Quick Rules
Cribbage is a two-player card game played with a standard 52-card deck and a pegging board. You play against the computer, and the first player to peg 121 points wins. Each hand has three parts: the discard, the pegging, and the show.
- The deal. Each player gets six cards. The deal switches every hand.
- The crib. Each of you puts two cards face down into the crib, an extra hand that belongs to the dealer.
- The starter. One card is turned face up. It counts as part of every hand. If it's a jack, the dealer pegs 2 for "His Heels".
- Pegging. Take turns playing one card at a time, calling out the running count. The count can't go over 31. Score 2 for making exactly 15 or 31, 2 for a pair, and points for runs.
- Go. If you can't play without going over 31, say "Go". Your opponent plays on, and the last person to play scores 1.
- The show. The non-dealer counts first, then the dealer, then the dealer counts the crib. Every hand is counted with the starter.
- Counting. Fifteens 2 each, pairs 2 each, runs 1 per card, a flush 4 or 5, and the jack of the starter's suit ("his nobs") 1.
Read the full cribbage rules with a counting table and worked examples
Learn to Count Hands as You Play
Counting is the part of cribbage that takes practice, so this game does it out loud for you. When each hand is shown, you'll see the count the way players say it at the kitchen table: "Fifteen two, fifteen four, a pair is six, and a run of three is nine." Tap any step, or Show Me Step by Step, and the cards that make it light up. When you're ready, turn on Count my own hands in Settings and try it yourself. Miss a point and the computer will call "muggins" and take it.
Tips for Winning
- Think about whose crib it is. On your deal, put cards that score together into the crib. On the computer's deal, give it cards that don't, like a king and a 9.
- Keep your fives. Sixteen cards are worth 10, so a 5 makes fifteen with lots of starters.
- Lead a low card. A card under 5 can't be answered with a fifteen.
- Watch 5 and 21. If the count is 5 or 21, any ten-card scores 2 for your opponent.
- Use the Hint button. It suggests a discard and tells you the average points you can expect after the cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this cribbage game free?
Yes. Play as many games as you like for free, with no account, no download and no ads over the game.
Does the computer cheat?
No. The computer never sees your cards, the crib or the deck. It decides using only its own six cards, the starter and the cards already played. After every hand you can open Show All Hands to see exactly what everyone held, and every game has a deal number: replay the same number and you get exactly the same cards, so you can check that the deal is fair.
Tap Why? next to any of the computer's moves to see the reason it chose it.
How are the cards shuffled?
Each game has a deal number that seeds a standard, well-tested shuffle. Every hand of that game is shuffled from the deal number alone, so nothing you or the computer does can change which cards come up.
How do I count a cribbage hand?
Add your four cards and the starter together. Score 2 for every combination that adds up to 15, 2 for every pair, 1 per card in each run of three or more, 4 or 5 for a flush, and 1 for the jack of the starter's suit. The game shows each step in plain English with the cards highlighted.
The counting table on the rules page has every combination with examples.
Can I count my own hands?
Yes. Turn on Count my own hands in Settings. You type in what your hand and crib are worth, and if you miss any points the computer can claim them, which is the old muggins rule.
What is a skunk?
You skunk your opponent when you win before they reach 91. That counts as two games in the match tally, and winning before they reach 61 is a double skunk worth three. You can turn skunks off in Settings.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. Your game is saved in your browser after every move, so you can close the page and continue later on the same device.
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