Card Games

Cribbage rules

Cribbage rules are the set of procedures for dealing, discarding to the crib, playing cards to a running count of 31, and scoring hands and the crib.

Deck: Standard 52-card deck¹
Target score: Typically 121 points; sometimes 61²⁴
Deal (2 players): 6 cards each¹³
Deal (3 or 4 players): 5 cards each¹³
Pegging limit: Running count must not exceed 31¹³

Key points

Players cut for deal, then discard to the crib before play begins.¹
During pegging, players take turns adding cards to a running total, scoring 2 points for reaching 15 or 31.³
A player who cannot play without exceeding 31 says "Go"; the opponent pegs 1 point.³
After pegging, hands are scored for combinations like pairs, runs, and flushes.²
The game ends when a player reaches the target score, usually 121 points.²⁴

How to play cribbage

Cut for deal; the low card deals. In 2-player, each gets 6 cards; in 3- or 4-player, each gets 5.¹³
Each player discards two cards (or one in 3- or 4-player) face-down to form the crib, which belongs to the dealer.¹
The non-dealer cuts the deck; the dealer turns up the top card as the starter. If it's a Jack, the dealer pegs 2 points for "his heels".³
Players take turns playing cards face-up, announcing the running total. Score 2 points for exactly 15 or 31, 2 for a pair, 3 for a triple, and 1 per card in a run.²
If a player cannot play without exceeding 31, they say "Go"; the opponent pegs 1 point and starts a new count from zero.³
After pegging, each player (including the dealer for the crib) scores their hand: 2 for 15, 2 for a pair, 1 per card in a run, 4 for a flush, and 1 for a Jack matching the starter's suit.²

Common cribbage scoring combinations

Points awarded during the show phase
Combination	Points
Fifteen (cards sum to 15)	2
Pair (two of a rank)	2
Three of a kind (pair royal)	6
Four of a kind (double pair royal)	12
Run of three cards	3
Run of four cards	4
Run of five cards	5
Flush (4 cards same suit in hand)	4
Flush (5 cards same suit in hand or crib)	5
Jack of same suit as starter (nobs)	1

Common questions

How to play cribbage rules?

Cribbage is played with a standard 52-card deck. Players are dealt cards, discard to the crib, then take turns playing cards to a running count up to 31, scoring points for combinations like 15s, pairs, and runs. After pegging, hands are scored, and the first to reach 121 points wins.¹³

Where this term is used

Card games

Not the same as

Cribbage flush — a specific scoring combination in cribbage, not the whole rule system
Cribbage points — the scoring values themselves, not the rules governing how they are earned

Card games Cribbage scoring rules Details the scoring system for hands and pegging in cribbage. Card games Cribbage board rules Explains how to use a cribbage board to track scores. Card games Gin rules 7 cards Rules for the 7-card variant of gin rummy. Card games Euchre rules Rules for the trick-taking card game euchre. Card games 500 rummy rules Rules for the 500-point variant of rummy. Card games Gin rules Standard rules for the card game gin rummy.

Sources

Rules of cribbage en.wikipedia.org Provides the core definition and basic rules of cribbage.
Cribbage en.wikipedia.org Supports target score, deal sizes, and scoring details.
Cribbage bicyclecards.com Confirms deal sizes, pegging limit, Go rule, and scoring for 15 and 31.
Table Top Cribbage: card game rules pagat.com Supports the typical target score of 121 points.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.