Cribbage Rules: A Complete Guide for Beginners and Experienced Players

What is Cribbage?

Cribbage is a two-player card game combining elements of strategy, memory, and quick mental arithmetic. Played with a unique scoring board and pegs, the aim is to be the first player to reach 121 points by forming combinations of cards both during play and in post-hand scoring rounds. Loved for its balance of skill and chance, Cribbage has remained a pub favourite for centuries.

A Brief History of Cribbage

Cribbage originated in early 17th-century England, credited to poet Sir John Suckling. It evolved from an older game called “Noddy” and quickly became popular among sailors, soldiers, and pub-goers. The use of a pegged scoreboard for tracking points is a distinctive feature, and Cribbage is still the only card game officially sanctioned for play on Royal Navy submarines.

Objective of Cribbage

The goal is to be the first to score 121 points, earned over a series of hands through a combination of in-play “pegging” points and post-play “show” points. Each player also alternates being the dealer, who gets an extra scoring hand called “the crib.” Strategic discarding and quick mental counting are key to success.

The Pack and Card Ranks

Cribbage uses a standard 52-card deck (no jokers). The ranking is traditional, with Ace low.

Card Values (for counting combinations):

• Aces = 1 point
• Number cards = face value
• Jacks, Queens, Kings = 10 points (for 15s), but keep rank for runs
• Suit does not affect counting except for flushes and the “nobs” rule

How to Play Cribbage: Step-by-Step Rules

1. Setup

• Players: 2
• Equipment: One 52-card deck and a Cribbage board with two pegs per player
• Objective: Reach 121 points first

2. The Deal

• Each player is dealt six cards.
• Players discard two cards each to form the “crib,” a separate four-card hand for the dealer to score later.

3. The Starter Card

• After discards, the non-dealer cuts the deck and the dealer reveals the top card.
• If it’s a Jack, the dealer pegs 2 points (“two for his heels”).
• This card is used in all players’ hands for scoring (but not during pegging).

4. The Play (Pegging)

• Players take turns laying one card at a time, announcing the cumulative total.
• The goal is to make point-scoring totals (15, 31), pairs, runs, or final cards in the sequence.
• No total may exceed 31; if no player can go, the count resets to 0.

Scoring During Pegging:

• 15: Score 2 points
• Pair: 2 points
• Three-of-a-kind: 6 points
• Four-of-a-kind: 12 points
• Run of 3+: 1 point per card
• 31: Score 2 points
• Go (no play possible): 1 point
• Last card played: 1 point

5. The Show (Hand Scoring)

• After pegging, each player scores their hand (including the starter card).
• The dealer scores the crib last.

How to Score Points in Cribbage

Combinations to score in the show:

Combination	Points
Each 15 (any combo of cards adding to 15)	2
Pair	2
Three-of-a-kind	6
Four-of-a-kind	12
Run of 3	3
Run of 4	4
Run of 5	5
Flush (4 in hand)	4
Flush (5 including starter)	5
“Nobs” (Jack of same suit as starter)	1

Each hand is scored individually, starting with the non-dealer. The crib is only scored by the dealer.

The Cribbage Board and Pegging Explained

The Cribbage board tracks players’ progress with pegs. Each player uses two pegs to “leapfrog” their score forward as points are scored. Boards are typically laid out in a 30-point track looped four times to mark 121. Reaching the final hole first wins the game—no need for an exact count.

Additional Tips and Fun Facts

• Cribbage is one of the few card games where a low hand can outscore a high one due to smart pegging.
• “Muggins” is a rule where if a player misses claiming their full score, the opponent can steal those missed points.
• The worst possible hand scores 0; the highest is 29, achieved with three 5s and a Jack of the same suit as the starter 5.
• Strategy includes defensive discards to deny the dealer a good crib.

Cribbage FAQs

For more classic card game rules and strategies, explore the rest of our Card Game Rules library.