Overview
Cribbage is one of the oldest and most enduring two-player card games in the world. Invented in 17th-century England by Sir John Suckling, it combines tactical card play with intricate hand scoring and an iconic wooden pegboard track.
In Cardems, you play head-to-head against a smart computer opponent. Each round features three distinct scoring opportunities: the deal and crib discard, the pegging phase (playing cards alternately up to a running count of 31), and The Show (counting combinations in hands and the crib).
Objective
Be the first player to score 121 points (pegging around the traditional board twice and into the game hole). The game ends the instant a player reaches 121, even in the middle of a hand or during pegging.
Setup
- A standard 52-card deck is used.
- Each player is dealt 6 cards.
- Both players inspect their cards and discard 2 cards face down into the dealer's crib (also called the box).
- Each player now holds 4 cards in hand, and the crib contains 4 cards belonging exclusively to the dealer.
- The non-dealer cuts the deck to reveal the top card of the remaining stock, known as the Starter (or Cut card).
How to Play
1. The Pegging Phase (The Play)
The non-dealer leads the first card face up to the center. Players alternate playing cards from hand, announcing the cumulative running total:
- Face values: Aces count as 1; number cards 2–10 count at face value; Jacks, Queens, and Kings count as 10.
- The 31 Limit: The running count may never exceed 31.
- Scoring during pegging:
- 15: Bringing the count to exactly 15 scores 2 points.
- 31: Bringing the count to exactly 31 scores 2 points.
- Pairs: Playing a card of the same rank as the previous card scores 2 points. A third of the same rank in immediate succession scores 6 points (pair royal), and a fourth scores 12 points (double pair royal).
- Runs: Playing a card that completes a sequence of 3 or more consecutive ranks (regardless of suit or play order) scores 1 point per card in the run.
- "Go" and Last Card: If a player cannot play a card without exceeding 31, they say "Go." The other player must play as many additional cards as possible without exceeding 31. The player who plays the final card under 31 scores 1 point for the Go (or 2 points if the total hits exactly 31).
- Once 31 is reached or both players cannot play, the count resets to 0 and the player who did not play the last card leads again.
2. The Show (Counting Hands)
After all 8 cards are pegged, players count the scoring combinations in their hands. The Starter card acts as a shared fifth card for both players' hands and the crib.
Counting order is strict:
- Non-dealer's hand is counted and pegged first.
- Dealer's hand is counted and pegged second.
- Dealer's crib is counted and pegged last.
| Combination | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Fifteens | Any combination of cards summing to exactly 15 | 2 points each |
| Pairs | Two cards of the identical rank | 2 points per pair |
| Runs | Three or more consecutive ranks (e.g., 7-8-9) | 1 point per card |
| Flush | Four cards in hand of the same suit (+1 if Starter matches) | 4 or 5 points |
| His Nobs | Holding a Jack in hand or crib matching the Starter's suit | 1 point |
Important Rules & Scoring
Every distinct subset of cards that forms a valid combination scores points:
Winning & Skunking
- The match ends the moment either player's score reaches or passes 121 points.
- Skunk: If the winner reaches 121 while the loser has scored fewer than 91 points, the loser is "skunked."
- Double Skunk: If the loser fails to reach 61 points, it is a double skunk.
Strategy
- Keep flexible 15-making cards: Fives are the most versatile cards in Cribbage because every 10-value card (10, J, Q, K) pairs with a 5 to make 15.
- Control the pegging count: Avoid leading with a 5 (which allows the opponent an easy 15 for 2 points). Leading from a pair or playing a 4 or low card sets up traps.
- Watch non-dealer priority: Because the non-dealer counts first in The Show, a trailing non-dealer can "count out" and win the game before the dealer gets to score a massive hand or crib.
- Compare mechanics with other meld-building classics like Gin Rummy and Rummy 500.
FAQ
What is the maximum possible hand score in Cribbage?
The highest possible score is 29 points, achieved by holding three 5s and a Jack, with the Starter card being the fourth 5 matching the Jack's suit (giving eight 15s for 16 pts, four of a kind for 12 pts, and His Nobs for 1 pt).
Does the game end immediately when 121 is reached?
Yes. Cribbage uses instant pegging. As soon as a peg crosses 121 during pegging or counting, play stops and that player wins.
What is the difference between His Heels and His Nobs?
"His Heels" (Nibs) is scored by the dealer for 2 points when the cut Starter card itself is a Jack. "His Nobs" is scored for 1 point during hand counting when a player holds a Jack of the same suit as the Starter card.
Can a flush be scored in the pegging phase?
No. Flushes are only scored during The Show when counting completed 4-card or 5-card hands.
