How to Play Cribbage

Cribbage is a card game for two players (with popular three and four player versions) where you score points by making combinations of cards, and keep score on a board with pegs. The first player to reach 121 points wins. Here is a complete game, step by step.

A round, step by step

1. Cut for the first deal. Each player cuts the deck; the lower card deals first. The deal then alternates every round.
2. Deal six cards each (two players), one at a time.
3. Make the crib. Each player looks at their six cards and discards two, face down, to form the crib, a fourth hand that belongs to the dealer and is counted at the end of the round. You are keeping four cards.
4. Cut the starter. The player who is not the dealer cuts the deck, and the dealer turns up the top card of the lower pile. That is the starter card, shared by every hand. If it is a jack, the dealer scores 2 points right away (his heels).
5. The play (pegging). The non-dealer lays a card face up and says its value. The players alternate, each adding a card and announcing the running total, which may not go over 31. You score for hitting 15 or 31 exactly, for pairs, and for runs, as the cards go down. A player who cannot play without going over 31 says "go", and the other player continues. Whoever plays the last card scores 1 point (2 for making exactly 31), then the count restarts at 0. This continues until all the cards are played.
6. The show (counting). Each player picks their four cards back up and counts them together with the starter, in this order: the non-dealer's hand, then the dealer's hand, then the dealer's crib. Every point is moved on the board as it is counted.
7. Deal again. The deal passes to the other player and a new round starts. Play ends as soon as someone reaches 121 points.

The exact point values for every hand and every pegging play are on the cribbage scoring page.

Winning

The first player to reach 121 wins, immediately, even if they get there halfway through counting a hand. The non-dealer counts first, so in a close race they can win before the dealer counts. A shorter game to 61 is also common. If the loser finishes with fewer than 91 points in a 121-point game, it is a skunk; fewer than 61 is a double skunk. See winning and skunks.

Three and four players

• Three players: deal five cards to each player and one extra card face down to the crib. Each player discards one card, so the crib has four cards. Play passes clockwise, and every player scores for themselves.
• Four players: play as two partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other. Deal five cards to each player; each player discards one to the crib. Partners share one score.

Our score keeper tracks two scores, so it works for two players or two partnerships.

Beginner tips

• Keep cards that work together: pairs, cards that add to 15, and runs.
• When the crib is yours (you are the dealer), throw cards that might score together, like a 5 with a face card.
• When the crib is your opponent's, avoid giving them 5s and pairs.
• Count out loud and agree on a house rule about correcting mistakes before you start.

Common questions

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These rules follow standard American Cribbage Congress play; house rules vary. For the official rules see the American Cribbage Congress rules.