Cribbage rules

How a hand works

1. 1

   Deal and crib

   Two players get 6 cards each. Each puts 2 face down into the crib, which belongs to the dealer.

2. 2

   Cut the starter

   The non-dealer cuts and the dealer turns up the top card. If it's a Jack, the dealer pegs 2 ('his heels').

3. 3

   Pegging

   Take turns playing cards face up, calling the running total, never going over 31. Score as you go (see the chart). If you can't play, say 'Go'.

4. 4

   Count the hands

   Non-dealer counts their hand first, then the dealer counts their hand and the crib. The starter card counts with every hand.

Scoring

• Fifteen (cards total 15)2
• Pair / three / four of a kind2 / 6 / 12
• Run of 3+ cards1 per card
• Flush (4 in hand / 5 with starter)4 / 5
• Jack of the starter's suit (nobs)1
• Pegging: hit 15 or 312
• Pegging: Go / last card1

Face cards count 10, Aces 1. A crib flush only counts if all five cards match.

Winning tips

• Keep 5s — they make lots of fifteens.
• Don't feed your opponent's crib a 5.
• Avoid leaving the pegging total at 5 or 21.

Popular house rules

• Three-player cribbage deals 5 each plus 1 to the crib.
• Many tables 'skunk' a loser under 91 (double game).