Cribbage Scoring Guide
Every cribbage hand is scored with the starter card, so you count five cards. Here are all the ways to score.
Scoring in the show
| Combination | Points |
|---|---|
| Each different combination of cards totaling 15 | 2 |
| Pair | 2 |
| Three of a kind (pair royal) | 6 |
| Four of a kind (double pair royal) | 12 |
| Run of three or more consecutive ranks | 1 per card |
| Flush: 4 hand cards of one suit | 4 |
| Flush: hand plus starter of one suit | 5 |
| Crib flush (all 5 cards must match) | 5 |
| Nobs: Jack of the starter's suit in hand | 1 |
Scoring during play
15 = 2, 31 = 2, pair = 2, three of a kind = 6, four of a kind = 12, runs = 1 per card, go or last card = 1. If the starter is a Jack, the dealer scores 2 for his heels.
Double runs
A pair inside a run doubles the run. For example 4-5-5-6 contains two runs of three (4-5-6 twice) plus a pair: 3 + 3 + 2 = 8 points before fifteens. Common names: double run (8), double double run like 4-4-5-5-6 (16 plus fifteens), and triple run like 4-5-5-5-6 (15 plus fifteens).
Worked example
Hand 5-5-10-J with a 5 starter, Jack matching the starter's suit:
- Fifteens: each 5 with the 10 (3 ways), each 5 with the J (3 ways), and 5-5-5 = 7 fifteens = 14
- Three of a kind = 6
- Nobs = 1
Total: 21 points. Try your own hands in the cribbage hand calculator.
Impossible scores
A hand cannot score 19, 25, 26 or 27. The maximum is 29.