Age-Old European Game Comes to Neighborhood Bar

Looking for a little something different on a Tuesday night.

Head over to for a game that heralds back to 17th century England. Every Tuesday the bar host a Cribbage tournament. The card game involves two or more players, with the objective of grouping cards in combinations to score points. A cribbage board is used for scorekeeping.

The Chase Club began the games recently after patrons requested it.  Several of the club's regular patrons are avid cribbage players, and thought, what better way to relax and enjoy Chase Club than by enjoying a drink and their favorite pastime.

Cribbage is popular throughout the United States, and players can get their fix at local cribbage tournaments, such as Chase Clubs's, or via internet cribbage tournaments. The largest Cribbage tournament in the U.S. will be hosted by the American Cribbage Congress in February 2012. The game will take place in Reno, Nevada.

Word of the Westchase game spread via the bar's Facebook page, said Bobbi Storey, Chase Club's bar manager.

Each tournament is $5 buy-in and 70/30 match (70 percent for first place, 30 percent for second place), and match in bar tabs.

The tournaments consist of 10-weeks of playing. Most of the players at Chase Club are female.

The atmosphere is informal. Chase Club offers two-for-one drink specials during the game and patrons may order food from nearby restaurants.

 “I enjoy the competiveness of the tournament, and the will to beat your fellow comrades,” said veteran player Matt Argo, of Lexington Park. He discovered the tournament through word of mouth, and learned cribbage through his father and grandfather.

Amber Kelley was hanging out at the bar on a Tuesday and decided to learn to play.

“Chase Club is a Cheers-type of bar," said novice player Amber Kelley, of Tarpon Springs. "I enjoy the camaraderie, and sense of family and community of cribbage players.”

Chase Club will hold an end-of-season Cribbage tournament in December, and the prize will likely be between $100 and $500, depending on how many players get involved.

Want to play?

The Chase Club Cribbage Tournament occurs every Tuesday night, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm at 12125 W Linebaugh Ave. in Tampa. For more information call: 813- 814-2582 or visit their Facebook Page.