What is knobs in cribbage?

In cribbage, knobs refer to a special scoring rule where a player receives one extra point if they have a jack in their hand that matches the suit of the starter card (the card flipped over at the beginning of each round). This extra point is known as the "knob" or "nobs" and can only be claimed by the player holding the jack when they show their hand at the end of the round.

Knobs can be a valuable source of points in a game of cribbage, as they are scored in addition to any other points earned from traditional counting combinations like pairs, runs, and fifteens. However, it is important to remember that knobs can only be claimed if the jack in question is in the player's hand – it does not count if the jack is in the crib or if it matches the starter card but is not held by the player.

Overall, knobs add another layer of strategy and excitement to the game of cribbage, and players must keep a sharp eye out for opportunities to score this extra point during each round.