One card, many combos
Four fifteens (each 6 pairs with each 9) make 8. Two pairs make 4. Together that's 12 points.
The show, counting your hand
To count a cribbage hand, take your four cards plus the cut card and score every combination you can find. Each set adding to fifteen is 2. Each pair is 2. A run of three or more is 1 per card. Four of a suit is 4. The Jack of the cut card's suit is 1.
The show is the last beat of the hand. Once every card has been played, both players pick their four cards back up and count them, and the dealer counts the crib as well.
- Deal six cards each
- Throw two to the crib
- Cut one card for all
- Play count to 31
- Show score your hand
How counting works
You count your four cards with the cut card as a fifth card. Every distinct combination scores, and the same card can appear in several combinations. That is the whole trick, and it is why a hand can be worth far more than it first looks.
The non-dealer counts first, then the dealer's hand, then the dealer counts the crib. That order matters at the end of a game. A non-dealer can count out and win before the dealer ever gets to a monster hand.
- Fifteens. Every combination of cards totaling exactly 15 scores 2.
- Pairs. 2 each. Three of a kind scores 6, because it holds three pairs. Four of a kind scores 12.
- Runs. Three or more consecutive ranks, 1 per card. A pair inside a run doubles it.
- Flush. All four hand cards in one suit scores 4. If the cut card matches too, 5. A crib flush needs all five.
- Nobs. Holding the Jack of the cut card's suit, 1.
Two hands, counted
fifteen · 6♠ 9♥
Tally 2 +2
fifteen · 9♦ 6♠
Tally 4 +2
fifteen · 6♣ 9♥
Tally 6 +2
fifteen · 6♣ 9♦
Tally 8 +2
pair · 6♣ 6♠
Tally 10 +2
pair · 9♦ 9♥
Tally 12 +2
12 points in all.
A double run
The pair of sixes makes the 4-5-6 run twice for 6. Add two fifteens for 4 and the pair itself for 2. That's 12 points.
fifteen · 4♣ 5♦ 6♥
Tally 2 +2
fifteen · 4♣ 5♦ 6♠
Tally 4 +2
pair · 6♠ 6♥
Tally 6 +2
run of 3 · 4♣ 5♦ 6♠
Tally 9 +3
run of 3 · 4♣ 5♦ 6♥
Tally 12 +3
12 points in all.
Three more hands follow. Press Count it and watch each combination light up in turn. When that feels easy, hide the answers and count them yourself.
A flush
Four hearts in hand, 4 points. The cut card is a club, so no fifth.
Nobs
The Jack of clubs matches the club cut card. That is 1 point.
The perfect 29
Eight fifteens make 16. A double pair royal makes 12. Add nobs for 1. That's the best hand in cribbage.
Two Jack rules, easily confused
His heels is a Jack turned up as the cut card. The dealer pegs 2 on the spot, before any play. Nobs is holding the Jack of the cut card's suit. That is 1 point in the show, for whoever holds it, crib included.