Cribbage for Beginners – Learn by Playing
Never played cribbage before? This is the easiest place to start. You play a relaxed Beginner computer opponent, a short tip appears on every turn, and the game counts each hand and shows exactly where every point came from. Free, no download, no signup.
- Tips on every turnWhich cards to throw, when you can score, and when to say Go.
- Hint buttonStuck? Tap Hint and the game suggests a good move.
- Every point explainedEach fifteen, pair and run is listed as the hand is counted.
- Fair and friendlyFair shuffles, and the bot never sees your cards. It just plays loosely.
What is cribbage?
Cribbage is a card game for two players, played with a normal 52-card deck. You score points by making combinations of cards, such as cards that add up to 15, pairs and runs. Points are kept on a cribbage board, and the first player to reach 121 points wins.
Your first game, step by step
Here is what happens in each round of the practice game above, and what you need to do.
- Cut for deal. Tap any card from the spread. The lowest card deals first (Ace is low). The dealer owns the crib this round.
- Throw two cards into the crib. You get six cards. Tap two of them, then confirm. The crib is an extra hand that scores for the dealer, so throw good cards into your own crib and awkward ones into your opponent’s.
- The starter card is turned up. It counts as a fifth card in every hand. If it is a Jack, the dealer scores 2 points, called his heels.
- Pegging. Take turns playing one card at a time and add it to a running count, which can never go past 31. Score 2 for making the count exactly 15 or 31, 2 for a pair, and 1 per card for a run of three or more. If you cannot play without going over 31, say Go.
- The show. Each hand is counted together with the starter card: the non-dealer first, then the dealer, then the dealer’s crib. The game lists every score line by line.
- Next deal. The deal swaps each round. Keep playing until someone reaches 121.
How scoring works (learn these first)
Card values: Ace = 1, Jack, Queen and King = 10, every other card is its number. These are the combinations you count in the show:
| Combination | Points | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fifteen – any cards adding to 15 | 2 each | 7 + 8, or 2 + 3 + K |
| Pair – two cards of the same rank | 2 | 9 + 9 |
| Three of a kind | 6 | 9 + 9 + 9 (three pairs) |
| Four of a kind | 12 | 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 (six pairs) |
| Run – three or more cards in sequence | 1 per card | 4-5-6 = 3 |
| Flush – four hand cards of one suit | 4 (5 if the starter matches) | The crib needs all five |
| His nobs – Jack of the starter’s suit | 1 | J♥ with a ♥ starter |
A worked example
Your hand is 5♥ 5♣ J♠ 4♦ and the starter is 6♣.
- Fifteens: each 5 with the Jack (2 ways), and each 5 with 4 + 6 (2 ways). Four fifteens = 8.
- Pair: the two 5s = 2.
- Runs: 4-5-6 can be made twice, once with each 5 = 6.
- No flush, and no nobs, because the Jack is a spade and the starter is a club.
Total: 16 points. Players count it out loud as “fifteen-two, four, six, eight, a pair is ten, and two runs make sixteen”. To check your own hands, use the cribbage hand calculator or print the scoring cheat sheet.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting the starter card. It counts in your hand and the crib, so always include it when you count.
- Giving 5s to your opponent’s crib. A 5 makes 15 with any 10, Jack, Queen or King.
- Splitting cards that work together. When you discard, keep pairs, runs and cards that make 15.
- Leaving the count on 5 or 21 in pegging. Your opponent can then score with any ten-card.
- Missing fifteens made from three cards. Look for groups like 2 + 6 + 7 or 3 + 4 + 8, not just pairs of cards.
When these feel natural, the cribbage strategy guide covers smarter discards and pegging.
Cribbage words for beginners
- Crib – the four cards both players discard. They score for the dealer.
- Starter (or cut) – the card turned face up after discarding. It counts in every hand.
- Pegging (the play) – playing cards in turn and scoring as the count goes up to 31.
- Go – what you say when you cannot play without going over 31.
- Pone – the non-dealer. The pone plays first and counts first.
- His heels – 2 points for the dealer when the starter is a Jack.
- His nobs – 1 point for holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter.
- Skunk – losing by a lot: finishing below 91 points.
For how the pegs move around the board, see the cribbage board explained.
A simple practice plan
- Play two or three games here and read every tip and score panel.
- Choose your discards yourself, then tap Hint to compare.
- Count each hand in your head before the game shows the answer.
- When you are winning most games, move up to a tougher opponent.
Play the full game – Intermediate & Advanced
Keep learning
Questions from new players
What is the easiest way to learn cribbage?
Play while you learn. Reading the rules first is hard going, but a practice game shows you each step as it happens. On this page the computer plays at Beginner level, a tip appears on every turn and each hand is counted for you line by line.
How long does it take to learn cribbage?
Most people understand the basic rules after one game. Counting a hand quickly takes a few more, because you need to spot fifteens, pairs and runs at a glance. After five to ten games most beginners count confidently.
Do I need a cribbage board to learn?
No. The online game moves the pegs and keeps the score for you. A wooden board is only a way of keeping score, so you can learn the game first and the board later.
Is the Beginner computer opponent fair?
Yes. The cards are shuffled fairly and the computer never sees your hand. At Beginner level it simply plays loosely and sometimes misses points, which gives you room to learn.
Can kids learn cribbage?
Yes. If a child can add numbers up to 31, they can play. Making fifteens and keeping the running count is good mental maths practice, and the tips explain each score.
What does fifteen-two mean in cribbage?
It is how players count out loud. Each combination of cards adding to 15 is worth 2 points, so you say fifteen-two for the first, fifteen-four for the second, and so on. Then you add pairs and runs, for example fifteen-four and a pair is six.