Skip to the page

Cribbage rules

The whole game on one page, then one page for every corner of it. Each page shows the cards and cites the rule it comes from.

Read the whole game

Start here

The whole game, on one page.

How to play cribbageDeal, throw, cut, play, show: one deal step by step, then the scoring at a glance and the race to 121.1Cut for the deal2Deal 6 each3Throw 2 to the crib4Turn the starter5Play to 316The show7Deal again2 min

The deal and the crib

6 cards each, 4 kept, 2 thrown.

The deal and the cutWho deals first, the cut, and how many cards.1 min The cribA spare hand for the dealer, and what to throw into it.2 min

The play

Cards laid in turn, a count that never passes 31.

The play: go, 31 and the last cardWho scores the go, why 31 never adds the last-card point, and who leads next.4 min

The show

Counting the hands and the crib, in order.

Counting hands: the showFifteens, pairs, runs, flush, nobs, in the order players count.3 min His heels and his nobsTwo jacks, two different points: one on the cut, one in the hand.1 min MugginsThe optional rule for points the other player missed.1 min

Winning

First to 121, and the lines before it.

Winning, skunks and double skunksThe game hole, and the lines a loser can fall short of.1 min

More players

Three and four at the table.

Three-player cribbageFive cards each, one to the crib, three sets of pegs.1 min Four-player cribbagePartners across the table, five cards each.1 min

Then play a hand.

The app deals you one with a coach beside you, and the table enforces every rule on these pages.

Coming soon to Google Play and the App Store.

Count a hand How to play