How to play Cribbage

The goal

The deal and the crib

• You and the computer cut the deck: the lower card deals first (aces are low). After that the deal alternates.
• Each player gets six cards and throws two face down into the crib, an extra hand that scores for the dealer.
• Tap two cards (or drag them up), then send them to the crib.
• The top card of the deck is turned up as the starter. If it’s a jack, the dealer pegs 2 for his heels.

The play

• The non-dealer leads. Take turns laying cards and calling the running total, which can’t go past 31. Court cards count 10, aces 1.
• Score 2 for making 15 or 31, 2 for a pair, 6 for three of a kind, 12 for four, and 1 a card for a run of three or more (in any order).
• If you can’t play without passing 31, it’s a go: the other player keeps playing if they can, then whoever played last scores 1 (none extra on 31). The count starts again from 0.
• The last card of the play scores 1. Cards you can’t play on the current count are dimmed.

The show

• Hands are counted with the starter in order: the non-dealer’s hand, the dealer’s, then the crib (for the dealer).
• Fifteens: 2 for every combination adding to 15. Pairs: 2 each. Runs: 1 a card, counted again for each duplicate.
• Flush: 4 for four hand cards of one suit, 5 if the starter matches too. The crib only scores a flush with all five.
• His nobs: 1 for the jack of the starter’s suit in hand. The best possible hand is 29.
• Every count is done for you and read out, like “Fifteen 2, fifteen 4, and a pair is 6”.

The board and winning

• Points are pegged on the board: your red pegs on the bottom track, the computer’s blue on top. The back peg leapfrogs the front one.
• The game ends the moment someone reaches 121, even mid-hand. Finish before the loser crosses the 91 line for a skunk.
• Easy, Normal and Hard change how well the computer discards and pegs. Undo takes back your last move and the computer’s reply.

Questions

Strategy guides