What Is Cribbage?
Cribbage is one of the most unique card games ever invented. Unlike most games, you score points in two completely separate phases every round: once while playing cards one at a time, and once when you count combinations in your finished hand. Points are tracked by moving two small pegs along a long scoring board with 121 holes. The first player to move their peg to hole 121 wins — and the game ends the INSTANT that happens, even in the middle of a hand.
What You Need
- One standard deck of 52 playing cards
- A cribbage board with pegs for tracking score — or paper if you don’t have a board
- Two players (three or four can play with minor adjustments)
Card Values — Used for Counting Only
- Ace = 1 point
- 2 through 10 = face value (a 7 = 7 points)
- Jack, Queen, King = 10 points each
Setting Up the Game
- Cut the deck to determine who deals first — low card deals.
- The dealer deals six cards face-down to each player, one at a time.
- Each player looks at their six cards and selects two to place face-down in the center of the table. This center pile is called the crib and it belongs to the dealer — they will score it later.
- Each player now holds exactly four cards.
- The non-dealer cuts the remaining deck. The dealer flips the top card of the bottom half face-up for everyone to see. This card is called the starter or cut card and it will be used by both players when counting their hands.
- Special rule: if the starter card is a Jack, the dealer immediately scores 2 points right now. This is called ‘two for his heels.’
Phase 1: The Play — Scoring Points Card by Card
The non-dealer plays first. Players alternate playing one card at a time face-up in front of them, announcing a running total as they go.
- The non-dealer plays any card and announces its value. For example: ‘Seven.’
- The dealer plays a card and announces the new running total. For example: ‘Seventeen.’
- Players keep alternating, adding to the running total. The total cannot exceed 31.
- If it is your turn and playing any card would push the total over 31, you must say ‘Go.’ Your opponent continues playing cards if they can without going over 31.
- When neither player can play without exceeding 31, whoever played last scores 1 point for the Go — or 2 points if they hit exactly 31. The count resets to zero and play continues with remaining cards.
Points You Can Score During Play
- Fifteen: If your card brings the running total to exactly 15, score 2 points immediately.
- Thirty-one: If your card brings the total to exactly 31, score 2 points.
- Go: Your opponent cannot play without going over 31 — score 1 point.
- Pair: You play the same rank as the card your opponent just played — score 2 points.
- Pair Royal: Three cards of the same rank played in a row — score 6 points.
- Double Pair Royal: Four cards of the same rank in a row — score 12 points.
- Run: Three or more consecutive ranks played in any order during the count — score 1 point per card in the run. Example: 4, 6, 5 played in that order = a run of three = 3 points.
Phase 2: The Show — Counting Your Hand
After all cards have been played, players count the point combinations in their four-card hand together with the starter card — giving each player five cards to count combinations from. The non-dealer counts first, then the dealer counts their hand, then the dealer counts the crib.
Points You Score in Your Hand
- Fifteen: Any combination of cards in your hand that adds up to exactly 15 = 2 points. Count EVERY possible combination. Example: if you have 6, 9, and 6, both 6+9 combinations each score 2 points = 4 total.
- Pair: Any two cards of the same rank = 2 points.
- Run: Three or more cards in consecutive rank order = 1 point per card.
- Flush: All four cards in your hand are the same suit = 4 points. If the starter card also matches = 5 points.
- Nobs: If you hold a Jack that matches the suit of the starter card = 1 point.
Winning
The first player to reach 121 points on the cribbage board wins — immediately, even mid-hand. If you peg out during the play phase, the game ends right there. You do not wait for the show.
Tips for New Players
- When choosing what to put in the crib, think about what helps YOU most in your hand — and if it’s your opponent’s crib, avoid giving them cards that pair well or add to 15.
- Fives are extremely powerful because they combine with any 10-point card (10, J, Q, K) to make 15. Keep fives in your hand when you can.
- Always peg aggressively during the play phase — don’t miss chances to score pairs or hit 15.