How to play cribbage
Cribbage is a two-player card game. You score points by making combinations of cards, and move your peg along the board. The first player to 121 wins.
- The deal. Each player gets 6 cards. The dealer changes every hand.
- The crib. Each player puts 2 cards face down into the crib, an extra hand that belongs to the dealer.
- The starter. A card is turned up from the deck. If it’s a jack, the dealer pegs 2 (“two for his heels”).
- Pegging. Players take turns laying cards, calling out the running count, which can’t go over 31. You peg for making 15 or 31, pairs, and runs. If you can’t play, you say “go” and your opponent keeps playing.
- The show. The non-dealer counts their hand, then the dealer counts their hand and then the crib. The starter counts as part of every hand.
The full rules, with examples, are on the cribbage rules page.
Cribbage scoring at a glance
| Combination | Points |
|---|---|
| Each combination that adds to 15 | 2 |
| A pair | 2 |
| Three of a kind (pair royal) | 6 |
| Four of a kind (double pair royal) | 12 |
| A run of 3 or more | 1 per card |
| Flush: 4 cards in the hand of one suit | 4 (5 with the starter) |
| Jack of the starter’s suit (his nobs) | 1 |
| Pegging: making the count 15 or 31 | 2 |
| Pegging: last card (or the go) | 1 |
Not sure what a hand is worth? Try the cribbage hand calculator. The best possible hand is 29: three fives and the jack of the starter’s suit, with the fourth five turned up.
Questions
Is this cribbage game free?
Yes. You can play cribbage here free, in your browser, with nothing to download and no sign-up needed to start.
Can I play cribbage with a friend?
Yes. Pick "Two players, one device" to pass a phone or tablet back and forth; your cards are hidden between turns. Online games with friends by link are coming soon.
How good is the computer?
There are four levels. Beginner makes plenty of mistakes. Casual keeps sensible hands. Skilled thinks about the crib and what you might play back. Expert works out the average value of every possible discard and pegs carefully.
Can I make the cards bigger?
Yes. Use the Text size buttons (A, A+, A++, A+++) above the table: the cards grow with the text. Display settings also has a four-colour deck, high contrast and slower animations.
What is a skunk in cribbage?
You skunk your opponent when you reach 121 before they reach 91. Many players count a skunk as two games.
How we compare
Trying other cribbage sites too? Read our honest comparisons: Play Card Games Online vs cardgames.io, Play Card Games Online vs Cribbage JD, and all cribbage site comparisons.