Play the classic card game in your browser and race your opponent to 121 points. Choose four cards to keep, send two to the crib, and find scoring opportunities in every hand.
New to Cribbage? Start with the quick guide below, then follow a worked example to see how the points add up.
Learn Cribbage in 60 seconds
Standard two-player Cribbage follows this pattern:
- Get six cards. Each player receives six cards from a standard deck.
- Keep four. Discard two cards into the crib, an extra hand that belongs to the dealer.
- Reveal the starter. One shared card is turned face up for the hand count later.
- Play toward 31. Take turns playing cards, scoring combinations without taking the running total above 31.
- Count your hand. Score your four cards together with the starter. The dealer also scores the crib.
- Switch dealers and repeat. The first player to reach or pass 121 wins immediately.
Card values: Aces count as 1, numbered cards count at face value, and Jacks, Queens, and Kings count as 10.
What is Cribbage?
Cribbage is a competitive card game that combines hand building, tactical play, and a race to a target score. It is usually played by two people, although three-player and partnership versions also exist.
You earn points in two stages: while playing cards and when counting your hand afterward. That means a useful card can help in different ways. It might complete a combination in your hand, create a scoring opportunity during play, or improve your crib.
A traditional Cribbage board records the score with pegs. The cards determine your points; the board shows your progress toward 121.
Cribbage rules at a glance
| Rule |
Standard two-player game |
| Deck |
52 cards; no jokers |
| Cards dealt |
Six per player |
| Cards kept |
Four per player |
| Crib |
Four discarded cards, scored by the dealer |
| Starter |
Shared face-up card used to count both hands and the crib |
| First player |
The non-dealer begins the play |
| Running count |
Cannot exceed 31 |
| Hand-counting order |
Non-dealer, dealer, then dealer’s crib |
| Winning score |
121 points |
| End of game |
Immediate when a player reaches or passes the target |
How to play Cribbage
1. Choose which cards to keep
After the deal, each player discards two cards face down into the crib.
Look for cards that work together: pairs, consecutive ranks, and combinations totaling 15. Then consider who owns the crib. Helping your own extra hand and limiting your opponent’s extra hand call for different decisions.
For example, suppose you receive 4♣, 5♦, 5♥, 6♠, Q♦, K♣. Keeping 4–5–5–6 preserves a pair, two runs, and two combinations totaling 15. Discarding the Queen and King is one option worth considering, although the best decision also depends on crib ownership and the score.
2. Reveal the starter
The non-dealer cuts the remaining deck, and the dealer turns up the starter card.
Both players use this card when counting their hands. The dealer also uses it with the crib. It stays separate during the card-playing stage.
If the starter is a Jack, the dealer immediately scores 2 points, called “heels.”
3. Play cards and score combinations
The non-dealer leads. Players alternate playing one card face up, adding its value to a shared running count.
You can score by making the count exactly 15 or 31, pairing the previous card, or completing a run with the most recently played cards.
Suits do not matter during this stage. You do not follow suit or try to win tricks.
4. Say “go” when you cannot play
You must play a card if it fits within the limit of 31. If none of your remaining cards fits, say “go.”
Your opponent continues playing any cards that fit. When neither player can continue, whoever played last scores 1 point, unless the count is exactly 31, which scores 2 instead.
The count then resets to zero. The opponent of the player who placed the last card leads the next sequence if they have cards remaining. Continue until both players have played all four cards.
5. Count the hands and crib
The non-dealer counts first, using their original four cards plus the starter. The dealer then counts their hand, followed by the crib.
The cards played earlier are still part of your hand for this count.
Afterward, players exchange the dealer role and begin another deal. If either player reaches 121 at any stage, the game ends immediately.
Cribbage scoring: play versus hand counting
Some combinations score in both stages, but the conditions differ.
| Scoring opportunity |
During play |
Hand and crib counting |
| Fifteen |
2 points for making the running count 15 |
2 for every distinct combination totaling 15 |
| Pair |
2 for matching the immediately previous rank |
2 for each pair |
| Three of a kind |
6 for three consecutive matching ranks |
6 |
| Four of a kind |
12 for four consecutive matching ranks |
12 |
| Run |
1 per card in a qualifying run of at least three |
1 per card in each qualifying run |
| Thirty-one |
2 points |
Does not score |
| Last card below 31 |
1 point |
Does not apply |
| Flush |
Does not score |
4 or 5 points in a hand; 5 only in the crib |
| Nobs |
Does not score |
1 point |
How runs work
During play, a run uses consecutive plays whose ranks form a sequence, even if they arrive out of order. Playing 4, 6, 5 creates a three-card run and scores 3 points.
Aces are low: A–2–3 is a run, but Q–K–A is not.
When counting a hand, count the longest runs without adding shorter runs contained inside them. Duplicate cards can create separate runs: 4–5–5–6 contains two three-card runs, worth 6 points, plus a pair worth 2.
How flushes work
Four hand cards of the same suit score 4 points. If the starter matches too, score 5.
Three matching hand cards plus a matching starter do not make a four-card flush. In the crib, all four cards and the starter must share a suit to score a flush.
What is nobs?
A Jack in your hand or crib scores 1 point if its suit matches the starter’s suit. This is called “nobs.”
It differs from heels, the dealer’s 2-point bonus for revealing a Jack as the starter.
Scoring example: count this 16-point hand
Your hand is 4♣, 5♦, 5♥, 6♠. The starter is K♣.
The King counts as 10 when forming fifteens.
| Combination |
Points |
| 5♦ + K♣ = 15 |
2 |
| 5♥ + K♣ = 15 |
2 |
| 4♣ + 5♦ + 6♠ = 15 |
2 |
| 4♣ + 5♥ + 6♠ = 15 |
2 |
| Pair of 5s |
2 |
| Run: 4♣–5♦–6♠ |
3 |
| Run: 4♣–5♥–6♠ |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
The same card can contribute to more than one scoring combination. Both 5s create their own fifteens and runs, and together they also score as a pair.
A useful counting routine is: fifteens, pairs, runs, flush, nobs.
Playing example: three ways to score
Imagine a sequence begins with these cards:
| Play |
Running count |
Points earned |
| You play a 6 |
6 |
None |
| Your opponent plays a 9 |
15 |
Opponent scores 2 for fifteen |
| You play a 9 |
24 |
You score 2 for the pair |
| Your opponent plays a 7 |
31 |
Opponent scores 2 for thirty-one |
The count resets, and you lead the next sequence if you have cards remaining.
This illustrates a central Cribbage decision: taking points now can leave a reply for your opponent. Before playing, check both what you score and what the next card might allow.
Cribbage strategy and tips
Check whose crib it is
Make crib ownership part of every discard decision. A pair or a combination totaling 15 can be useful in your own crib and costly in your opponent’s.
However, do not destroy a strong hand just to avoid every potentially helpful discard. Compare the likely benefit of what you keep with the risk of what you give away.
Look beyond the starter you want
A keep that improves with several different starters is more flexible than one that needs a single perfect card.
Before discarding, ask: which starters help this hand, and what does it score without them?
Be cautious about leading a 5
A 5 lets an opponent with any ten-value card score fifteen. With 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings all worth ten, there are many possible replies.
A low lead can reduce that particular risk, although no opening card is best in every situation.
Think before pairing
Pairing your opponent’s card earns 2 points. If they hold another card of that rank and can play it, they may respond with three of a kind for 6.
Take the points when the exchange makes sense, rather than treating every pair as an automatic move.
Save flexibility near 31
Small cards can fit when larger cards cannot. Keeping one available may help you continue after a “go” or finish a sequence on exactly 31.
Watch the finish line
Near 121, the next few points matter more than the potential value of a hand you may never get to count.
Remember the counting order. The non-dealer counts first, so the dealer may need to win during play before that happens.
Frequently asked questions about Cribbage
Can I play Cribbage online for free?
Yes. You can play Cribbage for free in your browser on Solitaire 365.
What is the difference between 31 and 121?
31 is the limit for each running count during play. The count resets several times as needed. 121 is the total game score you are trying to reach.
Does saying “go” earn a point?
No. The point belongs to the player who plays the last card of a sequence below 31. That may be your opponent after you say “go.”
Can you score the same cards more than once?
Yes. During hand counting, a card can belong to several distinct combinations. A pair of 5s and a King, for example, scores two separate fifteens as well as the pair.
What is the highest possible Cribbage hand?
The highest hand score is 29. You need three 5s and a Jack in your hand, with the remaining 5 as the starter. The Jack must match the starter’s suit.
What is a skunk in Cribbage?
A skunk is a win where the losing player finishes with 90 points or fewer. Its effect on match scoring depends on the rules being used.
Do you have to reach exactly 121?
No. Reaching or passing 121 wins immediately, whether the points come during play, hand counting, or a starter Jack.
Do I need a physical Cribbage board?
No. A board is a way to track points, rather than a requirement for the card combinations themselves. You do not need a physical board to play online.
Explore more card games
Enjoy planning combinations? Try Rummy. Prefer competing for tricks? Explore Spades, or play Hearts, where avoiding penalty cards is usually the goal.
For a solo challenge, browse Solitaire.
