How to Play Cribbage

What is Cribbage?

Cribbage is a classic card game for two players that combines elements of luck with strategic thinking. Traditionally credited to Sir John Suckling, an English poet of the early 17th century, the game has remained popular for nearly 400 years thanks to its blend of skill and chance.

Unlike many card games, cribbage uses a unique scoring board with pegs to track points. The game involves multiple scoring opportunities during each hand, including a "pegging" phase and a "counting" phase, making it endlessly engaging.

Equipment You'll Need

• Standard 52-card deck: No jokers needed.
• Cribbage board: Each player has a track of 120 holes plus a game hole, 121 in all. Traditional boards have two 60-hole tracks that you go round twice; modern boards often have one continuous track. Each player uses two pegs, leapfrogging them so the rear peg shows the previous score.
• Two players: While variants exist for 3-4 players, cribbage is traditionally a two-player game.

Don't have a physical board? Play cribbage online and the scoring is handled automatically!

Game Setup

1. Determine the dealer: Each player cuts the deck. The player with the lower card deals first. (Ace is low.) The deal then alternates every hand. On CardCouch you deal the first hand of each game.
2. Set up the board: Place both pegs in the starting position for each player.
3. Know the goal: First player to reach 121 points wins.

Dealing and the Crib

The dealer shuffles and deals 6 cards to each player. Here's what happens next:

1. Each player looks at their cards and selects 2 cards to discard face-down.
2. These 4 discarded cards form the "crib" which belongs to the dealer.
3. Both players now have 4 cards in their hand.
4. The non-dealer cuts the remaining deck, and the dealer reveals the top card as the "starter" or "cut card."
5. If the starter is a Jack, the dealer immediately scores 2 points ("His Heels" or "Two for his heels").

The Pegging Phase

Pegging is the first scoring phase where players alternate playing cards. The non-dealer plays first.

How Pegging Works

1. Play cards face-up, announcing the running total (e.g., play a 7, say "7"; opponent plays a 4, says "11").
2. The count cannot exceed 31.
3. If you can play a card without going over 31, you must. If you can't, say "Go".
4. Your opponent plays any remaining cards they can and pegs 1 for the go (2 if they hit exactly 31), then the count resets to 0 and the player who did not play the last card leads.
5. Continue until all cards are played.

Pegging Scores

• 15: Reaching exactly 15 scores 2 points.
• 31: Reaching exactly 31 scores 2 points.
• Go/Last card: If your opponent says "Go" and you play the last card of the count, or you play the final card of the hand, score 1 point(not when that card makes 31, which is already 2).
• Pair: Playing a card matching the previous card scores 2 points.
• Pair Royal: Three of a kind scores 6 points.
• Double Pair Royal: Four of a kind scores 12 points.
• Run: Three or more cards in sequence (doesn't need to be in order played, but the last cards played must form it with no gap) scores 1 point per card.

Learn more about cribbage scoring rules for detailed examples.

Counting Your Hand

After pegging, players count their hands using the starter card as a fifth card. The non-dealer counts first.

Scoring Combinations

• Fifteens: Any combination totaling 15 = 2 points each
• Pairs: Two cards of same rank = 2 points
• Runs: Three+ cards in sequence (Ace low) = 1 point per card
• Flush: Four cards same suit in hand = 4 points
  (5 points if starter matches suit too)
• Nobs: Jack of starter's suit = 1 point

Counting the Crib

After both hands are counted, the dealer counts the crib. The crib follows the same rules except:

• Flushes in the crib require all 5 cards (including the starter) to be the same suit.

Winning the Game

The first player to reach 121 points wins. You can win during any phase:

• During pegging
• While counting your hand
• While counting the crib (dealer only)

This means that in the final deal the non-dealer has an edge - they count their hand first and can win before the dealer counts their hand or crib. Over a whole game the dealer's crib and pegging edge make up for it, which is why the deal alternates.

Skunks

If you win while your opponent is significantly behind, you "skunk" them:

• Skunk: Win before opponent reaches 91 points (usually counts as 2 games in match play)
• Double Skunk: Win before opponent reaches 61 points (usually 3 games, by agreement)

CardCouch labels the game-over screen "Skunk!" or "Double skunk!" when the loser finishes under 91 or under 61; each game is scored on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions