Cribbage: keeping the mind active

Gayle Schneider strives to exercise her mind. She enjoys suduko and crossword puzzles, scrabble and solitaire.

These keep the mind active, and a busy mind is a healthy one she says.

She also loves card games.

Every morning she sits at her kitchen table with a glass of orange juice, or perhaps a cup of hot chocolate if the season happens to be winter. She sits and plays a solitaire version her favourite card game: cribbage.

While Schneider plays she plans out her day, and makes her to-do list on a pad of paper. It’s her think time, she says.

Though she plays a solitaire version of crib, Schneider is no stranger to playing against opponents. She has taught her children how to play the game, and has just begun teaching her granddaughter.

When Schneider found out crib was part of the Summer Games, she thought although her summer was busy, she could find the time for a day of cards.

During the trials only four individuals showed up as singles, while there were about 30 couples. Up against three others for a spot in the Games, Schneider said she didn’t have high expectations for the outcome.

“I enjoy it, but I honestly never expected to win. Isn’t that funny?” She said. “I just went for the fun of it. And darned if I didn’t win all three games.”

Winning the game is always fun, said Schneider, but the best games come when victory is taken by the skin of her teeth. A fight to the very finish, tooth and nail.

“You know, when you luck out and get that last point. I think that’s the exciting part,” she said. “I don’t like it when you skunk somebody.”

In order to be skunked, one must find themselves behind the 60 mark line when the winner reaches the winning 120 point mark.

“So if you’re getting close to winning and they’re behind the skunk line, usually the winner will say, ‘sniff sniff sniff, I smell a skunk coming up,’” laughed Schneider. “Now if by chance they’re behind the 30 mark and you’re winning, that’s a double skunk. They’re no fun.”

Schneider is hoping for some nail-biting close games during the Games. She hopes to be paired with opponents who challenge her abilities, though a lot of it comes down to luck of the draw.

“Really it just boils down to the luck of the cards. If you get the cards you get good points, if you don’t get the cards you lose,” laughed Schneider. “But it’s also anticipating what the other person is going to play. Trying to outsmart the other person. To outthink.”

As the Games approach, excitement and anticipation is building for the avid card player. Schneider is most looking forward playing lots of cards, spending time with others who share the same interest, and experiencing something new.

“Usually a tournament they play 11 or 12 games, so I imagine this one will be no different,” she said. “But I’m looking forward to doing something different, meeting new people.”