How to play Cribbage: rules, pegging and scoring

Cribbage is the pub classic where two players race their pegs around a board. Points come from three places: the pegging as cards are played, your hand, and - when you deal - the crib.

• Players2
• Cards52-card pack
• Hand6 cards, 2 to the crib
• GoalFirst to 121 (or 61)

The deal and the crib

Lowest cut deals first; after that the deal alternates. Each player gets six cards and throws two face down into the dealer's crib. The other player (the pone) cuts, and the dealer turns up the starter. A jack turned up is his heels: 2 to the dealer.

Pegging

Starting with the pone, take turns laying a card and calling the running count, which may not pass 31.

• A count of 15 or 31: 2 points.
• Pairs on the card before: 2 for a pair, 6 for three of a kind, 12 for four.
• Runs of three or more ranks among the last cards played, in any order: 1 a card.
• Can't play without passing 31? Say go: the other player plays on as far as they can and pegs 1 (none if they reach 31). The count starts again, led by the player who didn't play last. The last card of all pegs 1.

The show

The pone's hand, then the dealer's, then the crib (for the dealer) are counted with the starter: every combination adding to 15 is 2; every pair 2; runs of three or more 1 a card, counted again for every way to make them; a flush of four in hand 4 (5 with the starter; the crib needs all five); and his nobs, the jack in hand of the starter's suit, 1.

Winning

The game ends the moment someone reaches 121, even mid-count. Win while the loser is short of 91 and it's a skunk; short of 61, a double skunk.

Questions

What is the best hand in cribbage?

29: three fives and the jack of the fourth suit in hand, with the matching five turned as the starter.

Who gets the crib in cribbage?

The dealer. Both players throw two cards into it, and it is counted for the dealer after both hands.

Can I play cribbage online and be ranked?

Yes: Find an opponent pairs you with someone waiting, and if you are both signed in the game counts on the cribbage leaderboard.