The board and goal
Cribbage is scored by moving pegs along a track of holes. Each player uses two pegs (you move the back one ahead of the front each time you score, so your last two scores always show). First player to peg all the way to 121 — usually twice around the board plus the game hole — wins.
The deal
Deal six cards to each player. Both players choose two cards to discard face-down into the "crib" — an extra hand that belongs to the dealer and is scored at the end of the round. Each player keeps four cards. Then the non-dealer cuts the deck and the dealer flips the top card of the lower half as the "starter".
The play (pegging)
Starting with the non-dealer, players alternate laying down one card face-up, calling the running total out loud. The total may not pass 31.
- Score 2 for making the total exactly 15 or exactly 31.
- Score 2 for a pair, 6 for three of a kind, for matching the previous card(s) played.
- Score for runs of three or more cards played in sequence (not necessarily in suit order).
- If you can’t play without going over 31, say "go" — your opponent scores 1 and plays on if able. Reset the count and continue until all cards are played.
The show (counting hands)
After the play, each player counts their four-card hand together with the starter card for scoring combinations — the non-dealer counts first, then the dealer, then the dealer scores the crib.
- Fifteens: every combination of cards totaling 15 scores 2.
- Pairs: 2 each; runs: 1 per card; flushes: 4 (or 5 with the starter).
- His nobs: 1 for holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter card.
Winning
Peg every score as it happens. The deal alternates each round. The first player to reach 121 wins immediately — even mid-count — so watch the board, because a close game can end on a single fifteen.