Cribbage

Cribbage is a card game for two players, scored by moving pegs around a board, and this page lets you play a cribbage game against the computer in your browser. The tool plays the standard six-card version with a 52-card deck, either to 121 points (the default) or a shorter game to 61. You play against one computer opponent, and there is no online play with other people.

The table shows a drawn cribbage board with two lanes: blue for you and orange for the computer. Your hand sits at the bottom, and the event log explains every score as it happens. If you are new to the cribbage card game, the rules section below walks through the deal, the crib, pegging and the show.

How to play cribbage online

1. Choose a Game length: Play to 121 (default) or Play to 61 (short game). Changing it starts a new game.
2. Set Computer speed to Speed: normal or Speed: fast. This does not restart the game.
3. Read the log to see who deals first. The game cuts for the first dealer automatically.
4. To discard, tap 2 cards so they lift with a blue outline, then press Send to crib (n/2). The button is enabled when 2 cards are selected.
5. During the play, tap a card to play it. Cards that would take the count over 31 are dimmed, and tapping one shows “That card would take the count over 31.” Go is announced automatically.
6. During the show, press the green button for each hand and the crib in turn: “Add N to the score” or “No points: continue”.
7. Press Hint to outline the card the computer logic would play, or, while choosing the crib, to select the 2 cards it would discard.
8. Press Rules to open the rules dialog, or New game to start again. There is no Undo.

To use the keyboard, click the table or press Tab to focus it. Use the Left and Right arrows to move over your cards, Enter or Space to play, and 1 to 6 to pick a card by position. C sends the 2 selected cards to the crib, H shows a hint, R opens the rules, N starts a new game, F goes fullscreen, and Esc closes a dialog.

How to play cribbage: the rules

Each player is dealt 6 cards and puts 2 of them into the dealer’s crib, so 4 cards stay in each hand. At the start of a game both players cut a card, and the lower rank deals first (aces count low; ties are re-cut). The deal then alternates every hand. After the crib is set, the starter card is cut from the rest of the deck. If the starter is a jack, the dealer scores 2 points for “his heels.”

How is cribbage scored during the play?

The non-dealer leads, and players take turns adding cards to a running count. Aces count 1, cards 2 to 10 count their face value, and jacks, queens and kings count 10. The count may never go above 31. Points are scored when a card makes exactly 15 or 31 (2 points each), a pair (2), three of a kind (6), or four of a kind (12). A run of 3 or more consecutive ranks scores 1 point per card. The last card played before the count restarts scores 1 point, unless it makes 31, which scores 2 only.

For example, a pile of 4♠, 6♥ and 5♦ makes 15 for 2 and a run of 3 for 3, which is 5 points. If a player cannot play without passing 31, they say go, and the other player keeps playing. The game handles go automatically, so you never press a button for it.

How is a cribbage hand scored in the show?

After the play, each hand is counted with the starter. The order is the non-dealer’s hand, then the dealer’s hand, then the dealer’s crib. Every combination of cards that adds to 15 scores 2. Pairs score 2, three of a kind 6, and four of a kind 12. Runs score 1 per card, and double or triple runs count in full. A flush scores 4 for four matching cards in the hand, or 5 if the starter matches too. The crib needs all 5 cards to match. A jack in the hand that matches the starter’s suit scores 1 for nobs.

Take 5♠ 5♥ 5♦ J♣ with the 5♣ starter. The game scores eight fifteens for 16, four 5s for 12, and nobs for 1, for a total of 29, the highest possible hand. A hand of 7♠ 7♥ 8♦ 8♣ with a 9♠ starter scores 4 fifteens for 8, a pair of 7s for 2, a pair of 8s for 2, and 4 runs of 3 for 12 totals 24.

What makes a cribbage crib score?

The crib belongs to the dealer, but it uses the same scoring. Take 2♥ 4♥ 8♥ K♥ with the 6♥ starter. All five cards are hearts, so the crib scores a 5-card flush for 5. With a 6♠ starter, the same four cards score 0 in the crib, though they would score 4 as a hand.

Who wins a cribbage game?

The first player to reach the target wins, and the game ends at that moment, even in the middle of the play or the show. A skunk happens when the loser has fewer than 91 points in a 121 game, or fewer than 31 in a 61 game. A double skunk happens when the loser has fewer than 61 points in a 121 game, or none in a 61 game. Muggins is not part of this version, so every hand is counted for you.

Cribbage strategy and tips

Use the rules to decide your discards. When you deal, the crib is yours, so throwing a pair, two cards that add to 15 or a 5 into it adds to your own score. When you do not deal, the crib belongs to your opponent, so avoid giving it 5s, pairs and cards that add to 15. Hint shows the average points for the 4 cards you keep, which is a useful check for your choice.

During the play, watch the count. Leaving the count at 5 or 10 lets the opponent make 15 with a 10 or a 5, and a count of 21 lets them make 31 with a 10-value card, so avoid leading a 5 when you can. Aim to make the count exactly 15 or 31 yourself, which scores 2, and keep track of the last-card point. The computer does the same kind of calculation for itself, so compare its choices to your own.

Frequently asked questions

Is this cribbage game free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes, it is free, and there is no account or sign-up. Your settings, stats and current game are kept in your browser.

Can I play cribbage on a phone?

Yes. You can tap cards and buttons on touch screens. On narrow screens, the cribbage board folds into 4 rows per lane so it fits.

Is my cribbage game saved?

Yes. The game in progress is saved after every action, along with the log, your options and your stats. The save lives in the browser on that device, so a different browser starts fresh.

Can I undo a move?

No. There is no Undo, so check your choice before you play or send cards to the crib.

Does the computer see my cards?

No. The computer only knows its own hand, the cards played so far and the starter. When it chooses its crib cards, it does not see yours.

Does the game count my hand for me?

Yes. All hands are counted automatically and correctly during the show, so nothing can be missed.

Can I play a three-player cribbage game?

No. This version is for two players, with the computer as your opponent. It does not offer 3- or 4-player games, 5-card cribbage, or online play.

More games

• Gin Rummy: another two-player card game to try if you enjoy matching cards.
• Euchre: a trick-taking card game for partners and teams, if you want something with more players.
• Hearts: a trick-taking game where you try to avoid certain cards.
• Spades: a partnership trick-taking game with bidding.
• Crazy Eights: a simple matching game that’s quick to learn.
• Go Fish: a beginner-friendly game of asking for cards to make sets.