Competitive Cribbage - Summer 2023

Get ready to heat up the cribbage board, because the Summer 2023 Season of Competitive Cribbage is live and in full swing!

The exciting Spring 2023 season of competitive cribbage has come to a close, with all the statistics and top performers firmly locked and recorded. The season started off with great enthusiasm, and as the allure of the spring weather grew stronger, the level of participation and number of matches played stabilized to an about average level. Following an exceptionally active previous season, it is gratifying to witness a considerable number of players who remain dedicated to the thrill of the competitive format. Adding to the anticipation for the upcoming season is the exciting release of a new version of the game that is gradually rolling out to players over the next few weeks.

As we dive into the sizzling Summer 2023 season, note that we're keeping the format consistent and not shaking things up right now, with no major changes to the format.

Spring 2023 welcomed a fresh influx of enthusiastic players, with many newcomers showcasing their skills and climbing the Leaderboard throughout the season. It's a real joy to witness the arrival of these new contenders and witness their exciting journeys unfold! The competition this season was thrilling, as the race for the top position was incredibly close for a while, with mere fractions separating these cribbage titans. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all who participated, both on and off the Leaderboard, for your invaluable contributions. Even if you didn't secure a spot in the final Top 50, your dedication and involvement are truly appreciated. And let's not forget to extend a special thanks to those who brought along their friends to share in the cribbage excitement! Together, you made Spring 2023 a season to remember.

In 1st place for Spring 2023, we have "Saskie" up from far behind last season, although a regular player and past top finisher a few seasons back. Good to see you back in the mix! 2nd place is someone we have seen in the Top 50 multiple times before, "Dhrun". In 3rd we have "rookie22", who may need to consider a username change in the near future, as they were a top finisher just last season as well. Other interesting movements in the Top 50 included "TC2", up 10 places to finish 4th. "Doksboy" moved up 13 places to finish in 9th place, "MTBiggs" finished in 10th up from 22nd, and "scout3" finished 13th up from 261st!! The excitement was intense as we witnessed a thrilling showdown for the top positions in the final stretch of this season, with the last few weeks delivering some nail-biting, neck-and-neck battles. It was a blast to witness, and I genuinely hope that all of you had as much fun as I did! Let's not forget about the incredible achievements of numerous other players who made significant strides during this season. Alongside them, we can also see many familiar names on the list, which calls for a big round of applause and congratulations to each and every one of you! Well done on your outstanding performances!

Kudos and heartfelt recognition are extended to each and every player who secured a spot in the prestigious Top 50 this season! As a token of recognition for your remarkable achievements, you have been bestowed with the special in-game "board peg" that symbolizes your triumph. But wait, that's not all! To truly honor your exceptional skills, we are also thrilled to present you with Cribbage Pro Gold that can be used in the Cribbage Pro Contests system and then redeemed for cash (awards must be used at least once in a Contest to be cashed out to USDC, see the full terms and conditions for details). The Gold awards do expire, so use them or lose them! If you are awarded Gold, and are not sure what it is good for (or how to access the Contests system), read through the links above or email us any time if you have questions. On iOS you will need the "Cribbage Pro Contests" version of the app, and on Android and Windows you need to install the game using the Amazon Appstore. It is easy to do, so don't let that app install process get in the way of some good cribbage fun! The Cribbage Pro Gold awards are as follows (not cumulative):

• 4 Gold for Top 50
• 7 Gold for Top 25
• 10 Gold for Top 10
• 20 Gold for 3rd Place
• 30 Gold for 2nd Place
• 50 Gold for 1st Place

The top finisher is awarded the "crown" board peg, and all others in the Top 50 are awarded a "star" board peg. These pegs are shown to everyone when playing in online multiplayer games, and they are permanent, so if you see your opponent has one of them you can know that they have earned it by finishing in the Top 50 in competitive play.

Remember: Complete 10 matches per week! See the FAQ for details.

Here was the final Top 50 for Spring 2023:

1	Saskie	26	seachica
2	Dhrun	27	flybill
3	rookie22	28	WhyADuck
4	TC2	29	MplsDave
5	Gssj21	30	jimmy15
6	dcpastore	31	Flash60
7	pegmstr77	32	tippex
8	ernie313	33	Mrpadre
9	Doksboy	34	Rosco926
10	MTBiggs	35	Dpac
11	Br1Guy	36	fishing20
12	TrumpetJ	37	nvsru911
13	scout3	38	Cribbfest
14	cyrusg	39	dstroms
15	Domerzag	40	UberPooch
16	yank29	41	rattle15
17	BahaShark	42	nnannow
18	bbaer1	43	ST13
19	31four14	44	Lionhart
20	hillchem	45	gmric5
21	lbolt58	46	nob4one
22	236Postie	47	Duane1952
23	kb92129	48	Legonaut
24	linurbug9	49	duganbr
25	holinzend	50	kpcrib123

The levels in Competitive Matchmaking are available in the FAQ.

New Version of Cribbage Pro!

Remember to get that new version of Cribbage Pro as soon as you see it available, as it is rolling out live slowly over the next few weeks. There are several new features to help you improve your cribbage game, and you will want to take advantage of those! Be sure to take a quick read through the blog post about the improvements in the latest update.

As a reminder, if you feedback on what you would like to see around prizes, structure or anything else, please email us at support@FullerSystems.com with your suggestions.

Leveling Up: Exciting Improvements And Changes to Cribbage Pro

Cribbage Pro Just Got Even Better!

Cribbage Pro has been bringing joy to countless players for many years, and now it's even better with a range of amazing new features and improvements! Here are some of the highlights of what's new in Cribbage Pro that you're sure to love:

New Logo/Icon:

The game icon has received a subtle but significant update. It now boasts an overall brighter color, showcases more of the cards, and makes it easier to recognize at a glance. This way, you can be confident that you're playing the same fantastic game every time you come across the Cribbage Pro icon. Here's a glimpse of what you can expect to see across all platforms where you can find Cribbage Pro:

Hand Grades: The game now features a "Hand Grade" for you AND your opponent's hands!

Now, with the Hand Grade feature, you can access a detailed breakdown of how your discard choice compares to the alternatives whenever you finish a round (the calculation process is explained below). Simply select the "Grade Details" button to review the specific factors that contributed to the hand's final grade:

Selecting "Grade Details" shows the potential scores and ranking for each possible discard:

• The top line shows whether it was your hand, or your opponent's, and the calculated grade.
• The second line shows all of the cards dealt for that hand, and who is the dealer with the crib.
• If you want to learn more about how the crib average and total is calculated, you can select the "?" button.
• Every possible discard to the crib is shown in each section that follows, sorted from the highest grade to lowest. The discard that was chosen/used is highlighted with a yellow border.
• To better understand the scoring breakdown in each section, take note of the following information provided:
• The resulting 4-card hand is displayed, along with the calculated minimum, maximum, and average scores for that hand.
• An estimated crib average is also displayed, which is either added or subtracted to show the final number on the right side of the section.
• If the other player has the crib, the crib values will be subtracted from the average score. On the other hand, if the player has the crib, the crib values will be added to the average score.
• For instance, in the example above, the "Avg - Crib" shows the estimated average score with the crib values subtracted. However, if it were the player's crib, it would show "Avg + Crib" instead.

This amazing tool can turbocharge your gameplay, providing you with invaluable insights to make those all-important discard decisions. But, let's not forget, this is just a general guide, so feel free to mix things up and try some creative strategies to outsmart your opponents! Whether you're going all-out for the highest hand grade, or adopting a defensive playstyle, there's always room for some good old-fashioned fun. Remember, this tool is just one piece of the puzzle, and when you're up against some advanced players, you may need to throw in some well planned board-position-based tactics to emerge victorious! Still, like many of the other features in the game, if this is not for you, you can simply hide the Hand Grade in the game settings at any time.

Round Summary: See a summary of scoring for each round of play!

We're thrilled to introduce the new Round Summary feature, which displays the scores for both players across all scoring types at the end of each round of play. Once the crib is scored, simply take a quick peek at the game board to see this awesome new addition in action:

Let's break it down: Cut card points are only earned when the Jack is cut, commonly known as "two for his heels".Therefore, it's common to see a zero score in this category. Meanwhile, "Pegg." refers to the points earned during the pegging/play phase, while Hand and Crib are pretty self-explanatory. You can use this feature to keep a pulse on how you are doing in each round relative to your opponent. If the Round Summary is distracting you for any reason, don't fret! You can easily disable it in the game settings.

New "Auto-Deal", "Auto-Go" & Animation Speed Options

Get ready to take your game customization to the next level with some awesome new options! We're talking about auto-deal, auto-go, and animation speed features that allow you to tailor the game to your preferred playstyle. With auto-deal, the game automatically deals the cards without any button pressing required. Similarly, auto-go automatically processes the go, when it's time to "say go". And as for the animation speed option, you now have the power to select your preferred sliding value, ranging from 0 to 100 percent of the possible animation speed (which is also the computer's play/discard speed). A value of "0" means a slow and steady pace, while "100" is lightning fast! Choose whatever speed feels just right for you and your style of play. You can always adjust these settings at any time, without affecting any saved game progress.

New Options to Mark Board Progress, Highlighting "Par Holes" & More

We've added a bunch of exciting new options, so don't forget to take a moment to explore them all in the game. Here are a couple more that we think are particularly noteworthy: First up, you can now mark your board progress with filled holes, making it easier to keep track of your score on the game board as the game progresses. By default, the holes are filled in as the front peg progresses for each player, allowing for a quick glance at the board to see the score.

You can now also adjust the size of the playing cards shown during the game as well. If you have a device that is wider than it is tall, if it has an unusual screen size, or maybe just because you like to see more of the game table and less of the cards, you can adjust the Playing Card Size any time you want. You can choose any percentage from the very small 50% to the full usual 100%.

If you're looking to up your game even further, the "Par Holes" feature shows the ideal score progression on the game board during gameplay, based on the cribbage "Theory of 26". This is all about helping you with your board position strategy, and was discussed in more detail in our blog post titled Cribbage Strategy and Board Position. If you're new to the world of "Par Holes," the "Theory of 26," or playing based on board position, don't worry! We've got you covered. Check out the  previously linked article for an introduction to these concepts, and then follow some of the links provided at the bottom of the article for further study. But, if you're already a seasoned player and ready to take your game to the next level, then enable the "par holes" option as a guide along your journey to improve your strategy. With this feature enabled, each of the par holes is highlighted on the game board, along with information on who was the first dealer to start the game and the current round of play. (Take a look at the board image below for an example.) This option isn't enabled by default, but we highly recommend giving it a try - it could make a huge difference in your game! So, when you're ready to up your cribbage game, give the "par holes" option a shot and see how much it can help.

New Game Board & Peg Design

You might have already noticed the sleek and stylish new game board that comes with Cribbage Pro's latest update. The old square tracks have been replaced with rounded corners that offer a more traditional and easy-to-read look. The pegs have been refined, too, with better angles and smoother animations that make them even more enjoyable to use (make sure to keep an eye on them when you score that winning point!) Here is the new game board with the "Par Holes" and "Mark Board Progress" options enabled:

New End of Game Summary

We've also updated the end game screen to provide you with more details on your performance compared to your opponent. In addition to showing the last cards played in the game, you can now see a detailed breakdown of the final score. This will give you a better understanding of how you and your opponent performed in each scoring category, including points for hand, crib, pegging, and the Hand Grade! Take a closer look and use this information to fine-tune your strategy and improve your game:

New Account Management Options

Looking to protect your account or just play a quick game without creating an account? We've got you covered! It is now much easier to log out of your account entirely if you want, as well as use a new "Guest" mode of play where you don't need an account at all to enjoy a quick single player game. This means it is now easier to manage your account security, and particularly if you need to switch to a different account or want to make sure nobody else can change your account if you use a shared device to play. It also makes it clear if you are a "Guest" playing, and what can/can't be saved in that mode.

UPDATE: Now Set Your Avatar to Any Image!

You can now set your avatar to any image you like! You no longer need to use Facebook to have a custom image or photo for your avatar. Just go to the game settings, and under the account section you can now choose an image directly. Note that there is a review process with any image submitted, and if the system detects that your image may be inappropriate in any way, it must then go through a full audit before it can be approved. So, keep it clean and family friendly, and you should be good to go!

Other Improvements/Changes

We've made countless improvements and changes in this update, from the way messages and input prompts are displayed to the size and positioning of various elements throughout the game. The game itself has remained relatively unchanged (aside from the features mentioned already), so the basic layout is all the same as before.

New Unified System for All Platforms

If you are a fan of Cribbage Pro, you may have noticed some differences in how the game looked on different devices. But with this latest update, we have unified the game under one system, which means that everyone now has access to the same features and game engine. This is great news for players, as it means that we can roll out new updates and features to everyone simultaneously, regardless of the device they use to play.

This update also allows us to explore new and exciting ways to bring the game to even more devices in the future, which we are really excited about! And for players who are new to Cribbage Pro, these changes make the game more approachable and easier to learn, while still providing the same immersive and customizable experience that fans of the game have come to expect.

So why not give the latest update a try and experience Cribbage Pro for yourself? Whether you are a seasoned player or just starting out, we are confident that you will find the game more enjoyable and fun to play than ever before. Get the update, and play Cribbage Pro today!

** Note that the update to the latest version of Cribbage Pro on mobile devices requires Android version 7.0 or higher, and Apple iOS/iPadOS 12.5 or higher.