How to Play Cribbage and Count a Hand

Dealing and the crib

Each player is dealt six cards and puts two face down into the crib, which belongs to the dealer and is counted at the end of the hand. The non-dealer cuts the deck and the dealer turns up the starter card. If the starter is a jack, the dealer scores two, called his heels.

Pegging to 31

Starting with the non-dealer, players take turns laying one card face up and saying the running total. Making the count exactly fifteen or thirty-one scores two. A pair with the previous card scores two, three of a kind six, four of a kind twelve, and a run of three or more cards in any order scores one per card.

If you cannot play without passing 31, say go; your opponent plays on and scores one for the last card, or two for reaching exactly 31. The count then restarts at zero until every card has been played.

Counting a hand

After pegging, each player counts their four cards together with the starter: first the non-dealer, then the dealer, then the dealer's crib. Points come from the combinations below, and every distinct combination counts, which is why a few fives and tens can score a lot.

Winning the game

Points are pegged on the board as they are scored, and the first player to reach 121 wins at once, even in the middle of a hand. A player who wins while the opponent has not reached 91 has skunked them. Because the dealer owns the crib, the deal alternates and a strong crib can swing a close game.

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