Meeple Nook

How to Play Cribbage: Rules, Scoring, and Strategy

By Sam Rivera · October 10, 2026
How to Play Cribbage: Rules, Scoring, and Strategy

How to Play Cribbage: Rules, Scoring, and Strategy

Contents

Cribbage is a classic 2-player card game where players race to score 121 points through a combination of card play (“pegging”) and hand combinations. Players take turns dealing and use a cribbage board to track points with pegs. A standard 52-card deck is used, with cards ranked K (high) to A (low).

What You Need

How to Play

  1. Deal:

    • Both players cut the deck; the one with the lowest card deals first.
    • Dealer shuffles and deals 6 cards to each player.

  2. Form the crib:

    • Each player discards 2 cards face-down to form the “crib” (a bonus hand for the dealer).

  3. Starter card:

    • Non-dealer cuts the deck. Dealer flips the top card of the lower pile (the “starter”).
    • If the starter is a Jack (“His Heels”), dealer pegs 2 points immediately.

  4. Pegging (play phase):

    • Non-dealer plays first. Each card’s value is added to a running total (called the “count”), which must not exceed 31.
      • Aces = 1, face cards = 10, others = face value.
    • Players announce the cumulative total (e.g., play a 7 on 8 → “15”).
    • Points are scored during pegging for:
      • 15/31: Exact totals score 2 points.
      • Pairs: 2 points for two of a kind, 6 for three, 12 for four.
      • Runs: 1 point per card for sequences of 3+ (order doesn’t matter, but no gaps).
    • If a player can’t play without exceeding 31, they say “Go”; opponent scores 1 point.

  5. Show (scoring phase):

    • After pegging, players score their hands:
      • Non-dealer scores first, then dealer (including their crib).
      • Starter card is used in all hands.
      • Points are awarded for:
        • 15s: 2 points per combination (e.g., 5+10, 7+8).
        • Pairs/Runs: Same as in pegging.
        • Flush: 4 points for 4 cards of the same suit (5 if starter matches).
        • “His Nobs”: 1 point for a Jack in hand matching the starter’s suit.

How to Win

The first player to reach 121 points wins (tracked via pegboard). If the loser scores <91, it’s a “skunk” (double victory).

Strategy Tips

ScenarioBest Play
Discarding to the cribDealer: Keep pairs/runs; non-dealer: discard low/unpaired cards (avoid 5s).
PeggingLead with 4s (hard to make 15) or mid-range cards (7-9) to limit opponent options.
Defensive playAvoid leading 5s (easy 15) or sequential cards (risk of runs for opponent).

FAQ

Q: Can you score a run out of order during pegging?
A: Yes! Runs count even if played non-sequentially (e.g., 5, 7, 6 = run of 3).

Q: What’s the highest possible hand score?
A: 29 points: three 5s + Jack matching starter’s suit + starter = four 5s (12 pts), eight 15s (16 pts), and “His Nobs” (1 pt).

Q: Can the starter card be used in pegging?
A: No—it’s only used for scoring in the show phase.

Q: What happens if both players tie at 121?
A: The dealer wins by default (per American Cribbage Congress rules).

Sources