What You'll Need
Cribbage has been around since the 1600s and it shows — this game has depth. Once you get it, you'll understand why people play it for decades. It's got its own scoring board, its own vocabulary, and a devoted fanbase that tends to be very serious about the rules.
- One standard 52-card deck (no Jokers)
- A cribbage board with pegs (essential for tracking score)
- 2 players (most common), though 3-4 can play with modifications
If you don't have a cribbage board, you can track score on paper in a pinch — but the board is part of the experience.
Setup
Each player starts with their peg at the beginning of the cribbage board (position 0). The board tracks progress from 0 to 121 — first to peg out past 121 wins.
Cut the deck to determine who deals first — lowest card deals. The dealer deals 6 cards to each player. Each player then discards 2 cards face-down to form the "crib" — a 4-card hand that belongs to the dealer and will be scored separately at the end of the round.
After discarding to the crib, the non-dealer cuts the remaining deck and the dealer flips the top card of the bottom half face-up. This is the "starter" card (also called the "cut" card). If it's a Jack, the dealer immediately pegs 2 points (called "two for his heels").
How to Play
The Pegging Phase (The Play)
The non-dealer leads by playing any card face-up and announcing its value. Play alternates — each player lays a card and announces the running total. Face cards = 10, Aces = 1, number cards face value.
You cannot play a card that would bring the running total above 31. If you can't play without going over 31, say "Go." Your opponent keeps playing until they also can't go, then pegs 1 point for the "go" (or 2 points if they hit exactly 31). The count resets to 0 and play continues with remaining cards.
Points scored during pegging:
- 15: Running total hits exactly 15 = peg 2 points
- 31: Running total hits exactly 31 = peg 2 points
- Pair: Play a card matching the previous card's rank = peg 2
- Pair Royal (3 of a kind): Third card matching rank = peg 6
- Double Pair Royal (4 of a kind): Fourth card matching rank = peg 12
- Run: Three or more consecutive rank cards played in sequence (not necessarily in order) = peg 1 point per card in the run
- Last Card (Go): Playing the last card without hitting 31 = peg 1 point
The Counting Phase (The Show)
After all cards are played, players count the point value of their hands, using the starter card as a 5th card in each hand.
Ways to score in the show:
- Fifteen: Any combination of cards totaling 15 = 2 points (every combination counts separately)
- Pairs: 2 points per pair (pair royal = 6, double pair royal = 12)
- Runs: 3+ consecutive ranks = 1 point per card in run
- Flush: 4 cards of the same suit in hand = 4 points; if the starter matches too = 5 points
- Nobs: Jack in hand matching the suit of the starter card = 1 point
Non-dealer shows first, then dealer shows, then dealer shows the crib.
Winning
First player to peg their score past 121 on the cribbage board wins. If you peg out mid-hand (during pegging), you win immediately — the show doesn't happen. This is called "pegging out."
Winning by 31+ points is a "skunk" — traditional bragging rights. Winning by 61+ is a "double skunk."
Tips & Strategy
- Keep fifteens in your hand. A 5 combined with any 10-value card (10, J, Q, K) = 15. Pairs of 5s score 6 points just in pairs, plus multiple fifteens. The 5 is the most valuable card in cribbage.
- Throw good cards to your own crib, bad ones to opponent's. When you're the dealer, the crib is yours — throw cards that score well together. When you're not the dealer, throw nothing useful to the crib.
- Lead with a 4. A 4 can't be made into 15 with a single card (the highest single card + 4 = 14). Reduces risk of your opponent immediately scoring on the lead.
- Count before you play. In the pegging phase, think a move ahead. Playing toward 15 or 31 is not just reactive — it's strategic sequencing.
- Muggins rule. In competitive play, if a player misses points in their count, the opponent can call "Muggins" and take those points. Pay attention to your own hand.
Variations
Three-Player Cribbage
Deal 5 cards each, each player discards 1 to the crib, dealer contributes 1 more from the top of the deck. The crib belongs to the dealer. Play proceeds with three players.
Four-Player (Partnership)
Partners sit across from each other. Deal 5 cards each, discard 1 each to a shared crib. Partners share a peg and combine scores.
Lowball Cribbage
Lowest score at 121 wins. Complete reversal of strategy — you want to avoid scoring fifteens and pairs. Wild change of pace.