2-Player, 3-Player & 4-Player Deal Rules
Standard Cribbage uses one 52-card deck. Face cards (J, Q, K) count as 10 for arithmetic, Aces count as 1, and numbered cards count at face value. For runs (sequences), Ace is always low (A-2-3 is valid; Q-K-A is not).
| Player Count | Cards Dealt Each | Direct to Crib | Each Player Discards | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Players | 6 cards | 0 | 2 cards to Dealer's crib | Standard competitive & online/offline mode (121 or 61 target). |
| 3 Players | 5 cards | 1 card face-down | 1 card each to Dealer's crib | Left of dealer starts pegging & counts first. Playable directly in CribbagePlay 3-Player. |
| 4 Players (Teams) | 5 cards | 0 | 1 card each to Dealer's crib | Partners sit opposite each other and share 1 pegging track per team. |
Complete Cribbage Scoring Chart
Phase 1: The Play (Pegging to 31)
Starting left of the dealer, players take turns laying one card face-up and calling out the cumulative count (never exceeding 31):
- Hit 15: +2 points
- Hit 31: +2 points (then reset count to 0)
- Pair / 3 of a kind / 4 of a kind: +2 / +6 / +12 points (must be consecutive plays within the same ≤31 sequence)
- Pegging Run of 3+: +1 point per card in the longest consecutive sequence at the end of the pile, in any played order (e.g., 5, then 3, then 4 = Run of 3!)
- Go / Last Card: +1 point to the last player who played before everyone passed under 31.
Phase 2: The Show (Hand & Crib Counting)
Once all pegging cards are played, players count hands clockwise starting left of the dealer—and the Dealer counts their Crib last:
- Every distinct 15 sum: +2 points
- Pairs / Trips / Quads: +2 / +6 / +12 points
- Runs of 3, 4, or 5: +3, +4, or +5 points per run (Double Run = 2×, Triple Run = 3×, Double-Double = 4×)
- Hand Flush: +4 points for 4 suited cards in hand (+5 if cut matches).
- Crib Flush: Must be all 5 cards matching suit (+5 points; 4 matching without cut = 0!).
- His Nobs: +1 point for a Jack in hand/crib matching the cut card's suit.
Common Confusions: His Nobs vs. His Heels, Muggins & Pegging Order
His Nobs vs. His Heels — which is 1 point and which is 2?
His Heels (+2) happens right after discarding: if the non-dealer/dealer turns up a Jack as the starter cut card, the Dealer immediately pegs 2 points. His Nobs (+1) happens at counting time (The Show): if you hold a Jack in your hand or crib matching the suit of the starter cut card, you score 1 extra point.
What is Muggins?
In club and pub Cribbage, players count their own hands aloud. If you miss points (for instance, saying 12 instead of 14), your opponent can call "Muggins!" and take the 2 overlooked points on the peg board. You can turn on Manual + Muggins anytime in CribbagePlay to test your counting accuracy.
Why is counting order left-of-dealer first so critical at the end of a game?
Whoever hits 121 first stops the game immediately—even if the dealer is holding a 24-point hand and a 16-point crib! Because the non-dealer counts first during The Show, pegging just enough points to stay within reach before counting first is a core endgame skill. Check tricky hands with our Hand Score Calculator or download our Printable Cheat Sheet.