(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 ] [ 10 of diamonds ] [ 5 of hearts ] [ 4 of spades][ 5 of diamonds]

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 ] [ 3 of spades ] [ 3 of clubs ] [ 2 of spades ][ Ace of diamonds ]

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 ] [ 3 of spades ] [ 4 of spades ] [ 4 of diamonds ][ Ace of diamonds ]

It’s easy to miss 2 of the points in this hand. Check your answer.

29 hand

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.

Continue to Cribbage rules part 8 – Muggins


(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 ] [ 10 of diamonds ] [ 5 of hearts ] [ 4 of spades][ 5 of diamonds]

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 ] [ 3 of spades ] [ 3 of clubs ] [ 2 of spades ][ Ace of diamonds ]

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 ] [ 3 of spades ] [ 4 of spades ] [ 4 of diamonds ][ Ace of diamonds ]

It’s easy to miss 2 of the points in this hand. Check your answer.

29 hand

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.

Continue to Cribbage rules part 8 – Muggins