, 8's a spree.
24, 7's a score.
25, 6's a jive.
26, 5's a fix.
27, 4's in heaven.
28, 3's the gate.
29, 2's a chime.
30, ace is sturdy.
Then there is a few for scoring:
Morgan's Orchard (a couple of pairs).
15 two, 15 four, and there ain't no more.
A pair (or 15) for two, and there ain't no moo. (ok, I made that one up myself - but I do use it!)
See one, play one! (whenever you make a pair...)
I think that's the bulk of them.
I feel much better finally getting these out!
I don't remember all the ones I grew up saying but I do remember:
ReplyDelete15 2, and the rest won't do
15 2, 15 4, and the rest won't score
and "what Paddy shot at" for nothing
I'm wondering whether this is an army thing. The person who taught me was an army padre (catholic priest)and the rhymes he used were (as far as we can remember were):
ReplyDelete22 and 9 will do
22 and 8's the spree
24 and 7's the score
25 and 6 is alive
26 and 5's the fix
27 and 4's in heaven
28 and 3's the weight
29 and 2's in time
Thanks for getting this conversation happening because I've often tried to recall these rhymes and have now been prompted to search them out.
What about 'one for his knob' (when you gain an extra point for having a jack when laying down all five cards at the end of each 'round'). I certainly wouldn't like to comment on the origin of this but my father (who taught me it) was certainly not someone who would have used it gratuitously!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the counting rhymes I knew “26 5’s a fix” but never learnt the rest before my Grandpa died. I agree with Colin about “one for his knob” but my Grandpa also used “two for that fool” when turning up a jack. Also I was taught “fifteen two, and the rest won’t do” and fifteen two/four (pair is four), look all night and you see no more”
ReplyDeleteone I forgot was that I learnt two pairs as "Paddy's Orchard"
ReplyDeleteYears ago I played with an old man who was in the Merchant Navy and he had lots of rhymes connected with the sea and ships. I did not write them down! Does anyone know them?
ReplyDeleteWe used to say:
ReplyDelete28 and 3s the garden gate
29 - 2s in line
and 15 2 and that'll do
Ever scored 29? I have, twice within a few months
ReplyDelete15 2 15 4 shut your mouth and say no more
ReplyDeleteMy dad taught me to play as a little girl, he was in the merchant navy, and he said exactly the same rhymes as kangajane.
ReplyDeleteAlso any hand that was a zero score was called a 19, as your score can be anything, but it will never add up to 19!
Hello, my father was in the RAF, and his rhymes (duplicating some of yours) were:
ReplyDeletegetting to 31:
21, ten's the one
22, 9'll do.
23, 8's a spree.
24, 7's the score.
25, 6 alive.
26, 5's a fix.
27, 4's in heaven.
28, 3's straight
29, 2's in time
Ones in scoring:
Morgan's Orchard (a couple of pairs).
15 2, and the rest won't do
15 2, 15 4, and the rest won't score
and 'what Paddy shot at' for nothing
'2 for his heels' (if you turn up a jack)
'one for his knob' (when you gain an extra point for having a jack the same suit as the turned over card).
Simon
Thank you for posting this. My grandfather taught me and my sisters how to play cribbage. He sailed in a tall ship from San Francisco to Alaska to build a cannery in 1902 and I wonder if that is where he learned the rhymes. I have wished many times to remember them.
ReplyDelete