How to Play Cribbage: Complete Instructions & Strategy Guide

Okay, let's be real - cribbage rules can seem confusing at first. I remember trying to learn from my grandpa years ago and getting totally lost when he started rambling about "his nobs" and "fifteens." But once it clicks? Man, this game's addictive. I've played over 500 games now (mostly with my coffee-addicted neighbor Dave), and I'm gonna break it down so you avoid the headaches I had.

The Absolute Essentials You Need

Before we dive into how to play cribbage instructions, gather these:

A standard 52-card deck (leave jokers in the box)
A cribbage board - those wooden things with holes. If you're desperate, paper works but loses the satisfying "click" of pegs
Two pegs per player (usually comes with board)

Funny story - my first game ever I used toothpicks as pegs. Bad idea. They snapped when I got excited about scoring 24 points. Spend the $10 on a real board.

Secret Weapon Setup

Getting this right saves arguments later:

Players	Cards Dealt	Crib Owner	Pegging Order
2 Players	6 cards each	Alternates each round	Non-dealer starts
3 Players	5 cards each	Dealer only	Left of dealer starts
4 Players (teams)	5 cards each	Dealer's team	Opposite dealer starts

Gameplay Breakdown Phase by Phase

Here's your core cribbage instructions roadmap:

Stage 1: Discarding to the Crib

After dealing, each player tosses 2 cards face-down into the "crib" (extra hand for dealer). This is where strategy kicks in. I used to dump random cards until Dave schooled me:

KEEP 5s if possible - they're point magnets
Avoid tossing pairs - you'll kick yourself later
When you're dealer - sometimes toss scoring combos to yourself

Stage 2: The Play (Pegging)

Non-dealer lays first card face-up, announcing its value (Ace=1, Jack=10, etc.). Next player adds a card while keeping cumulative total UNDER 31. Points scored during pegging:

Situation	Points	Example
Reaching exactly 15	2 points	Player 1 plays 7 (total=7), Player 2 plays 8 (total=15)
Pair (two of same rank)	2 points	Player 1: 5♦, Player 2: 5♠
Three of a kind	6 points	Three 9s in succession
Four of a kind	12 points	Four Jacks played consecutively
Run of 3+ cards	1 point per card	3, 5, 4 played in order (sequence matters!)
Hitting exactly 31	2 points	Any card making total=31
Last card under 31	1 point	Can't play without exceeding 31? Say "Go"

⚠️ Watch Out! Beginners constantly mess up runs. Remember: Cards must be played consecutively to count as a run. If someone plays 4, then 6, then 5? No run! Order must be sequential like 4-5-6.

Stage 3: The Show (Scoring Hands)

After pegging, players score their remaining 4-card hands plus starter card. Dealer scores crib last. Scoring breakdown:

Combination	Points	Example Hand	Why It Scores
Fifteen	2 per combo	7♦, 8♣, 5♥ (starter)	7+8=15 (2pts), 8+7=15 (already counted!), 7+8=15? Wait - only unique combos! Actually only one 15 here.
Pair	2	K♥, K♠	Basic pair
Three of a kind	6	8♣, 8♦, 8♥	Counts as three pairs (AB, AC, BC)
Four of a kind	12	Four 3s	Six possible pair combinations
Run (sequence)	1 per card	4♠, 5♥, 6♦	Three-card run = 3 points
Flush (hand)	4 (or 5)	All hearts in hand	Four-card flush if starter different suit
Flush (crib)	5 only	All spades including starter	Crib requires all five same suit
His Nobs	1	Jack of same suit as starter	Easy to miss! Jack must match starter suit

Pro Tip: When learning cribbage instructions, use the "fifteen-twenty-five" counting method: Scan for 15s first, then pairs/runs, then flushes/nobs. I score 30% faster this way.

Brutally Honest Strategy Tips

After losing 20 straight games to my wife (embarrassing, I know), I learned:

Discarding Do's and Don'ts

DO keep 5s - they combine with any 10/J/Q/K for easy 15s
DON'T break up pairs unless you have triplets
When non-dealer - sometimes discard junk to starve dealer's crib
When dealer - throw potential scorers into your crib

Pegging Mind Games

Last Tuesday I baited Dave into giving me 12 points with this trap:

I held 7,7,8,8 - kept both pairs
Led with 7 (Dave played 7 - I scored pair)
I played second 7 (making three 7s - 6 points!)
Dave groaned audibly

Key principles:

Lead with low cards (4s are golden) to force opponents over 15
Hold pairs until opponent plays matching rank
Remember cards played - especially 5s and face cards

Skunk Territory - Winning and Variations

First to 121 points wins (usually 121, sometimes 61 for short games). But real humiliation? Getting skunked (losing by 30+ points). Happened to me at a pub tournament - never lived it down.

Official Victory Conditions

Winning Margin	Name	Bragging Rights
1-30 points	Standard Win	Basic respect
31-60 points	Double Skunk	Loser buys drinks
61+ points	Triple Skunk	Legendary shame

Muggins Rule - The Sneaky Twist

Optional but brutal: If opponent miscounts their hand, you can shout "Muggins!" and steal those points. My local club uses this - keeps everyone sharp. Some find it mean though.

Advanced Variations Worth Knowing

Once you've mastered standard how to play cribbage instructions, try these:

Lowball Cribbage - Lowest score after 5 hands wins (totally changes strategy)
Captain's Cribbage - Play with two decks for crazy high scores
Cutthroat 3-Player - No teams, every player for themselves

Real Talk: Pain Points Beginners Face

Where new players get tripped up (I sure did):

Forgetting "His Nobs" - That jack matching starter card? I missed it for months
Overcounting 15s - Remember, 5+5+5 is only two 15s (5+5=15 and 5+5=15), not three!
Crib vs hand flushes - Crib requires all five same suit to score flush
Mispegging - Moving wrong peg? Just reset it. We've all done it

Your Cribbage Questions Destroyed

Q: Can you really learn cribbage in 10 minutes?
A: Absolutely not - anyone claiming that is selling something. The basics? Maybe. But strategy takes 20+ games. My first competent game took 45 minutes with constant rule checks.

Q: Why does the board have three tracks?
A> Standard boards have 120 holes x 3 tracks for tracking multiple games or keeping score during gameplay. Only two pegs per player though - you leapfrog them to mark progress.

Q: What's the rarest hand in cribbage?
A: Perfect 29 hand (three 5s + jack matching starter suit). Odds are 1 in 216,000. Been playing 12 years - never seen one live.

Q: Can you peg points during the show phase?
A: Nope! Pegging only happens during card play phase. Hand/crib scoring is separate. This trips up so many beginners.

Q: Why discard 2 cards when you only play with 4?
A: Creates the dealer's bonus crib hand - critical game mechanic. Without crib, dealer loses advantage.

Why This Guide Beats Others

Most cribbage instructions read like tax manuals. I've taught 83 people this game (yes, I count). What works:

Focusing on pain points (His Nobs, flush rules)
Showing real scoring examples with common hands
Warning about beginner traps (overcounting 15s)
Explaining strategy rationale beyond just rules

Seriously - print this and keep it with your board. I keep mine in my cribbage case with worn edges from use. And if you take one thing away: Watch for that jack matching the starter suit. Changed my game when I finally remembered consistently.