Pegging at a glance
Pegging is the scoring phase in which players take turns laying down their four kept cards. The non-dealer plays first. Each play adds its card value to a running total that cannot exceed 31. An Ace counts 1; numbered cards count their number; a Jack, Queen or King counts 10. The starter card does not enter the pegging sequence.
Score a combination immediately when the card you just played completes it. A single play can earn more than one type of score. After a count ends, start a fresh count at zero with any cards still in hand. For the deal, discard and hand-counting rules, see the complete Cribbage guide.
Pegging points table
| What your card completes | Points | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Count of exactly 15 | 2 | Running total reaches 15 |
| Count of exactly 31 | 2 | Running total reaches 31 |
| Pair | 2 | Last two cards played have the same rank |
| Three of a kind | 6 | Last three cards played have the same rank |
| Four of a kind | 12 | Last four cards played have the same rank |
| Run | 1 per card | Last 3 or more cards form consecutive ranks, in any order |
| Go or last card below 31 | 1 | Final legal card of that count; never an extra point on top of 31 |
The three- and four-of-a-kind figures are total scores for that play, not 6 or 12 points added to a pair score on the same play. Suits do not matter for pairs or runs. A 10 and a Jack are both worth 10 in the count but are different ranks, so they are not a pair.
Count to 15 and 31
The announced running count matters for fifteens and thirty-ones. For example, if the count is 10, playing a 5 makes 15 and scores 2. If the count is 26, another 5 makes 31 and scores 2; the count then resets. You do not also score a separate last-card point for reaching 31.
How runs work during pegging
Look backward from the card just played. The most recent unbroken group of three or more cards must contain consecutive ranks, with no duplicate rank, although those ranks may have been played out of order. The points equal the number of cards in the longest qualifying group.
| Cards played in this count | Result on final card | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 7, 5, 6 | Run of 3 = 3 points | 5-6-7 are consecutive despite play order |
| 7, 5, 6, 8 | Run of 4 = 4 points | The last four ranks are 5-6-7-8 |
| 3, 4, 7, 5 | No run | The 7 interrupts any 3-4-5 group ending at 5 |
| 3, 3, 4, 5 | Run of 3 = 3 points | Only the latest 3, 4, 5 form the qualifying group |
Do not multiply a pegging run because a rank appeared twice earlier. Double runs are a hand-counting concept, explained in Cribbage runs and double runs. Once a new count starts after 31 or Go, cards from the previous count cannot contribute to a new run or pair.
Go and the final card
If you cannot play any remaining card without taking the count above 31, say “Go.” The other player continues playing every card they legally can. If their last play leaves the count below 31, they score 1 point for Go. If that play reaches exactly 31, they score 2 for 31, not 2 plus another point for Go. If neither player can play, the last player to lay a card scores 1 below 31 and the count resets. At the very end of pegging, the final card also scores 1 below 31, or 2 at exactly 31.
For example, at a count of 27, a player holding only 5s must call Go. If the opponent plays a 3 to reach 30 and can play no more, that opponent receives 1 point. The player who did not lay the last card leads the next count, if they have cards left. A player who called Go may still hold cards for that new count.
Check the rule source and practice
These scoring rules follow the American Cribbage Congress 2025 rulebook, particularly its rules for The Play. The Cardems Cribbage game and full rules let you practice pegging against the computer; the same page also explains the starter, crib and hand score. Cardems is not affiliated with the American Cribbage Congress.
FAQ
Do you score 1 extra point after making 31?
No. Exactly 31 is worth 2 points total for that play. The 1-point Go or final-card award is only for a count that ends below 31.
Can an out-of-order run score during pegging?
Yes. Playing 7, then 5, then 6 earns 3 points when the 6 lands. The recent ranks must be consecutive, but their play order need not be ascending.
Is a pegging run the same as a double run in a hand?
No. Pegging examines the recent cards in the current play sequence and awards the length of its longest qualifying run. During the show, the five-card hand can contain multiple distinct runs formed by duplicate ranks, and pairs score separately.