rules
Penalties in cribbage
What are the rules on penalties in the game of cribbage? How many different penalties are there in the game of cribbage? When playing with friends, we don't usually score penalty points for mistakes in play. In more serious games, though, especially in official tournaments, the ACC cribbage rules dictate various penalties that can be applied when things go wrong at different stages of the game.
Looking at the bottom card
Penalty: 2 points
After the cards are mixed and shuffled, neither player is allowed to look at the bottom card of the deck. If either does, the opponent can claim a 2 point penalty.
Similarly, following the cut, neither player must look at the bottom card of the top part of the pack. The penalty is the same.
Not confirming the wrong number of cards dealt
Penalty: 10 points backwards
If someone is dealt the wrong number of cards, there is a redeal. The player receiving the wrong number of cards must allow the dealer to confirm the number of cards in the hand. If he does not do this, his scoring peg is moved backwards 10 points, or back to zero if he has less than 10 points.
Examining the crib
Penalty: 2 points
Neither player must look at or count the points in the crib before the proper time. If this happens, the player is assessed a 2 point penalty.
Renege
Penalty: 2 points per renege card
If a player reneges (fails to play a card when she could have done), her opponent scores 2 points for each card that should have been played.
Incorrectly claiming the game
Penalty: 15 points backwards, opponent scores overclaim
If a player mistakenly pegs more than their actual score, and claims the game as a result, the opponent scores penalty points equal to the number overclaimed, and the offender takes a 15-point backward penalty (has to peg back 15 points).
Pegging with opponent's peg
Penalty: 2 points
If you accidentally (or otherwise) move your opponent's peg when pegging your own score, the opponent scores 2 penalty points.
Placing starter card in hand, crib or pack
Penalty: 2 points
When counting hands, neither player must mix the turn-up card into their own hand or crib, or place it back in the pack. There is a 2 point penalty for this.
Other penalties and special situations
There are many detailed instructions in the ACC cribbage rules for handling situations which may arise in play such as misdeals, and if you are playing in or organising a tournament it is important to familiarise yourself with them (and ideally have a printed copy of the rules handy to refer to).
Rules of cribbage
The rules of cribbage are simple and very easy to learn! Cribbage Corner has everything you need to get started playing the game, and also to help you progress and become a better player.
Aces in cribbage
Scoring aces: Is the ace high in cribbage?
In cribbage aces are always counted as one point, rather than as elevens or fourteens as in some other games. So, for example, A-2-3 is a run, but Q-K-A is not.
Counting aces as ones instead of elevens is part of the official rules of cribbage and not decided by the players' choice.
Skunk
A skunk in cribbage is when one player wins with a margin of 31 points or more. Another way to say it is that if he makes 121 or more when his opponent has 90 or less, he skunks the oppoent, which counts as two games.
A double skunk is when you win by 61 points, and is worth 3 games, though this rule is optional.
Lowball cribbage
Lowball cribbage is a variant of cribbage. Everything you know is wrong! In Lowball cribbage the aim is to score as low as possible, and the first to 121 is the loser. The winner scores a skunk if he has not yet reached 91 when his opponent pegs out. The play is turned on its head and zero-point hands suddenly become desirable. Playing Lowball will keep your skills and concentration sharp; it is easy to forget that one is trying not to peg points. The play requires you to rewrite your strategy - now you are trying to force your opponent into making scores, and avoid them yourself.
Lowball cribbage links
If you want to know more about lowball cribbage, visit the Lowball Cribbage web site.
Cribbage rules - winning the game
(Previous section: Cribbage rules - muggins)
In the standard six-card cribbage game the winner is the first player to reach 121 points, and the end of the board. The cribbage rules do not require you to score exactly 121; any score that takes you past 120 points is enough to win - provided you get to count it! If the loser has not reached 91 points the victor scores a skunk, or double win. Some players also set a double skunk line at 61, for a three (or four) game victory, which adds a certain piquancy to a crushing defeat. The double skunk rules are optional, however.
What next?
Now that you know the basic rules of Cribbage, you can start learning about Cribbage strategy and the secrets of the Cribbage masters!
Cribbage rules - Muggins
(Previous section: Cribbage rules - example hands)
The optional 'Muggins' rule allows your opponent to claim points which you fail to score in your own hand or play, or forget to peg on the board. While this certainly forces you to pay attention to the play and count your hand carefully, there are arguments against it: claiming a Muggin tends to slow down play, as you tend to count everything twice for fear of missing points. It also seems rather unfair to make you pay a double penalty (not only do you not get the points, your opponent gets them) for what is after all a simple mistake, not bad play. This is especially discouraging for beginners, who ironically are most likely to lose points this way. Muggins is usually played in tournaments, serious club play and between old friends who enjoy arguments.
By contrast, if you fail to play a card when you can, your opponent scores points for a renege.
Cribbage rules - example hands
(Previous section: Cribbage rules part 6 - the scoring)
Cribbage scoring may seem confusing at first, but soon becomes easy. Some practice will be required to spot all the scores in a hand, especially the 15s. Look at these example hands:
Example Hand 1
![[ 6 of clubs ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/6c.gif)
![[ 10 of diamonds ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/10d.gif)
![[ 5 of hearts ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/5h.gif)
![[ 4 of spades]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/4s.gif)
... ![[ 5 of diamonds]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/5d.gif)
This is a complicated hand, so follow this standard counting procedure. First count the 15s. How many can you see?
Each of the 5s can make 15 with the 10 - that's 2 15s. Each of the 5s can also make 15 with the 6-4 - that's another 2 15s. That's 4 15s in total, making 8 points.
Now look for pairs. There is one pair of 5s, making a further 2 points - that's 10 in total.
Now look for runs. Each of the 5s can make a 4-5-6 run of 3 - that's 3 points per run, 6 points in all, and the hand total so far is 16.
Finally, look for flushes and 'nobs' - there are none. So the hand scores 16.
Example Hand 2
![[ Jack of diamonds ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/jd.gif)
![[ 3 of spades ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/3s.gif)
![[ 3 of clubs ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/3c.gif)
![[ 2 of spades ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/2s.gif)
... ![[ Ace of diamonds ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/ad.gif)
Remember, count 15s first, then pairs, then sequences, then flushes and nobs. The answer is at the bottom of the page.
Example Hand 3
![[ 3 of hearts ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/3h.gif)
![[ 4 of diamonds ]](/sites/cribbagecorner.com/files/4d.gif)
...
It's easy to miss 2 of the points in this hand. Check your answer.
29 hand
This is the highest-scoring hand in cribbage. It is a useful exercise to understand where each of the 29 points comes from! (see answers).
Answers
Example Hand 2: 13 points. The J-2 makes 15 with both 3s, that's 4; a pair of 3s adds 2 to make 6; two runs A-2-3 add 6 to make 12; the Jack of nobs adds 1 point to make 13.
Example Hand 3: 6 points. The 3-3-4-4-A adds up to 15, that's 2; two pairs add 4 to make 6. Did you miss the 15?
29 Hand: 29 points. The J makes 15 with each of the 5s, that's 8; the 4 5s also make 15 four different ways, that's 16; double pair royal (four of a kind) adds 12 to make 28; the Jack of nobs makes 29. You will not find yourself called upon to count this hand very often.
Although the rules of cribbage are simple, the method of scoring takes a little practice to master. The article How to Count Cards in Cribbage details a little solitaire cribbage game you can play which will help you learn to score hands fast.
Cribbage rules - the scoring
(Previous section: Cribbage rules - the go)
Having played out all the cards, both players then score their hands, pone first - this time including the turn-up card as part of both hands. The dealer's crib also includes the turn-up. Again, points are scored for 15s, runs, and pairs; you can also score for a flush (all cards of the same suit) - see the cribbage scoring chart below for a handy reference. It is a key part of the rules of cribbage that the non-dealer should score first - at the end of the game, both players may have enough points to win, and the right to score first will determine victory. The cribbage board's positions usually alternate during the game, with first one player leading, then the other. The trick is to be in the first-scoring position when you are close enough to win!
Cribbage flush
If the four cards in your hand are of the same suit, you score four for a flush (a cribbage flush, unlike in poker, doesn't beat three of a kind!). If the starter card is also of the same suit, you score five. However, in the crib you cannot score a four-card flush; all five must be the same suit. These rules occasionally have local variations, so check to make sure which rules are being used. In an official tournament, the American Cribbage Congress rules apply.
Some cribbage rules sites explicitly state that flushes are not scored in cribbage. This is incorrect, at least according to the American Cribbage Congress rules, which are the nearest thing to an official set of rules for cribbage.
Cribbage pairs
2 points are scored for a pair in cribbage, and 6 for a pair royal - that is, three cards of the same rank. This can be considered as 3 different pairs worth 2 points each. Similarly, double pair royal (four of a kind) scores 12 as there are 6 ways of picking two cards from four. You begin to see why mathematicians love this game.
Combinations of cards making 15 score two points each - for example, 8 and 7. As many ways as you can make 15 with your cards, you score 2 points for each of them. For example, 8-7-7-A can make 15 three ways: the 8 and one 7, the 8 and the other 7, and the 7-7-A. Consequently it scores 6 points (for 15s, and a further 2 for the pair of 7s).
Cribbage runs
Runs score as many points as there are cards in them. For example, a four-card run 9-T-J-Q scores 4.
Cribbage nobs
You also score 1 point if you have the Jack of the same suit as the starter card (known as 'his nob' or just 'nobs').
Cribbage scoring chart
You can print out this cribbage scoring chart and keep it handy when you're playing!
| Score | Value | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 2 | - |
| Pair | 2 | - |
| Pair royal | 6 | Three of a kind |
| Double pair royal | 12 | Four of a kind |
| Run | 1 per card | Runs need not be in numerical order (eg 3-5-6-4) but they must be consecutive (3-4-4-5 does not score). |
| Go | 1 | The go is scored by the last player to lay a card. |
| 31 | 2 | The 2 points for 31 includes a go (by definition no-one can go when the total is 31). So no extra point is scored for the go. |
| Nobs | 1 | "One for his nob" is scored if you hold the Jack of the turn-up suit. |
Cribbage rules - the go
(Previous section: Cribbage rules - the play)
The cribbage rules for scoring 'go' sometimes cause confusion. You earn a point for go when your opponent cannot go. This may be (a) because he has no cards (sometimes called 'One for last'), or (b) because he cannot play without going over 31 ('One for the go'). In either case if you make the total 31 you score only 2 points on the cribbage board, not 3 (because the go is included, as described above). However, you may well make 15 with the last card (in which case you do score 3).
An example sequence of play showing the rules for pegging points by both players:
Alice (pone) plays a 4, for a total of 4, and says 'Four.'
Bob plays a 7, for a total of 11, and says 'Eleven'.
Alice plays another 4, for a total of 15, and says 'Fifteen for two.' [and pegs 2 points]
Bob plays a Jack, for a total of 25, and says 'Twenty-five'.
Alice cannot go, as any of her remaining cards would take the total over 31. She says 'go'.
Bob plays a 5, for a total of 30, and says 'Thirty, and one for the go' [and pegs 1 point]
The count now goes back to zero, and the play continues. Since Bob played the last card, Alice goes first now.
Alice plays a 7, for a total of 7, and says 'Seven'.
Bob plays an 8, for a total of 15, and says 'Fifteen for two.' [and pegs 2 points]
Alice plays a 9, for a total of 24, and says 'Twenty-four for three'. [and pegs 3 points for her run of 7-8-9]
Bob cannot go, as he has run out of cards. He therefore says 'Go', and Alice pegs a point for the go. She also has run out of cards and so the game proceeds to the next phase.
Another example:
Bob (pone) plays a 4, for a total of 4, and says 'Four.'
Alice plays another 4, for a total of 8, and says 'Eight for two.' [and pegs 2 points for the pair]
Bob plays a third 4, for a total of 12, and says 'Twelve for six.' [and pegs 6 points for the pair royal ]
Alice plays a 3, for a total of 15, and says 'Fifteen for two.' [and pegs 2 points]
Bob plays a 2, for a total of 17, and says 'Seventeen for three.' [and pegs 3 points for the run 4-3-2]
Alice plays a 5, for a total of 22, and says 'Twenty-two for four.' [and pegs 4 points for the run 5-4-3-2]]
Bob cannot go without going over 31, and so says 'Go'.
Alice plays a 9, for a total of 31, and says 'Thirty-one for two.' [and pegs 2 points. 'One for the go' is only scored when the scoring player does not make 31. ]
The count is now reset, and Bob plays first, as Alice played last.
Bob plays a Queen, for a total of 10, and says 'Ten.'
Alice cannot go, as she has run out of cards, and so says 'Go'. [ Bob pegs 1 point for the go. ]
For tips on how to make the most of the go, see the cribbage strategy section.
If you say 'Go' when you had a card you could legally play, this is a breach of the rules called a renege.
