Cribbage Rules
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The Game of Cribbage
The
goal
is
to
get
to
the
end
of
the
cribbage
board
first.
You
reach
the
end
by
scoring
121.
This
may
be
one
or
two
trips
around
the
board,
depending
on
the
number
of
point
holes
on
your
board.
You
earn points by playing a hand of 6 cards.
The Board
The
board
is
how
you
keep
score.
Each
player
has
two
pegs.
The
forward
one
shows
the
number
of
points
earned.
As
you
earn
points
your
second
peg
jumps
over
your
first
according
to
the
number
of
points
you
earn.
The
board
is
one
aspect
of
cribbage
which
makes
it
fun,
which
is
why
we
have
taken such time and effort to develop a beautiful board that will last for generations.
How to Play Cribbage - The Basics
Starting
the
Deal
-
Two
Player
Play
(see
below
for
alternatives)
Players
cut
for
the
deal
-
lowest
card
wins. After the first hand, players take turns to deal. The dealer shuffles, asks his opponent to cut and
then
deals
six
cards
each.
Both
players
discard
two
cards
face
down
and
these
two
cards
are
then
called
“the
crib”.
This
crib
is
an
extra
hand
for
the
dealer.
So
the
dealer
aims
to
discard
cards
into
the
crib
that
will
give
a
good
chance
of
a
high
scoring
hand
whereas
the
opponent
aims
to
give
away
low
scoring
cards.
Deciding
which
cards
to
keep
and
which
to
discard
is
a
huge
part of the skill and excitement of the game of cribbage.
The Cut
After
the
discard,
the
dealer
asks
his
opponent
to
cut
the
cards
again.
The
new
topmost
card
is
turned
face
upwards.
If
this
card
is
a
Jack,
the
dealer earns or “pegs” two points and says “Two for his heels”.
The Play
The
opponent
begins
by
laying
one
of
his
four
cards
face
up
while
clearly
stating
it’s
numerical
value.
All
royal
cards
count
ten,
the
ace
counts
one
and
other
cards
are
worth
their
number
value.
The
dealer
then
lays
a
card
in
front
of
himself
and
announces
the
total
of
both
cards.
Play
continues
like
this
with
each
player
alternately
laying
a
card
on
the
pile
in
front
of
himself
while
verbally
keeping
tally
of
the
current
joint
total.
The
total
must
not
go
above
31.
When
a
player
cannot
play
without
taking
the
total
above
31,
that
player
says
“go”
and,
if
possible,
the
remaining
player
must
carry
on
alone
until
that
player,
too,
cannot
play
without
taking
the
total
above
31.
When
neither
player
can
play
any
card
without
taking
the
total
above
31,
the
player
who
laid
the
last
card
pegs
1
point.
Should
either
player
manage
to
take
the
total
to
exactly
31,
that
player
pegs
2
points
instead
of
1.
Then
the
cards
already
played
are
turned
over
and
the
player
who
did
not
lay
the
last
card
starts
a
new play. This continues until the cards are gone.
If
one
player’s
cards
are
gone,
the
other
player
continues
alone.
You
do
not
score
a
point
for
laying
the
last
card
unless
it
makes
exactly
31
in
which case you score 2 points. So far, the points possible are:
Cutting to a Jack - 2 points
Last Card - 1 point
Last Card if exactly 31 - 2 points
During the play, the following events earn points & are immediately pegged on the cribbage board:
Laying Down a Card that: Earns (“Pegs”)
Brings the total to 15 = 2 points
Makes a pair with the previous card played (Player calls, “2 for a pair”). = 2 points
Makes 3 of a kind with the previous cards played (Player calls, “ 6 for 3 of a kind “) = 6 points
Makes four of a kind (Player calls, “ 12 for 4 of a kind”) = 12 points*
Creates a run of 3 or more with previous cards (Player calls, “Run of X for X “ = 1 point per card in the run **
* 3 of a kind is also known as a royal pair, 4 of a kind is a double royal pair.
**
The
cards
do
not
have
to
be
of
the
same
suit
nor
do
they
have
to
have
been
laid
in
sequential
order.
Aces
count
low
so
Queen,
King,
Ace
is
not
a
run.
For
example,
if
the
cards
were
played
in
this
order:
4,
2,
5,
3
The
fourth
card
would
score
4
points,
(Run
of
3,4,5-
Say
“3
for
a
run
of 3”) and the fifth card would score five points. (run of 4, 2, 5, 3, 6 - Say “5 for a run of 5”)
The Show
Each
player
gathers
up
their
4
cards
and
counts
the
score
of
the
cards
in
their
hand
plus
the
turned
up
card
on
the
deck.
The
non-dealer
shows first. In a close game, going first is important because it can often make the difference between winning and losing.
Counting Your Hand or Crib:
Fifteen
-
All
combinations
of
cards
that
add
up
to
fifteen
count
2
points.
(Player
calls
“15
for
2”,
“15
for
4”,
adding
the
combinations
as
you
go.)
A Pair -
A pair royal or a double pair royal - count 2, 6 or 12 respectively.
A Run -
A point for each card in a run.
Double Run of Three -
Two 3 card runs that share a pair. (6 points for two runs + 2 points for a pair) = 8 points
Double Run of Four -
Two 4 card runs that share a pair. (8 points for two runs + 2 points for a pair) = 10 points.
Double-Double Run of Three -
Four 3 card runs that share 2 pairs. (12 points for 4 runs + 4 points for 2 pairs) = 16 points.
Triple Run of Three -
Three 3 card runs that share a three of a kind. (9 points for three runs + 6 points for a three of a kind) = 15 Points
A
Flush
-
Four
or
five
cards
of
the
same
suit.
A
point
is
scored
for
each
card.
A
4
point
flush
can
only
be
scored
using
cards
from
the
hand.
The turned up card can ONLY be used in a five card flush. Note that flushes do not count in the play.
One
for
his
Nob
-
A
jack
of
the
same
suit
as
the
turned
up
card.
This
is
always
scored
last
so
that
the
score
is
tallied
by
finishing
with
the
satisfying phrase “and one for his Nob”
.
The
highest
possible
score
in
the
show
is
29
points
-
3
fives
and
a
Jack
in
the
hand
with
the
turned
up
card
another
five
of
the
same
suit
as the held Jack.
Cribbage Points in “The Show”
For each combination adding up to 15 = 2 points per combination
2 - 3 - 4 of a kind = 2 - 6 - or 12 respectively
Run of 3 or more = 1 point per card in run
4 card - 5 card flush = 4 or 5 points respectively
His Nob - Jack of same suit = 1 point
Continue
another
deal
with
the
non-dealer
taking
the
next
turn
as
shuffler
and
dealer.
Play
until
one
person
pegs
to
hole
number
121.
If
one
player
gets
to
121
before
the
other
has
gotten
across
the
“Skunked
point
(Peg
Position
90)
-
the
winner
says
“You’ve
been
skunked”
or
on
our Modern board design "You've Been Smoked".
Three Person Cribbage
The
rules
for
three
player
cribbage
are
generally
the
same
as
those
for
two
player
cribbage,
with
a
few
exceptions.
In
this
version
you
use
all
3
tracks
of
your
Classy
Cribbage
Board.
Five
cards
are
dealt
to
each
player
instead
of
the
usual
6
cards.
After
the
last
card
is
dealt,
the
Dealer
deals
one
card,
face
down,
to
start
the
crib
pile.
Each
player
discards
only
one
card
from
their
hand
to
the
Crib
pile.
The
player
to
the
left
of
the
Dealer
cuts
the
deck
for
the
Start
card.
After
a
hand
is
played,
the
deal
and
possession
of
the
Crib
goes
to
the
next
player
to
the
left. The game proceeds in this manner until one of the players pegs at least 121 points.
Partners Cribbage
The
rules
for
playing
cribbage
with
Partners
are
generally
the
same
as
those
for
two
player
cribbage,
with
a
few
exceptions.
The
game
can
be
played
by
4
to
6
players,
with
each
player
having
at
least
one
other
person
as
their
assigned
partner.
Partners
are
seated
opposite
each
other
around
the
playing
table.
Each
player
counts
their
points
individually,
but
combine
their
points
with
those
of
their
partners
by
pegging
on
the
same
track
of
the
Cribbage
Board.
Five
cards
are
dealt
to
each
player
instead
of
the
usual
6
cards.
Each
player
discards
only
one
card
from
their
hand
to
the
Crib
pile.
The
player
to
the
left
of
the
Dealer
cuts
the
deck
for
the
Start
card.
After
a
hand
is
played,
the
deal
and
possession
of
the
Crib
goes
to
the
next
player
to
the
left.
The
game
proceeds
in
this
manner
until
one
of
the
Partner
groups
pegs
at
least
121
points.
Terminology & Definitions
Crib: Four cards (two from each player) set aside for the dealer to score after the dealer’s hand.
Cut Card: (1) the starter card; (2) the card cut by either player at the start of the game or match to determine the dealer.
Flush: Four cards of the same suit held in the hand count four points; five cards of the same suit (including the starter card) count five points
in the hand or crib.
Game Hole: Hole number 121.
Go: Called by a player who cannot play a card without exceeding the cumulative count of 31; the opponent scores one point, or two if
reaching exactly 31.
Hand: The six cards dealt to each player or the four cards remaining after discarding to the crib.
His Heels (Nibs): Jack, when it is the starter card, counts two points for the dealer.
His Nobs: Jack of the same suit as the starter card, either in the hand or crib, counts one point.
Match: One or more games between two players, the outcome of which is a match winner and a match loser. The play of one or more games
between two players during tournament qualification play does not constitute a match.
Muggins: The scoring of certain points that one’s opponent fails to peg. It has no relationship to penalties. Muggins is played at the option of
the tournament director, but must be listed on a sanctioned tournament flyer and announced prior to the beginning of play.
Pair: Two cards of the same rank, such as two Aces.
Peg: (1) A small marker that fits into the holes of a cribbage board and is used for scoring. (2) To record a score by advancing the rear peg in
front of the front peg.
Pegging: The recording of scored points by advancing the rear peg in front of the front peg.
Score: Any points earned by a player.
Scoring: The earning of points.
Shuffle: A random mixing of the cards, which could include riffling.
Skunk: To win by 31 or more points (Peg position 90).
Double Skunk: To win by 61 or more points (Peg position 60).
Starter Card: The card that is cut and placed on the remainder of the pack and is used in counting the value of each hand and the crib.
Stink Hole: Hole number 120, which is one short of the game hole.
Straight (or Run): single Sequence of three or more consecutive cards in any order during the play of the cards; for example, 3, 5, 6, 7, 4
(counts three when the 7 is played and counts five when the 4 is played).
Straight, Multiple: (used only in counting hands and crib):
• Double run Two three-card or four-card straights, including one pair; for example, A, 2, 3, 3 or A, 2, 3, 3, 4.
• DoubleDouble run Four three-card straights, including two pairs; for example, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10.
• Triple run Three three-card straights, including three of a kind; for example, J, Q, Q, Q, K.
Most of all: Enjoy playing Classy Cribbage!
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Our Pegs are cut from solid Brass,
Stainless Steel and Copper, and
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