Cribbage is the only classic card game that comes with its own furniture: a wooden board full of holes and four little pegs. Invented by the English poet Sir John Suckling in the 1600s, it is a two-player race to 121 points built on quick arithmetic, sharp discarding, and one of the most satisfying scoring systems in all of card games.
This guide teaches standard two-player cribbage and is part of our complete guide to card games. You will learn how the crib works, how pegging scores, how to count your hand, and what a skunk is.
In this guide
- Cribbage in brief
- What you need
- The deal and the crib
- The starter card
- Pegging: the play to 31
- Counting your hand (the show)
- Winning: 121 and the skunk
- FAQs
Cribbage in brief
| Players | 2 is standard (3 to 4 possible) |
| Deck | Standard 52-card deck, no jokers |
| Deal | 6 cards each |
| The crib | 4-card bonus hand belonging to the dealer |
| Goal | First to peg 121 points |
What you need
A cribbage board and two pegs per player is the traditional setup, but a pencil and paper work fine while you are learning. The board is just a scorekeeper: two pegs leapfrog along 120 holes (plus the winning 121st) so you always see the current score and the previous one.
The deal and the crib
Each player draws a card; the lower card deals first. The dealer gives six cards to each player. Then each player chooses two cards to place face down in the middle. These four cards form the crib, a bonus hand that belongs to the dealer and is counted at the end of the round.
Discarding to the crib is the first great skill in cribbage. Feed your own crib generously (pairs and fifteens), and starve your opponent’s crib by throwing them unhelpful cards like a lone king. With three or four players, deal five cards each and discard one apiece to the crib.
The starter card
After the discards, the non-dealer cuts the deck and the dealer flips the top card of the lower half face up. This is the starter. It counts as a fifth card for everyone’s hand scoring later, but it is not used during pegging. If the starter is a jack, the dealer pegs 2 points immediately. This is called “his heels.”
Pegging: the play to 31
Now the heart of the game. The non-dealer plays the first card face up, announcing its value. Players alternate playing one card at a time, keeping a running total that may never exceed 31. Face cards count 10, aces count 1.
Points are pegged during play for:
- 15: making the running total exactly 15 scores 2.
- Pair: playing a card matching the previous card’s rank scores 2. Three of a kind scores 6, four of a kind scores 12.
- Run: 3 or more cards in sequence (in any order, among the cards just played) scores 1 per card.
- 31: landing the total on exactly 31 scores 2.
- Go: if you cannot play without passing 31, say “go.” The other player keeps playing alone if they can. The player of the last card in each sequence pegs 1 (or 2 if the total hit exactly 31), then the count resets to zero and the player who did not play last leads fresh.
When all eight cards are played, pegging for the round is done.
Counting your hand (the show)
Each player now counts the four cards in their hand plus the starter, in this strict order: non-dealer’s hand first, then dealer’s hand, then the dealer’s crib. Order matters because the game can end mid-count the instant someone reaches 121.
Score every combination you can find:
- Fifteens: every combination of cards totaling 15 scores 2. This is where most points come from.
- Pairs: 2 for a pair, 6 for three of a kind, 12 for four of a kind.
- Runs: 1 point per card for runs of 3 or more.
- Flush: four cards of the same suit in hand scores 4, or 5 if the starter matches. A crib flush only counts if all five cards share the suit.
- His nobs: holding the jack that matches the starter’s suit scores 1.
The perfect cribbage hand is 29 points: three fives, a jack, and a 5 starter with the jack matching the starter’s suit. You may never see one, and that is fine.
Winning: 121 and the skunk
The first player to peg 121 wins immediately, even in the middle of pegging or counting. There is no need to finish the round. If the loser has not reached 91 points, they are “skunked,” which counts as a double loss in most circles. Some groups play a double skunk at 61. Then shuffle, switch the deal, and play again.
FAQs
Do I need a cribbage board to play?
No. A board is traditional and satisfying, but pencil and paper track the score just as well while you learn.
What exactly is the crib?
A four-card bonus hand built from both players’ discards. It belongs to the dealer and is counted last each round.
What is the difference between his heels and his nobs?
His heels: the starter card is a jack, and the dealer pegs 2 immediately. His nobs: you hold the jack matching the starter’s suit in your hand, worth 1 during the show.
Can three or four people play cribbage?
Yes. Deal five cards each and discard one apiece to the crib. Four players usually form two partnerships. Two players remains the classic.
What is a skunk in cribbage?
Winning before your opponent reaches 91 points. It traditionally counts as winning two games instead of one.
What is the best possible cribbage hand?
29 points: three fives plus a jack in hand, with the starter being the fourth five in the jack’s suit.
How long does a game of cribbage take?
About 30 to 45 minutes for a race to 121 once both players know the scoring.
Keep playing
- How to Play Go Fish: the simplest classic, perfect for families and kids.
- How to Play Spades: the classic 4-player partnership bidding game.
- How to Play Rummy: melds, sets, and runs for 2 to 6 players.