Cribbage

Synexmedia.com

Pegging Board

Clare0

Ted0

Cliff0

You0

Game Log Ready

1. The Basics

Cribbage is a timeless card game for two to four players, traditionally played with a standard 52-card deck and a unique scoring board known as a crib board or pegging board. In this four-player edition, each player competes independently to be the first to reach the target score of 121 points. The game blends luck, strategy, and mathematical skill in a fast-paced environment.

2. The Deck and Card Values

A standard 52-card deck is used. For scoring purposes, cards have the following values:

Aces: Always worth 1 point.
Number Cards (2-10): Worth their face value.
Face Cards (Jack, Queen, King): All worth 10 points.

Note that while face cards all count as 10 for totals, they retain their rank (J=11, Q=12, K=13) for the purpose of forming runs.

3. The Deal

The dealer role rotates clockwise after each hand. In a four-player game, every player is dealt six cards. From these six, each player must choose one card to discard face-down into the "crib." The crib is a secondary hand that belongs exclusively to the dealer and is counted at the end of the round.

4. The Starter Card (The Cut)

Once the crib is formed, the player to the dealer's right cuts the deck. The dealer then flips the top card of the lower stack — this is the "starter card." If the starter is a Jack, the dealer immediately pegs 2 points, a bonus known as "His Heels" or "Nibs."

5. The Pegging Phase (The Play)

Starting with the player to the dealer's left, players take turns laying one card face-up in front of them. As cards are played, a cumulative running count is maintained, starting from zero and moving toward a maximum of 31.

The 31 Limit: No player may play a card that would cause the running count to exceed 31.
Saying "Go": If a player cannot play a card without going over 31, they must say "Go." The last player to have laid a card scores 1 point. If that last card brought the count to exactly 31, they score 2 points instead.
Resetting: After a "Go" or reaching 31, the count resets to zero, and play continues with the remaining cards until everyone has played their entire hand.

Pegging Scores: Reaching 15 (2 pts), Reaching 31 (2 pts), Pairs (2 pts), Three-of-a-kind (6 pts), Four-of-a-kind (12 pts), and Runs of three or more (1 pt per card).

6. The Counting Phase (The Show)

After all cards have been played in the pegging phase, players retrieve their hands to count their final scores. The starter card is considered a fifth card for every player's hand. Counting proceeds clockwise starting from the dealer's left.

Fifteens: Every combination of cards that totals exactly 15 scores 2 points.
Pairs: Any two cards of the same rank score 2 points.
Runs: Sequences of three or more consecutive ranks score 1 point per card.
Flush: If all cards in your hand match the same suit (4 or 5 cards), score 1 point per card. If the starter card also matches, score an additional point. (In the crib, all five cards — the four crib cards plus the starter — must match for a 5-point flush).
Nobs: If you hold the Jack of the same suit as the starter card, score 1 point.

7. The Crib

Finally, the dealer turns over the four cards in the crib and counts them in combination with the starter card. The same scoring rules apply as in "The Show." These points are added to the dealer's total.

8. Winning and Skunking

The first player to reach or exceed 121 points wins the game immediately. If a player wins before an opponent has reached 91 points, that opponent is "skunked." If they haven't reached 61, they are "double skunked."

9. Strategy Tips

Crib Discards: If it's your crib, discard high-value combinations like pairs or cards that sum to 15. If it's an opponent's crib, discard "dead" cards like a King and a 4.
Pegging Defense: Avoid leading with a 5, as it's the easiest card for an opponent to turn into a 15.
The Power of 5s: Fives are the most valuable cards in the deck because they can combine with any 10-value card (of which there are 16) to make 15.