My husband and I love to play both card and board games together. We especially enjoy playing a game called Cribbage which uses both.

Cribbage is a game played using a board, pegs and a standard deck of playing cards (no joker cards are used in this game).

I Am Going to Teach You How to Play Cribbage With Two Players

It is most often played by two people, but it can be adapted to allow for three or four players. The board that I own (seen here), allows for a maximum of three players.

Here Are Some of the Rules of the Game

The game is relatively simple once you understand what helps you to make pegging points and once you have some understanding of strategy.

Players will begin a game by agreeing on what point count will need to be reached to win the game. Typically the game is won when a player reaches that agreed on quantity of points (some players play to 61 points, others play to 121 points).

During each hand of the game, each player is dealt six cards. From these six cards, each player tries to create a good-scoring four-card hand to play with. A player must put two of their six cards into a crib. The cards in the crib will be counted after the four card hands are played out.

Before play of each hand begins, one start card will be turned up that each player may use at the end of the hand.

• During the play of a hand, each player is trying to play a card that causes the count of 15 to happen.
• Players are trying to play like cards. Like cards are cards that have the same number or letter in them as another card. For example, an 8 of clubs is like an 8 of diamonds because they both contain an 8. A King of hearts is like a King of spades because they both contain a King.
• Players are trying to play a run of cards. An example is a 2, 3 and 4 of any suit being played in a row. Another example is if those same cards are played as 4, 2 then 3. A run of three cards causes a score of 3 peg points. If the run consists of four cards, this causes a score of 4 peg points, (and so on).
• Players are trying to be the one to play the last card during a hand.
• Players are trying to be the one to play the last card that causes the count of 31 during a hand.

The start card will be used after the four card hands have been played out. The players will include that start card as part of their count for each of their hand(s).

Counting and Pegging Points During and After the Play of a Hand

Points are counted and pegged on the cribbage board during the play of each hand. Counting points and pegging will be discussed in detail, in the next section.

After the play of a hand is complete, the non-dealer counts the points they have in their cards before the dealer counts their points. The non-dealer gets to peg these points first. Pegging first is important because the person who pegs out first (reaching or exceeding the agreed-on end of the game), wins. It doesn’t matter if the other player has points to count and peg or not, because the game was won and was ended when the first person to count and peg, pegged out.

The dealer gets to count their cards and peg those points second (after the non-dealer). After this, the dealer counts the cards in the crib for points and pegs those points.

During play, any time a player pegs one or more points, they move the back peg forward in front of the other peg. The back peg represents the prior count (the score of the game at that time). The forward peg represents the points just scored.

In the example below, you see the player using the black pegs had last scored one pegged point. On their next play, they pegged 2 points. Black now has a total of 3 pegged points. The back peg shows the one point scored at that time. The front peg shows the 2 points that were just scored.

The person using the silver pegs has only pegged 1 point so far. If the person using the silver pegs scores another point, they will pick up the peg that is behind the start line and move it in front of the silver peg. Silver will then have a total of 2 pegged points.

Counts for Each Card vs Points for a Play

• K = 10 count
• Q = 10 count
• J = 10 count
• 10 = 10 count
• 9 = 9 count
• 8 = 8 count
• 7 = 7 count
• 6 = 6 count
• 5 = 5 count
• 4 = 4 count
• 3 = 3 count
• 2 = 2 count
• A = 1 count (the A is never a high card in cribbage, it is always low and counts as 1)

During play of a hand, cards are counted and points are pegged on the cribbage board depending on the specific play that was made.

• A card played by a player, that adds to a count of 15, scores 2 points to the person who played the card.
• Like cards played in succession will score points (like cards are 2 cards of the same face value). The suit doesn’t matter, only the face value matters (like a 10 followed by a 10 or a Queen followed by a Queen.
• Runs score points (a run is a minimum of 3 cards in succession, the suit doesn’t matter).
• A Jack that is turned when the non-dealer cuts for the start card, awards 2 points to the dealer. A last play scores points. A hand that counts to 31 exactly scores points.

Here are some examples of card combinations that make points;

• any K, Q, J or 10 followed by any 5 = 15
• any 9 followed by any 6 = 15
• any 8 followed by any 7 = 15
• any K, Q, J or 10 followed by a 4, followed by an A = 15
• any K, Q, J or 10 followed by a 3, followed by a 2 = 15
• any 5 followed by a 4, followed by a 3, followed by a 2, followed by an A = 15
• You get the idea !! Combinations that add up to 15 award you 2 points that you may peg.
• You can score points for like cards. For example, two like cards are worth 2 peg points, three like cards are worth 6 peg points and 4 like cards are worth 12 peg points.
  • Here is an example; if you have three 9s and one 6, you can use the 6 with each 9 (which adds up to 15 each). This would give you a pegging count of 15 for 2, 15 for 4, 15 for 6 and 3 nines for 6. The total you would peg for this hand would be 12 (2+2+2+6).
• The same rule applies to any multi-card combination.
  • Example: You have two 10s a 2 and a 3, you can use the 2 and 3 with each 10. This would give you a pegging count of 15 for 2, 15 for 4 and two tens for 2. The total you would peg for this hand would be 6 (2+2+2). There are lots of combinations like this.
• If you had two like cards that each can make a run, it might look like this; You hold an 8 of clubs, an 8 of hearts, a 7 of diamonds and a 6 of spades. We’ll say the start card is a K. The K is no help for your count in this hand.
  • This hand has two 15s in it plus it has a like pair and 2 runs in it. It counts like this;
    • 8 of clubs + 7 of diamonds = 15 for 2
    • 8 of hearts + 7 of diamonds = 15 for 2
    • 8 of clubs + 8 of hearts = a pair for 2
    • 8 of clubs, 7 of diamonds and 6 of spades = a run of three for 3
    • 8 of hearts, 7 of diamonds and 6 of spades = a run of three for 3
  • The total that can be pegged for the above hand is 2+2+2+3+3 (a total score of 12 points that can be pegged).
• If you have a flush in your hand (for example four diamonds of any face value), that scores you 4 peg points when you count your hand
• If you have a flush in your hand and the start card is of the same suit as the 4 in your hand, you score 5 peg points when you count your cards.

• If you have a flush in the crib, it can only be counted if all of the cards in the crib are of the same suit as the start card. If this is the case, that scores you 5 peg points when you count your crib hand.
• A Jack in a hand that matches the suit of the start card, awards 1 point to the hand that holds the Jack. This is only counted after all of the hand’s cards have been played.

Various Plays

• Before a hand begins, the non-dealer cuts the deck. If the non-dealer cuts a J, the dealer pegs 2 points on the cribbage board.
• To begin playing a hand, each player will take a turn and play one of four cards that they hold. During play, if a player can cause a count of 15 to happen, they peg 2 points on the cribbage board.
• During play, the count of cards on the table can not exceed 31. A play can end with less than or exactly 31.
• If a play ends (at 31 or less in count), and one or both players still hold cards, the cards already played will be turned face down. The remaining cards in hand will be played starting over with the count (again up to a maximum count of 31).
• An opponent must say go when they can’t play a card (they can’t play a card if any card they could play, would cause the count to exceed 31). During play, if you cause your opponent to say go, you peg 1 point on the cribbage board (Go is only said one time during a play on the way to 31).
• During play, if you play a last play, but don’t reach 31, you peg 1 point on the cribbage board.
• During play, every time you can cause a count of 31 to happen for yourself, you peg 2 points on the cribbage board.
• During play, if one player plays a card, then the other plays a like card, the player that played the like card pegs 2 points on the cribbage board. Example; The dealer plays a 7 then the non-dealer plays a 7. The non-dealer pegs 2 points on the cribbage board.
  • During play, if after this the dealer plays a 7, the dealer pegs 6 points on the cribbage board (three like cards played one after another can happen with any card in the deck).
  • During play, if after this, the non-dealer plays a 7, the non-dealer pegs 12 points on the cribbage board. Remember this is just an example. It doesn’t have to be a 7, but there can not be four 8s or above. Four 8s or above would exceed the maximum count for a play (which is 31).
• During play, you can score 3 or 4 or 5 (or more) peg points with runs. For example, you play a 4, your opponent plays a 6 and you play a 5. You would score 2 peg points for the 15 that the 4, 6 and 5 add up to, but you would also score 3 more peg points for a run of three cards (even though the card’s numbers are out of sequence).
  • After this, your opponent could play a 3 for a run of four cards and score 4 peg points. Then you could play a 2 for a run of five cards and score 5 peg points. Remember, this can be done with any run of cards as long as the run doesn’t exceed 31. For instance, it would work with a Q, J, K but you could not add a 10 because that would exceed 31.
    • If any card played breaks a sequence, there is no run. For example, you play a 4, your opponent plays an 8, you play a 6 and your opponent plays a 5. Because the run was interrupted by the 8, there are no 15s for 2 and there is no run.

Using the Start Card

After each player has been dealt six cards and each has put two of their six cards in the crib, a start card is cut by the non-dealer.

The start card provides a little information. Because it is seen by both players, they know that the card is not held by their opponent.

The start card is primarily used after all of the cards in the hand have been played out and it is time to count each hand.

1. Once the play of the hand is complete, it is time to count your hand. We’ll say your hand has a 5, 6, 7 of diamonds and a 3 of clubs.
2. When counting a hand, you always start by adding your 15s (they give you 2 points each). Then you add any other card combinations you can see.
   • When you count the hand, it sounds like this; 15 for 2, 15 for 4 and a run of 3 makes 7.
     • The 5, 7 and 3 add up to 15 (for 2 points).
     • The 5 and the 10 add up to 15 (for 2 points). When adding this 2 to the first counted 2, it becomes 4 points.
     • The 5, 6 and 7 are a run of 3. When adding these 3 to the prior 4 points, it becomes 7 peg points that can be scored on the cribbage board.

Now, Let’s Start a Game and Play a Hand

Place your colored pegs in the beginning positions (before the starting line).

1st, decide which of the two of you will use which color of pegs. For today’s example, the player on the left will use the black pegs and the player on the right will use the silver pegs.

At this point, it doesn’t matter who does it, but the deck needs to be shuffled and placed in a stack, face down on the playing surface.

The person who didn’t shuffle cuts the deck and shows the card on the bottom of their cut. Let’s pretend they revealed an 8 of hearts. That person returns all of the cards to the face-down position in the face-down stack.

The other person cuts the deck, showing the card on the bottom of their cut. Let’s pretend they revealed an A of spades. Remember, in cribbage, A is always the equivalent of 1 and is always low. The person with the lowest card gets to be the first dealer and gets the first crib. They will be the person who is using the The other person (the non-dealer), gets to play first.

Another Shuffle, Another Cut and Dealing the First Hand

For this game, so I can teach you how to play, all of the cards being played will be shown on the table, face-up.

During an actual game, neither player shows their hand to the other player until all of the cards have been played out.

The dealer shuffles the cards (again). The non-dealer cuts the cards but doesn’t show the card on the bottom of their cut. They put their cut stack down and move the remainder of the deck on top of their cut.

The dealer picks up the cut deck and deals out six cards to each (one card is given to the non-dealer, then one to the dealer and so on). The remainder of the deck is placed face down (as seen below).

These are the cards that were dealt to the dealer.

These are the cards that were dealt to the non-dealer.

~A crib consists of 2 cards from the dealer and 2 cards from the non-dealer placed face down on the playing surface so neither player can see them~

Each player selects two of their card to go into the crib (face down).

The dealer will score any points that come out of the crib at the end of this hand. The dealer will want to choose cards for the crib that they believe may benefit them when it is time to count their crib cards.

The dealer selected the 8 and 7 because they count as 15 for 2 points, which will give the dealer 2 peg points when the crib is counted later. The dealer has kept the 10 to go with the 3 and 2, which count to 15 for 2. They also kept the 3, 2 and A as that is an additional count of 3 peg points for a run of three. This will be their playing hand. Just as the hand is, they have 5 peg points total for later.

The non-dealer will want to try to choose crib cards that they believe may not benefit the dealer.

The non-dealer selected the two Ks to go with the 5 for the hand they will play. This will count later (after all of the hands cards are played), as 15 for 2 and 15 for 4 (this is each K with the 5). They will also add the pair of Ks for 2. This gives them a total hand of 6 peg points for later.

Hopefully, the cut card will catch something good for the non-dealer, like a 7 or a 4 to make a run of 3 or another 5 or a K would work nicely. It is also the hope that the A and the 9 do not benefit the dealer. There is a slight risk of a crib flush when putting these two diamonds in the crib.

Now you see the crib face down on the table. Remember, normally each opponent will not show their hand to the other person. This is only being done to help you understand gameplay.

After the crib is set, the non-dealer cuts the deck and the card on top of the cut deck is turned over.

The rest of the deck is placed underneath the cut card then the non-dealer makes their first play.

The non-dealer will try to choose a card that might not allow the dealer to make a count of 15 for 2 points. There are more cards in a standard deck that count as 10, so it isn’t wise to lead with the 5 (at this point, any 10-count card with a five, counts 15 for 2).

The non-dealer chooses to lead with the K in hopes that the other player plays a K. If that happens, the non-dealer will play their remaining K for 6 points.

• If the dealer played the A, the non-dealer might play a 4 and count 15 scoring 2 pegging points.
• If the dealer played the 2, the non-dealer might play a 3 and count 15 scoring 2 pegging points.
• If the dealer played the 3, the non-dealer might play a 2 and count 15 scoring 2 pegging points.

The dealer chooses the 10 for their first play. If the dealer is lucky, another 10-point card will be played.

Because the 10 was played, the person on the right feels he has no reason to keep the remaining K. His hopes of three Ks are now gone. Since the K is a 10-count card, it is more difficult to play with as play continues.

Playing a 10-count card now is a risk because if his opponent has an A, that would give a count of 31 points to them (scoring 2 peg points for that player).

The person on the right figures there is only a small chance that his opponent has an A. He knows he put one in the crib himself so there are only three more out there. With a deck of 52 cards, most of which are under the start card and not in play, he feels the odds are in his favor.

He decides to play it, getting rid of the K now. The count becomes 30.

Cribbage is both a skillful game where you think ahead about possibilities and it is also a game of luck.

Sadly for the player on the right, the player on the left did have an A. They played it and counted 31 scoring 2 peg points.

Since the count can not go past 31, the cards that were played are turned face down and the next part of the hand is played.

Since the player on the left was the last to play a card, it is now the turn of the player on the right.

The player on the right leads off with his 6 (remember, leading off with a 5 is more risky).

The count is now 6.

The player on the right is hoping that his opponent might play a 4 so he can play his 5 and count 15 for a score of 2 peg points. If a 4 is played he would also score 3 peg points for a run of three (6, 4, 5).

His opponent might play a 7, which would still score him 3 peg points for a run of three, (6, 7, 5).

The player on the left chooses to play his 2.

The count is now 8.

The player on the right plays his 5.

The count is now 13.

The player on the left plays his 3.

The count ends at 16.

As there are no more cards to play and the player on the left plays the last card, the player on the left scores 1 peg point on the cribbage board.

The non-dealer gets to count the four cards that they played their hand with, 1st.

This hand counts like this;

• K of diamonds and 5 of clubs count 15 for a score of 2 peg points
• K of hearts and 5 of clubs count 15 for a score of 2 peg points
• 9 of clubs and 6 of diamonds count 15 for a score of 2 peg points
• K of diamonds and K of hearts count as a pair for a score of 2 peg points

When calling the count out loud in cribbage, it is said like this, In this order;

• Fifteen two
• Fifteen four
• Fifteen six
• and 2 is 8

The non-dealer pegs 8 points on the cribbage board.

Now the dealer counts their hand.

All of the cards that were in the dealer’s hand will be used during this count.

This hand counts like this;

• 10, 3 and 2 of diamonds count 15 for 2 peg points.
• 3 and 2 of diamonds with an A and 9 of clubs count 15 for a score of 2 peg points.
• 3 and 2 of diamonds with an A of clubs count as a run of 3 for a score of 3 peg points.

When calling the count out loud in cribbage, it is said like this, In this order;

• Fifteen two
• Fifteen four
• and 3 is 7

The dealer pegs 7 points.

Now the dealer counts their crib.

Not all of the cards in the crib were of use. The A does not add any count to anything, so it will not be useful.

This hand counts like this;

• 8 of hearts and 7 of diamonds count 15 and scores 2 peg points
• A double run counts 8 and scores 8 peg points
  • A double run of three consecutive cards always counts to 8 peg points (this double run consists of a pair of 9s for 2 points, 9 of diamonds, 8 of hearts, 7 of diamonds for a run of three for 3 points and a 9 of clubs, 8 of hearts, 7 of diamonds for a run of three for 3 points)
    • 2+3+3

When calling the count out loud in cribbage, it is said like this, In this order;

• Fifteen two
• and 8 is 10

The dealer pegs 10 points. This hand is over.

A New Hand Begins

The cards will be shuffled by the person who was the non-dealer (the person on the right who is using the silver pegs). They are the new dealer.

The person on the left will cut the deck (the person who is using the black pegs). If they cut a J, the new dealer scores 2 peg points.

The new dealer will deal out 6 cards to each of them.

Each player will choose 2 of their 6 cards and place them face down in the crib (the crib is now for the person on the right, the new dealer).

The deck is again cut by the person on the left and the top card is turned up. The rest of the deck is put under the top card (under the start card).

The first card to be played is now played by the person on the left (the non-dealer).

All cards will be played out, one after another as before.

When it is time to count the hands, the person on the left (the non-dealer), counts first.

If the non-dealer counts his hand and pegs out (hitting or going past the agreed winning count). The game is over and the other person does not get to count their hands.

If the non-dealer counts his hand and does not peg out, the dealer gets to count their hand and the crib hand.

A New Hand Begins…..

The new dealer is now the person on the left.

Game play continues like this until one of the players pegs out (hitting or going past the agreed winning count).

If you have gotten this far, “By George, I think you’ve got it”!!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed learning how to play cribbage as much as I have enjoyed teaching you.

Wouldn’t You Love a Cribbage Board for Yourself? They Also Make for a Great Gift

If you think you would enjoy playing cribbage, or maybe you know someone who might enjoy playing, you might want to get a cribbage board through Amazon.

There are different qualities and designs of cribbage boards. I have taught you to play with two players. The boards I will show you will allow for that.

I have had my board for more than 20 years. It has held up very well. It is so nice looking, that I leave it out next to my chess board (on a table, on display).

Some cribbage boards that are sold, may come with a standard deck of cards. Most do not though. Remember, if you buy a cribbage board, you may need to buy a deck of standard playing cards to go with it. The link will take you to what I feel is a reasonably priced deck of “Bicycle Brand” playing cards.

“Juegoal” makes a cribbage board that is very similar to mine in color and pegging design.

This cribbage board is made by “Regal Games”. This board uses bright colors to separate the pegging tracks. This can be very helpful visually during gameplay.

This is a beautifully crafted cribbage board made by “House of Cribbage” that received very high reviews.

This is another lovely cribbage board made by “House of Cribbage”.

If you end up losing one or more of your cribbage pegs, don’t throw that board away. You can buy replacement pegs for your board.

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