Card Games 🇬🇧United Kingdomearly modern

Cribbage

Classic 2-player English card game (also 3-4 player variants) with unique peg-based scoreboard; combines card play + hand-scoring with combinations like 'fifteens' (cards totaling 15), pairs, runs, flushes, and the iconic 'nobs' bonus for jack matching cut card.

📐cribbage board + card table⏱~30 min🌤indoor

What is Cribbage?

Cribbage is a classic 2-player English card game with unique score-keeping via wooden pegs advancing along a distinctive scoreboard with two rows of 30 holes plus start/finish. Invented ~1630 by Sir John Suckling, English poet + gambler + inventor. Direct evolution of the earlier game 'Noddy'; Suckling added the 'crib' concept. Uses standard 52-card deck; dealer + non-dealer each get 6 cards, discard 2 to dealer's 'crib' (extra hand scored by dealer at end). Card values: Ace=1, 2-10 face value, J/Q/K=10 each (for pegging + counting). Play has 2 phases: (1) PEGGING — alternate playing cards face-up, keeping running total; can't exceed 31; score points for making 15, 31, pairs, triples, quads, runs during pegging; (2) SHOW/COUNT — after pegging, each player + dealer score their hand + crib for combinations: FIFTEENS (2 pts per combination totaling 15), PAIRS (2 pts), THREE-of-kind (6 pts), FOUR-of-kind (12 pts), RUNS of 3+ (1 pt per card), FLUSHES (4-card flush = 4 pts, 5-card = 5), NOBS (jack in hand matching cut card suit = 1 pt). Cut card (turned up before play from remaining deck) counts as 5th card for scoring. First player to 121 points (twice around the board) wins. Unique 'MUGGINS' rule — opponent may claim missed scoring if you overlook combinations. Iconic in British pubs + Royal Navy tradition + widespread in USA/Canada/Australia. Estimated 20-30 million players globally; strong online community (Cribbage Pro app, Cribbage-Corner leaderboards).

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Reach 121 points (twice around the board) first by scoring during pegging + hand/crib counting.

Match structure

Deal 6 cards each; each player discards 2 to dealer's 'crib' (extra hand). Cut deck for face-up card ('starter'). Pegging phase: alternate playing cards to 31 max; score during play. Show phase: score each hand + crib. Non-dealer scores first (advantage since first to 121 wins). Deal rotates.

Rules

Basic rules

Deal 6 cards, discard 2 to crib
Each player receives 6; each contributes 2 to dealer's 'crib' (hidden 4-card extra hand).
Cut card ('starter')
Non-dealer cuts remaining deck; dealer flips top card face-up as 'starter'; counts for all hands + crib scoring.
Nibs — if starter is Jack
Dealer scores 2 points immediately ('two for his nibs') if starter card is a Jack.
Pegging phase — running total to 31
Non-dealer plays first card face-up, calling value. Alternate plays; keep running total. Cannot exceed 31.
Pegging scores
Reach exactly 15 = 2 pts. Reach exactly 31 = 2 pts. Play pair = 2 pts; 3-of-kind = 6 pts; 4-of-kind = 12 pts. Play run of 3+ (any order) = 1 pt per card. 'Go' (opponent can't play without exceeding 31) = 1 pt to last-card player.
Show/count phase — score each hand
After pegging, each player counts hand + starter (5 cards) for: fifteens (2 pts per combo of any cards totaling 15), pairs/triples/quads (2/6/12 pts), runs (1 pt per card), flushes (4 pts hand-only or 5 pts including starter).
Nobs (jack in hand matching starter suit)
If hand contains Jack of same suit as starter card = 1 pt ('one for his nobs').
Dealer scores crib last
After both hands scored, dealer scores crib (4 cards + starter). Same scoring rules; flush must be all 5 cards (4 crib + starter same suit).
First to 121 wins
Board = 2 laps of 60 holes each = 121 point finish. Score as reached; opponent's remaining distance is 'skunked' if 30+ behind.

Advanced rules

Muggins rule
If player misses a combination in showing, opponent may claim 'MUGGINS' + score those points instead. Enforced in tournaments; often waived casually.
Peg out to win
First peg past 121 finish = wins; must score exactly the winning points during pegging or counting.
Skunk = 31+ points behind
If loser ends game 31+ points behind winner (i.e. below 91), 'skunked' — counts as double game in some tournament formats.
Double skunk = 61+ behind
Below 61 points = 'double skunked' — triple game in some formats.
5-card cribbage (historic)
Original variant: 5-card hands, 3 discarded to crib. Modern 6-card version standard.
3-player cribbage
Each player 5 cards; each contributes 1 to opponent's crib; ~1830s variant.
4-player partnership
5 cards each; 1 to crib; partners; combined score.
Losing at Muggins
Losing 'muggins' claim also means missing bonus + potentially costing game.
121-point vs 61-point board
Standard 121 (twice around); short 61 (once around) for quicker games.
Cut for deal
First hand: cut deck; lowest card deals first. Alternate deals afterward.
Dealer's advantage (crib bonus)
Dealer scores crib + gets extra scoring opportunity from opponent's discards.

Scoring

Fifteens = 2 pts per combination; pairs = 2 pts; 3-kind = 6 pts; 4-kind = 12 pts; runs = 1 pt per card; flushes = 4-5 pts; nobs = 1 pt; nibs = 2 pts; pegging scores accumulate during play.

Action	Points
Fifteen (any combination summing to 15)	2 pts per combination
Pair (two of same rank)	2 pts
Three of a kind (aka 'pair royal')	6 pts (three pairs)
Four of a kind ('double pair royal')	12 pts (six pairs)
Run of 3	3 pts
Run of 4	4 pts
Run of 5	5 pts
4-card flush (hand only, not crib)	4 pts
5-card flush (hand + starter, or crib + starter)	5 pts
Nobs (Jack in hand matching starter suit)	1 pt
Nibs (starter card is Jack)	2 pts to dealer
Pegging: reach 15	2 pts
Pegging: reach 31	2 pts
Pegging: pair/triple/quad	2/6/12 pts
Pegging: 'Go' (opponent can't play)	1 pt

Win condition · First player to 121 points wins. Skunked (opponent 31+ behind) = double game in some formats.

Playing area

Called

cribbage board + card table

Dimensions

Cribbage board: rectangular ~25×8cm wood/plastic with 4 rows of 30 holes + 2-4 finish holes. 4 pegs (2 per player, different colors).

Iconic long wooden cribbage board with drilled holes; pegs advance along tracks by hopping (2 pegs alternate so exact scores visible). Card table for hand play; board sits beside.

Equipment

Cribbage board
Wood, plastic, or engraved metal board with 4 rows × 30 holes + start/finish holes. Traditional: 121-point long boards; also shorter 61-point (once around).
Pegs (4 total)
2 per player, distinct colors (e.g. red + blue). Advance by alternating positions to show exact score.
Standard 52-card deck
Standard playing cards. Some editions use special Cribbage-branded decks.
Card table + 2 seats
Face-to-face standard 2-player setup.
Score keeper (traditional)
Player counts + moves pegs; opponent can 'muggins' if score missed.

Officiating

Self-officiated; honor system with 'Muggins' rule allowing opponent to claim missed scores. Tournament clubs designate judges.

Strategies

Discard low cards to opponent's crib
When opponent is dealer, discard low cards (Ace-4) that give minimal scoring potential.
Discard high cards to own crib
When you're dealer, discard cards that combine well with starter probabilities; 5s especially valuable (many 15 combinations).
Retain fives for hand
5s combine with any 10-value card (J/Q/K/10) for 15 = 2 pts each; extremely valuable.
Keep pairs + connected cards
Pairs = 2 pts; runs = 1 pt/card. Consecutive cards or duplicates boost hand score.
Pegging: play to 15
Pegging opportunity — count runs, pairs, sums to 15/31 during play.
Pegging defense
Avoid leading cards that opponent can pair or make 15/31; e.g. don't lead an 8 (opponent adds 7 for 15).
Count crib before discarding
Estimate crib value from your discards + likely starter; balance vs hand value if opponent's crib.
Play close to 121 finish
Endgame: peg carefully to avoid overshooting; count exact remaining.
Muggins awareness
Always call your own combinations aloud; scan opponent's counted hand for misses in tournaments.

Terminology

Crib: Extra 4-card hand belonging to dealer; scored after regular hands.
Starter / Cut card: Card cut from remaining deck after discard; counts as 5th card for all hand + crib scoring.
Pegging: First phase — playing cards face-up alternating; scoring during play.
Showing / Counting: Second phase — each player scores their hand + starter (5 cards total).
Fifteen: Any combination of cards totaling 15 = 2 points; multiple combos count separately.
Nobs: Jack in hand matching starter card suit = 1 pt ('one for his nobs').
Nibs / His Heels: Starter card is a Jack = 2 pts to dealer ('two for his nibs').
Muggins: Rule allowing opponent to claim points player missed counting; strict in tournaments.
Skunk: Winner 31+ points ahead; loser 'skunked' = double game in some formats.
Double skunk: Winner 61+ points ahead; triple game in some formats.
Go: Called when player can't play without exceeding 31; opponent gets 1 pt for last card.
Pair royal: Three of a kind = 6 pts (three pairs).
Double pair royal: Four of a kind = 12 pts (six pairs).
Run: 3+ consecutive cards regardless of suit = 1 pt per card.
Flush: All same suit — 4 pts hand only (4 cards same suit); 5 pts if starter also matches.
29 hand: Maximum possible hand — 5-5-5-J with starter 5 same suit as jack (fifteens = 16 + pair royal = 6 + nobs = 1 = 29 wait let me recount: 4 fives + jack for 29; requires jack of specific suit matching 5).
Peg out: Reaching 121 to win game.
Deal: Round of dealing cards; rotates each hand.

Major competitions

ACC National Championship
annual · USA · since 1979
American Cribbage Congress Tournament of Champions
annual · USA · since 1979
ACC Regional Tournaments (Grass Roots)
monthly various regions · USA · since 1980
British Cribbage Championships
annual · UK · since 1980
Online Cribbage tournaments (Cribbage Pro, Cribbage-Corner)
continuous · worldwide online · since 2010

Where it is played

Governing bodies

American Cribbage Congress (ACC)
Founded 1979 · USA
Official site ↗
British Cribbage League
Founded 1980 · UK
Cribbage Association of Great Britain
Founded 1965 · UK

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Sir John Suckling (1609-1642) — English poet + inventor of Cribbage ~1630
Phyllis Schmidt (USA) — 4× ACC National Champion 1980s-90s
Bruce Blackwood — Multi-time ACC National Champion, 2000s
Various ACC Hall of Fame members — Robert Boysen, Loren McLaughlin, others
Vincent Price — American actor + famous Cribbage enthusiast; regular tournament player

Records

Highest possible hand (29 points)
Any player achieving 5-5-5-J with matching 5 — 29 pts (four 5s + jack; jack same suit as 5 for nobs) (2020)
Odds of 29-hand
Statistical — 1 in 216,580 (2020)
Highest possible hand + starter combined
Includes double pair royal + fifteens + nobs — 29 pts (as above) (2020)
Perfect crib hand
Statistical — 29 pts same as above (very rare) (2020)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Buy cribbage board + learn scoring
$10-20 for wooden board with 2 pegs each. Print scoring chart to consult during first 10 games.
2
Play with mentor or online tutorial
Cribbage Pro app has AI at various levels + tutorial mode; walks through scoring.
3
Focus on hand scoring first
Fifteens + pairs + runs are 80% of scoring; master these before pegging strategy.

intermediate

1
Learn discard strategy
Which 2 cards to send to crib depends on dealer status; retain 5s + pairs + connectors.
2
Pegging strategy
Play to make 15/31 during pegging; avoid leading cards opponent can score off.
3
Try local cribbage club
ACC (American Cribbage Congress) has 200+ affiliated clubs worldwide; friendly + welcoming.

advanced

1
ACC tournament play
American Cribbage Congress tournaments in USA; Grass Roots (local monthly), Regional, National.
2
Study probability + expected values
Optimal discard often mathematical calculation; software like Halscrib analyzes optimal play.
3
Online competitive Cribbage
Cribbage Pro, Cribbage-Corner have ranked leaderboards + tournaments.

Frequently asked

How do you play Cribbage?+

2 players (standard). Deal 6 cards each; each player discards 2 to dealer's 'crib' (extra hand for dealer). Cut card ('starter') turned face-up. PEGGING phase: alternate playing cards face-up, keeping running total (max 31); score points for hitting 15, 31, pairs, runs, etc. SHOW phase: each player scores their 4-card hand + starter for fifteens (any combo = 15 = 2 pts), pairs (2/6/12 pts for 2/3/4-kind), runs (1 pt/card), flushes, nobs (Jack matching starter). Dealer counts crib last. First player to 121 points (2× around board) wins.

What are 'nobs' and 'nibs'?+

NOBS = 1 point for holding the Jack of same suit as the starter card in your hand. 'One for his nobs.' NIBS (or 'his heels') = 2 points to DEALER if the starter card itself is a Jack. 'Two for his nibs.' Both bonuses relate to the Jack card + starter card interaction. Traditional origins in earlier 'Noddy' game (Cribbage's precursor). Small but tactically important — nobs decides many close games. Different from 'nick' (colloquial for game/points in some regions).

What's the highest possible cribbage hand?+

29 points — extremely rare (1 in 216,580 chance). Achieved with hand of three 5s + Jack (5s of three different suits + Jack matching remaining 5's suit) + starter card being the 4th 5. Breakdown: (a) Fifteens: 5+5+5 = 15 (4 combos = 8 pts) + J+5 (4 combos = 8 pts) = 16 pts. (b) Pair royal of 5s: 6 pts (some ways this counts different — actually it's four 5s = 12 pts + jack for nobs = 1). Standard formula: four 5s = 12 (double pair royal) + 8 fifteens = 16 + jack nobs = 1 = 29. Also 28 hand common (four 5s without matching Jack nobs).

Who invented Cribbage?+

Sir John Suckling (1609-1642), English poet, courtier, and legendary gambler. Around 1630, Suckling took an earlier game called 'Noddy' + added the 'crib' concept (extra hand for dealer scored from both players' discards) — creating modern Cribbage. Suckling was known for cheating at cards + rumored to have made a fortune before dying young. Legend: he introduced Cribbage into English aristocratic society; became widespread by mid-1600s + spread through Britain + colonies. Codified rules in early 1700s. Still played essentially the same 400 years later.

Why is Cribbage popular in the British Royal Navy?+

Cribbage has strong Royal Navy tradition dating to 1600s-1700s. Compact board + cards easily carried aboard ship; 2-player game perfect for confined quarters; short 20-40 min games work between duties. Officers played in wardroom; sailors on lower decks. Various royal warships (HMS Victory) have historic cribbage boards preserved as artifacts. Tradition continues today — every submarine + destroyer typically has a cribbage board aboard. Also popular in Merchant Navy + fishing fleets. This tradition spread Cribbage to Commonwealth countries (Canada, Australia, NZ) through Navy port visits.

What's the Muggins rule?+

OPTIONAL but traditional rule: if a player misses counting a combination in their hand during showing, opponent may claim MUGGINS + score those missed points instead. Requires strict alertness during opponent's count. Enforced in tournaments + serious play; often waived in casual/family games (considered rude). Reason: incentivizes learning proper scoring + prevents casual mistakes from becoming automatic. Skilled players count both hands aloud + rapidly to prevent muggins claims. Word origin: uncertain, possibly from 'mug' (fool).

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — Cribbage— Wikipedia
American Cribbage Congress— ACC
Bicycle Cards — Cribbage rules— US Playing Card Co.

Last verified 2026-08-25.community