LET'S PLAY
CRIBBAGE
Cribbage—a game of math, memory, and just the right amount of luck. At first, the rules might feel like an ancient code designed to keep newcomers out, but once you crack it, you’ll see why this game has lasted for centuries. Between the pegging, counting fifteens, and outmaneuvering your opponent’s crib, every hand is a battle of wits. Stick with it, and soon you’ll be one of those people casually rattling off scores like a pro.
Object
The object of Cribbage is to be the first player to reach 121 points by forming combinations of cards that score points during play, hand scoring, and crib scoring.
What You Need
• A 52-card deck
• A Cribbage board
• Two players
Card Ranks
Values:
-
Aces = 1
-
Number Cards (2-10) = Face value.
-
Face Cards (J, Q, K) = 10
Watch the step by step guide here!
Set Up
-
Each player cuts the deck, and the player who draws the lower card becomes the dealer for the first round.
-
The dealer shuffles and deals six cards to each player.
-
Each player selects two cards to place face-down into the crib (a bonus hand for the dealer).
-
The non-dealer cuts the deck, and the dealer reveals the Bage (face up starter card used for scoring later).
-
The non-dealer goes first in the pegging phase.
-
In future rounds, the dealer alternates between players.
Game Play
Each round of Cribbage has 3 distinct Scoring Phases of play:
1. The Showdown (aka Pegging Play)
A rapid-fire exchange of card play with immediate scoring opportunities.
2. The Hand Reveal
Players score points from their hands using the Bage (starter card).
3. The Dealer’s Cut (aka Crib Scoring)
The dealer alone scores from the
Crib using the Bage.
Phase 1
The Showdown
The non-dealer goes first by playing a card face-up and announcing its value.
The opponent plays a card, adding its value to the running total, which cannot exceed 31.
Players continue alternately, aiming to create scoring combinations (pairs, runs, fifteens). Players use their own play pile so they don't mix their cards with their opponents, this is because the cards will be used to score again in the next Phase.
If a player cannot play without exceeding 31, they must say “Go”, and the opponent continues playing any legal cards.
If a player plays a card which brings the sum to exactly 15 or 31, they score 2 points.
The last player to place a card before reaching 31 (or before running out of moves) scores 1 point (unless they land exactly on 15 or 31, in which case they score 2).
Cards are set aside once a run to 31 is completed, and play resets until all cards are played.
During the Show Down you can also get points for the following:
Fifteens
If the running total reaches exactly 15, score 2 points.
31
If the running total reaches exactly 31, score 2 points.
Last Card Played
If the total is under 31 and no one else can play, the last player scores 1 point.
Ranked Combos:
A pair (two of the same rank)
2 points.
Three of a Kind
6 points.
Four of a Kind
12 points.
Runs (Consecutive Numbers) awarded
as they are played:
A three-card run
3 points.
A four-card run
4 points.
A five-card run
5 points, etc.
Runs can be played out of order but if interrupted by cards out of the sequence the run ends.
Phase 2
The Hand Reveal
After the showdown, each player reveals their full hand, using the Bage (face up starter card) as a shared fifth card.
Players score based on standard cribbage rules:
Fifteens
Any combination summing to 15 scores 2 points.
Pair
A pair scores 2 points (e.g., two Jacks), three of a kind scores 6 points, and four of a kind scores 12 points.
Runs
A sequence of three or more cards in numerical order scores 1 point per card.
Flush
Four cards of the same suit (excluding the Bage) score 4 points; if the Bage matches, the flush is worth 5 points. If any of your in hand cards aren't in the Flush suit, it is not a valid flush.
Nobs
If a player has a Jack in their hand that matches the suit of the Bage, they score 1 point.
The non-dealer always scores first, followed by the dealer.
Combination Stacking:
One of the most important scoring mechanics in Cribbage is combination stacking, where a single card can count towards multiple scoring events at the same time. This means you can use the same card in different ways to rack up extra points.
Example 1: Fifteens Overlapping
Let’s say your hand contains:
5♦, 5♠, 10♣, K♥
You will score:
The 5♦ + 10♣ = 15 (2 points)
The 5♠ + 10♣ = 15 (2 points)
The 5♦ + 5♠ + K♥ = 15 (2 points)
Total points: 6 points, even though the same
cards were reused in different fifteens.
Example 2: Pairs, Runs, and Fifteens Stacking
Let’s say your hand contains:
4♠, 5♣, 6♦, 5♠, Bage = 5♥
You will score:
Pairs:
5♣ + 5♠ = 2 points.
Runs:
4♠ + 5♠ + 6♦ = 3 points.
Fifteens:
5♣ + 5♠ + 5♥ (Bage) = 15 (2 points).
4♠ + 6♦ + 5♠ = 15 (2 points).
💡 Total points: 9 points from a single hand, just by stacking!
Example 3: The Ultimate Stacking Combo
Let’s say your hand contains:
5♦, 5♠, 5♣, 6♣, Bage = 4♥
You will score:
Pairs:
5♦ + 5♠ = 2 points
5♦ + 5♣ = 2 points
5♠ + 5♣ = 2 points
(Since three of a kind is three pairs, that’s 6 points total.)
Fifteens:
5♦ + 5♠ + 5♣ = 15 (2 points)
5♦ + 6♣ + 4♥ (Bage) = 15 (2 points)
5♠ + 6♣ + 4♥ (Bage) = 15 (2 points)
5♣ + 6♣ + 4♥ (Bage) = 15 (2 points)
💡 Total points: 16 points from just 5 cards!
Phase 3
The Dealers Cut (aka Crib Scoring)
The dealer now scores the Crib, using the separate pile of four cards laid away cards from the start of the round plus the Bage.
-
The scoring follows the same rules as the hand reveal.
-
Only the dealer can score from the Crib.
Winning the Game
The game continues until a player reaches 121 points.
The game immediately ends when a player hits or exceeds this threshold, even in the middle of a phase.
If a player wins by 31 or more pegged points, they achieve a Skunk, which some house rules count as two wins.
Strategy Tips
-
Hold onto cards that make fifteens or runs for high scoring.
-
As the dealer, put useful cards in the Crib (e.g., pairs or suited cards).
-
As the non-dealer, avoid discarding useful cards to the Crib to prevent the dealer from scoring.