How to play ’Round the Bases
Each player rolls a die — the higher roll bats first. The batter is the dealer and keeps the deal until the side has made three outs; then the sides swap for the other half of the inning.
Every hand is an at-bat: deal, discard to the batter’s crib, cut, peg and count exactly like cribbage. The batter’s total (pegging + hand + crib) minus the fielder’s total (pegging + hand) is the hit. Zero or less is a strikeout; otherwise the batter’s runner — and every runner already on base — advances that many holes along the 24-hole base path (first base is 6, second 12, third 18, home 24).
Where a runner lands decides what happens next. On a must-roll hole you roll both dice and need the number shown on the board on either die to reach the next base — miss and you’re out. On a choice hole you can roll for it or play it safe and go back to the base you just passed. On a pickle hole both sides roll: the first 3 decides whether the runner is safe or out. Landing on holes 1–3 is out on field play. A runner reaching home scores a run.
Feeling brave? Between the deal and the first pegged card the batting side may try to steal: a 6 on either die sends the runner to the next base; anything else is an out.
Cutting the Home Run card as the starter is an automatic home run — everyone on base comes home. Most runs after the final inning wins; ties go to extra innings.
’Round the Bases strategy tips
- The size of the hit is the batter’s total minus the fielder’s, so in the field your job is to keep your own count up as much as to hold theirs down.
- The batter is the dealer and owns the crib. Fielding, throw to it the way you would to any opponent’s crib.
- A steal only succeeds on a six on either die — a little under one time in three. Save it for when one base is worth an out.
Common questions
How do runners score?
Runners advance along a 24-hole base path by the size of each hit — first base is hole 6, second 12, third 18 and home 24. A runner reaching home scores a run.
What is the Home Run card?
Cut it as the starter and it is an automatic home run: everyone on base comes home.
What if the game is tied?
It goes to extra innings.
Play ’Round the Bases online
You can play ’Round the Bases at eCribbage Plus in any browser, on a computer, tablet or phone, with nothing to download. Open a table in the lounge and another player can sit down with you, or look for one already waiting; a free account is all you need.
