| 2 players | 3 players | 4 players | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards dealt to each player | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Cards dealt straight into the crib from the deck | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Cards each player throws into the crib | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Cards each player keeps | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Cards in the crib | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Teams | No | No | 2 teams of 2 |
| Who plays first and counts first | The non-dealer | Next seat after the dealer | Next seat after the dealer |
| Points to win | 121 | 121 | 121 |
- Dealt straight into the crib: with three players, the dealer puts one card from the deck into the crib, face down, before anyone discards. It tops the crib up to four cards.
- Next seat after the dealer (often called “the dealer’s left”): the player sitting to the dealer’s left, which is the next seat going clockwise. They play first and count first.
Everything else works the same as in the two-player cribbage rules: the starter card, the 2 points the dealer scores if the starter is a Jack (called “his heels”), and how you score in pegging and when counting hands.
3-player cribbage
In three-player cribbage there are no teams: each player plays alone and keeps their own score. Each player gets five cards, one card goes from the deck straight into the crib, and everyone throws one card into the crib.
clockwise ↻
The game is played to 121, and the deal moves one seat to the left after each hand. With two opponents scoring against you, games feel faster than with two players.
3 players: the deal and the crib
Deal five cards to each player, one at a time, then deal one card face down into the crib. Each player throws one card into the crib, so it ends up with four cards.
- Choose the dealer: everyone cuts the deck, and the lowest card deals (Ace is low).
- Deal: five cards to each player, starting with the player to the dealer’s left, then one card into the crib.
- Throw one card: each player puts one card face down into the crib and keeps four.
- Turn the starter: the deck is cut and the dealer turns over the top card. If it’s a Jack, the dealer scores 2 points.
- The crib belongs to the dealer, as in the two-player game.
Amy is dealt five cards. She keeps the 5-6-7-8 run and throws the King into Dev’s crib, because a King rarely helps anyone else’s crib.
3 players: pegging and the go
The player to the dealer’s left plays first, then play goes clockwise. When a player can’t play without going over 31, they say “go”, the others keep playing if they can, and whoever plays the last card scores 1.
- Pegging scores are the same as with two players: 15 and 31 are worth 2, and pairs and runs score as usual. See the pegging rules.
- A player who has said go is skipped until the total goes back to 0.
- Pairs and runs can be made with cards from different players. If Amy plays a 7 and Ben plays a 7, Ben scores 2 for the pair.
- After a go or 31, the total goes back to 0 and the next player after whoever played the last card starts again.
4-player cribbage
Four-player cribbage is played in two teams of two, with partners sitting opposite each other. Each player gets five cards and throws one into the crib, and partners add their points together.
clockwise ↻
The first team to 121 wins. Team cribbage is popular in clubs and leagues, because a good partner can make up for a bad hand.
4 players: how teams work
Partners sit across from each other, so turns go back and forth between the two teams. Every point either partner scores goes onto the team’s one track on the board.
- Choosing teams: everyone cuts the deck. The two lowest cards play together against the two highest, and the lowest card deals first.
- One score per team. Both partners move the same pegs.
- The crib still belongs to the dealer, so it scores for the dealer’s team. When your partner deals, throw your best card into the crib.
- No table talk. Partners may not show each other cards or discuss what to throw or play.
4 players: the deal and the crib
Deal five cards to each player and nothing into the crib. Each player throws one card, so the crib has four cards and everyone keeps four.
- Deal: five cards to each player, starting with the player to the dealer’s left. The deal moves one seat to the left after each hand.
- Throw one card: each player puts one card face down into the dealer’s crib.
- Turn the starter: the deck is cut and the dealer turns over the top card. If it’s a Jack, the dealer’s team scores 2 points.
- Pegging: the player to the dealer’s left plays first, then play goes clockwise. When a player says go, the next player who can play carries on.
Who counts first in 3 and 4 player cribbage?
The player to the dealer’s left counts first, then counting goes clockwise. The dealer counts their own hand last, then counts the crib.
The order matters at the end of the game. The first player or team to reach 121 wins straight away, even if a later hand would also have got there. In four-player cribbage, a team can win on the first count before the dealer’s team counts anything.
Boards for 3 and 4 players
For three players you need a board with three tracks. For four players a normal two-track board works, because each team uses one track.
Three-track boards are often triangular or round, and many boards have three or four tracks. If your board only has two, keep the third player’s score on paper. See how the cribbage board works.
Tips for bigger games
With more players you still keep four cards but throw only one, so choosing is easier. Pegging matters more, because more cards are played before the total goes back to 0.
- Your one throw: into your own or your partner’s crib, throw a card that helps, like a 5. Into an opponent’s crib, throw a King or a card that doesn’t go with anything.
- Watch the total. With three or four players, 15s and 31s come up more often, and runs get built across several players.
- In teams, the next player is always an opponent. Avoid leaving the total on 5 or 21, where any ten-card gives them 15 or 31.
The scoring is the same in every version: see the cribbage scoring chart, or play two-player cribbage online to practise.
Questions
How many cards do you deal in 3-player cribbage?
Five cards to each player, plus one card dealt face down straight into the crib. Each player then throws one card to the crib, so the crib has four cards and everyone keeps four.
How many cards do you deal in 4-player cribbage?
Five cards to each player. Each player throws one card to the crib, so the crib has four cards and everyone keeps four. Nothing is dealt into the crib directly.
How do teams work in 4-player cribbage?
Four players play as two teams of two, with partners sitting opposite each other. Partners add their points together on one track of the board, and the first team to 121 wins.
Who counts first in 3 or 4 player cribbage?
The player sitting to the dealer’s left counts first, then counting goes clockwise round the table. The dealer counts their own hand last, and then the crib.
Is 3-player cribbage played in teams?
No. In three-player cribbage each player plays alone and keeps their own score, usually on a board with three tracks. The first player to 121 wins.
Can partners talk about their cards in 4-player cribbage?
No. Partners may not show or discuss their cards or hint at what to play. Each player decides on their own discard and plays on their own.
Is it the same game to 121 with more players?
Yes. Three-player and four-player games are normally played to 121, the same as the two-player game. Some groups play shorter games to 61.
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