Can Cribbage Be Played Competitively At A Professional Level? 

For anyone who loves Cribbage like I do, there comes a point where you start to beat all of your friends pretty consistently. 

It’s only natural then to start to wonder: 

Can Cribbage be played competitively at a professional level? 

Competitive Cribbage offers cash prizes but isn’t a sustainable career. Weekly clubs, regional, and national tournaments with good cash rewards exist globally. Online play is competitive but less financially rewarding.

For more details, let’s read on! 

Places To Play Cribbage Competitively And Make Money

Local Clubs

In the U.S., there are numerous clubs scattered across the country. Depending on your location, you may have several within driving distance. 

Some regions, like Wisconsin, boast more clubs than others, but you’ll likely find at least one nearby. 

These local clubs typically meet once a week or every other week. 

You participate in a 7 or 9-game mini-tourney and often pay to play. Usually, the fee is quite low; for example, in my local club, it was $5. The winner and runner-up split the pot 2-1. 

Many players also engage in small side bets, often adding another $5 per game. 

Additionally, clubs may have a 29-hand prize, with a Skunk penalty requiring a dollar contribution to the 29 pot if you get skunked. 

Over weeks or even years, the pot can accumulate substantially. If you achieve a 29-hand (the highest hand in Cribbage), you win the pot. 

Club play can be challenging, but you can earn a bit of extra cash to cover your drinks or the next week’s match.

In-Person Tournaments

n-person larger tournaments are less common and often more challenging to attend. In my home state of Michigan, there aren’t many, and they’re typically located on the opposite side of the state from where I reside. 

However, if you manage to attend, it’s an opportunity for top-notch play and significant prizes. 

These tournaments often draw large crowds, prompting organizers to include a “Consy” or consolation tournament for those who don’t qualify for the finals, which also offers prizes in many cases. 

Prize amounts vary widely depending on the tournament’s scale, ranging from smaller local events to large regional or national competitions. While the prizes aren’t enough to sustain a living, they’re still noteworthy. 

For more details, check out the specific tournament you’re interested in via the provided link.

Online Play

There is no shortage of online platforms to play Cribbage, with the American Cribbage Congress (ACC) hosting their own tournaments and tracking ratings on partnered platforms. 

However, some of the ACC platforms are less user-friendly, requiring downloads to adapt the old system to new devices. 

I recommend opting for newer apps like Cribbage Pro, which offers competitive multiplayer with seasonal events and a rating system to match you with players of similar skill levels. 

While many apps feature online play, the competition can vary. Cribbage Pro stands out with its organized competitive seasons, boasting over 2,000 participants weekly and even offering small prizes for top performers. 

Some online platforms, including Cribbage Pro, allow for monetary play or organize tournaments for cash prizes, albeit with additional legal complexities.

Other Ways To Make Money With Cribbage

Make Cribbage Boards

If you have a talent for woodworking, Cribbage Boards may be a great way to make a little extra money around the game you enjoy. 

It seems like Cribbage boards and chess boards are a rite of passage for woodworkers, and as someone with some small skill in the area, I hope to make my own someday! 

Pegs can be purchased online for dirt cheap, even the nice metal ones! 

Write A Book

People who love Cribbage (like me) also love to read Cribbage books, and there is no shortage of them out there. 

Don’t expect to make a lot of money, but if you feel like you have something to offer to the game, write it down and sell it. 

You can publish online as a PDF or even self-publish through Amazon. I’d love to read what you have to offer! 

Offer Lessons

This one is a big long shot, but I’ve heard of it happening before. If you’re a strong player, you can present at local clubs or even be hired to give private lessons. 

You won’t make much money for this, but if you love the game and want to help others, it’ll certainly be rewarding! 

Conclusion

While Cribbage can be played competitively, it’s not typically considered a profession due to limited financial rewards. 

Nevertheless, opportunities exist to test your skills and potentially earn some extra cash. 

Whether through local clubs, in-person tournaments, or online play, there are avenues to compete and challenge yourself. 

Additionally, if you’re looking to further your Cribbage knowledge and strategies, check out our comprehensive article.

Explore other avenues like crafting Cribbage boards, writing books, or offering lessons for additional ways to engage with the game and community. 

So, continue enjoying Cribbage, and who knows, you might just find your own unique way to make it even more rewarding!