How to Play Cribbage: A Simple Beginner’s Guide
Cribbage is one of the most classic card games, known for its mix of strategy, luck, and fast-paced scoring. Whether you're playing at home, at the cabin, or with friends, it’s a game that never gets old.
If you're new to cribbage, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
🎯 The Goal of the Game
The goal is simple:
Be the first player to reach 121 points
Points are tracked using a cribbage board, making the game unique and interactive.
🃏 What You Need
- A standard 52-card deck
- 2 players (3–4 players also possible)
- A cribbage board for scoring
🔄 How a Round Works
Each round has three main steps:
- Dealing the cards and building the crib
- Playing the cards (“The Go”)
- Counting points
1️⃣ Dealing & The Crib
Each player is dealt 6 cards.
- You choose 2 cards to discard into the crib
- The crib belongs to the dealer
- Each player keeps 4 cards
A starter card is then flipped from the deck.
If the starter card is a Jack, the dealer gets 2 points.
2️⃣ Playing the Cards (“The Go”)
Players take turns placing one card at a time, adding to a running total.
Card values:
- Ace = 1
- Number cards = face value
- Jack, Queen, King = 10
The total cannot go over 31.
Scoring During Play
- Total of 15 → 2 points
- Total of 31 → 2 points
- Pair → 2 points
- Three of a kind → 6 points
- Four of a kind → 12 points
- Runs (sequence like 5-6-7) → points equal to number of cards
The “Go” Rule
If you cannot play without going over 31:
- Say “Go”
- The other player continues
- The last player to play gets 1 point
3️⃣ Counting Your Hand
After all cards are played, hands are counted in this order:
- Non-dealer
- Dealer
- Crib (dealer only)
How to Score
You earn points for combinations:
15s
Any combination totaling 15 = 2 points
Pairs
Two matching cards = 2 points
Runs
A sequence of cards = points equal to length
Flush
4 cards same suit = 4 points
5 cards (including starter) = 5 points
His Nobs
Jack matching the starter suit = 1 point
💡 Beginner Tips
- Keep 5s — they are very valuable
- Be careful what you put in your opponent’s crib
- Build hands with multiple scoring chances
- Learn common combinations like 5 + 10 = 15
Looking for a handcrafted cribbage board?
Handmade in Newfoundland by F&C Gift Store.