The short answer
During the show, count your four kept cards together with the shared starter. A run is three, four or five consecutive ranks; suits do not matter. Each distinct run scores one point per card. When duplicate ranks offer multiple ways to make the same sequence, count each distinct run. Then add pair, fifteen, flush and nobs points separately. The dealer counts the crib in the same way for runs.
This page concerns runs in a hand or crib. Runs scored while cards are played toward 31 follow different rules; see Cribbage pegging. The complete Cribbage guide and playable game covers the rest of the round.
How to count a run
- Lay out your four kept cards and the starter; use ranks, not face-card values. Jack, Queen and King follow 10 in that order, while Ace is low.
- Find the longest available sequence of at least three consecutive ranks. A single run cannot use two cards of the same rank.
- For each rank in that sequence, choose one physical card. Count every distinct choice as another run, then multiply by the length of the run.
- Score each separate pair and each 15 as well. These points are not already included in the run-only subtotal.
For a run of four, 8-9-10-J scores 4 run points. A shorter 8-9-10 within those same cards does not earn another 3; count the longest run, not all of its overlapping fragments. Q-K-A is not a run: Ace stays low and does not wrap around King.
Double, triple and double-double runs
These familiar names are convenient shortcuts for run points plus the associated pair points. They do not include any additional fifteens, flush or nobs that the five-card hand may have.
| Example ranks | Distinct runs | Run points | Pair points | Shortcut subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-A-2-3 | Two runs of 3 | 6 | 2 | Double run of 3 = 8 |
| 10-10-J-Q-K | Two runs of 4 | 8 | 2 | Double run of 4 = 10 |
| 2-2-2-3-4 | Three runs of 3 | 9 | 6 | Triple run = 15 |
| 8-8-9-9-10 | Four runs of 3 | 12 | 4 | Double-double run = 16 |
The 15-point triple-run subtotal above is not the same thing as a fifteen combination. Three cards of one rank form three different pairs, which is why its pair portion is 6. Similarly, the two pairs in a double-double run contribute 4 points.
Worked five-card example: 24 points
Suppose your kept hand is 7♠, 7♥, 8♦, 9♣ and the starter is 8♣. Each 7 can pair with each 8 and the 9 to make 7-8-9. That is four different three-card runs, worth 4 × 3 = 12 run points. The two 7s are one pair, and the two 8s are another: 4 pair points. Each 7 combines with each 8 to total 15, giving four distinct fifteens: 8 more points. The full hand therefore scores 12 + 4 + 8 = 24.
If you want to check another hand, use the Cribbage hand calculator on the main game page. It separates runs, pairs and fifteens so you can see where the total comes from.
Common counting mistakes
- Mixing card value with rank: 10, J, Q and K each contribute 10 to a fifteen, but they are four different consecutive ranks for runs.
- Counting a pair as a run: Two equal ranks make a pair, not a run; a run needs at least three different consecutive ranks.
- Adding a shorter run inside a longer one: Count only the longest runs available from those cards.
- Treating a pegging run as a double run: During pegging, consecutive recent plays can form one run, but duplicate ranks do not multiply it.
- Forgetting the starter: The starter is the fifth card for both players' hands and the dealer's crib; it may complete or duplicate a run.
Source and next step
The run and pair values here follow the American Cribbage Congress 2025 rulebook and its Cribbage terms glossary. For how those points fit into a full round, read the complete Cribbage rules. Cardems is not affiliated with the American Cribbage Congress.
FAQ
Does a double run score 6 or 8?
A double run of three contains two three-card runs worth 6 run points and a pair worth 2 pair points, for a customary subtotal of 8. Other combinations in the hand may raise its final total.
Does a run have to be in order in my hand?
No. Rearrange the five card ranks mentally to find a consecutive sequence. The physical order of the cards in your hand has no effect on show scoring.
Can a crib score a double run?
Yes. The dealer's four crib cards plus the shared starter are counted for runs and pairs just like a hand. The special stricter crib rule applies to flushes, not runs.