Pegging in 20 seconds
- The non-dealer plays first. Take turns laying one card and say the running count. It can never go past 31.
- Score 2 for making the count exactly 15 or exactly 31.
- Play the same card as the one just played, like a 7 on a 7, to score 2 for a pair. A third 7 straight after scores 6, and a fourth scores 12.
- Play a card that makes three or more cards in a row, like 4-5-6, to score 1 point per card. The order doesn’t matter: 5, then 4, then 6 still counts.
- If every card you hold would take the total over 31, say “go”. The other player keeps playing if they can. Whoever plays the last card scores 1.
| You play a card that… | Points |
|---|---|
| Makes the count exactly 15 | 2 |
| Makes the count exactly 31 | 2 |
| Pairs the card just played | 2 |
| Makes three of a kind in a row (pair royal) | 6 |
| Makes four of a kind in a row (double pair royal) | 12 |
| Completes a run of 3 or more, in any order | 1 per card |
| Is the last card before a go (count under 31) | 1 |
| Is the last card of the whole play (count under 31) | 1 |
How pegging works
Pegging is the middle part of each hand, after the crib is made and the starter is cut. The non-dealer lays the first card, players then take turns, and every card is added to a running count that can never go past 31.
- Each player plays their own four cards, one at a time, face up in front of themselves.
- Say the new count out loud each time, for example “seven”, then “fifteen for two”.
- Points are pegged on the board straight away, so the game can end in the middle of pegging if someone reaches 121.
- When all eight cards have been played, the play is over and the show (counting hands) begins. Keep your cards: you count them again in the show.
Card values are the same as in the show: Ace is 1, number cards are their number, and Jack, Queen and King are 10.
Scoring 15 and 31
If your card makes the running count exactly 15, you peg 2. If it makes the count exactly 31, you also peg 2, and the count goes back to zero.
Your opponent leads Q♥︎: “ten”. You play 5♣︎: “fifteen for two”. You +2
Later, the count is 24 and you play 7♦︎: “thirty-one for two”. You +2, and the count resets.
Only the card that lands exactly on 15 or 31 scores. Passing through 15 (from 12 to 18, say) scores nothing.
The go
You say “go” when every card you hold would take the count past 31. Your opponent then keeps playing any cards that fit, and whoever lays the last card pegs 1 point for the go.
- You can’t choose to say go. If any card fits, you must play it.
- Your opponent must keep playing while they have a card that fits. They can score pairs, runs and 31 as they go.
- The go is worth 1, or 2 if the last card makes exactly 31. Never both.
- Then the count resets to zero. The player who did not lay the last card leads the next series.
- If you have already run out of cards, you don’t say go — your opponent simply plays on.
- Dealer leads Q♥︎: “ten”.
- Non-dealer plays 9♠︎: “nineteen”.
- Dealer plays 8♦︎: “twenty-seven”.
- Non-dealer holds 5♥︎ and 6♣︎. Either would make 32 or 33, so: “go”.
- Dealer plays 3♣︎: “thirty”. Nothing else fits, so the dealer pegs 1 for the go.
- The count resets. The non-dealer did not play the last card, so they lead next.
The last card
Whoever plays the very last card of the play pegs 1 point for “last card”, or 2 if that card makes exactly 31. It is scored the same way as a go.
The last card of the hand ends the final series, so it works exactly like a go that nobody had to call. You score it once: a card that makes 31 scores 2 for the 31 only.
Because the last card is worth a point, it pays to keep a low card for the end when you can — it is easier to squeeze in under 31.
Pairs while pegging
If you play a card of the same rank as the card just played, you peg 2 for a pair. A third card of that rank in a row scores 6 (a pair royal), and a fourth scores 12 (a double pair royal).
| Cards played in a row | Example | Points for the last card |
|---|---|---|
| Pair | 8♥︎ then 8♠︎ | 2 |
| Pair royal (three of a kind) | 8♥︎ 8♠︎ 8♦︎ | 6 |
| Double pair royal (four of a kind) | 8♥︎ 8♠︎ 8♦︎ 8♣︎ | 12 |
- Same rank, not same value. A 10 and a King are both worth 10, but they are not a pair.
- The cards must come one after another. 8, 3, 8 is not a pair: the 3 breaks it.
- Pairs stop at a reset. A card led after a go or 31 cannot pair the last card of the previous series.
- A pair royal can be split between players. If you play an 8, your opponent pairs it for 2, and you play the third 8, you score 6.
The 8 in the middle scores 2 for a pair. The third 8, played straight after, scores 6 for a pair royal.
Runs while pegging
If the last three or more cards played form a sequence in any order, the player who completes it pegs 1 point per card in the run. 5, then 3, then 4 is a run of three for 3 points.
- 3♠︎: three. 5♦︎: eight.
- 4♣︎: twelve, and a run of three (3-4-5) for 3.
- 6♥︎: eighteen, and a run of four (3-4-5-6) for 4.
- 2♦︎: twenty, and a run of five (2-3-4-5-6) for 5.
- Order doesn’t matter, but the cards must be the most recent ones played.
- A card that doesn’t fit breaks the run. After 3, 5, 9, playing a 4 scores nothing, because the 9 sits in between.
- A pair breaks a run too. 4, 5, 5 is a pair for 2, not a run.
- Aces are low. Q-K-A is not a run.
- Runs stop at a reset, just like pairs.
One card, several scores
One card can score more than once. If it makes 15 and also completes a pair or a run, you peg both.
| Cards played | Last card scores | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 4♠︎ 5♦︎ 6♣︎ | Fifteen (2) + run of three (3) | 5 |
| 5♠︎ 5♦︎ 5♣︎ | Fifteen (2) + pair royal (6) | 8 |
| 10♥︎ 7♦︎ 7♠︎ 7♣︎ | Thirty-one (2) + pair royal (6) | 8 |
A full pegging example
Here is one complete play, card by card. The non-dealer holds 4♠︎ 6♦︎ 9♣︎ K♥︎ and the dealer holds 5♥︎ 7♣︎ J♠︎ 3♦︎.
resets
- Non-dealer leads 4♠︎: “four”.
- Dealer plays 5♥︎: “nine”.
- Non-dealer plays 6♦︎: “fifteen for two, and a run of three for three”. Non-dealer +5
- Dealer plays 7♣︎: “twenty-two, and a run of four”. Dealer +4
- Non-dealer plays 9♣︎: “thirty-one for two”. Non-dealer +2. The count resets, and the dealer leads because the non-dealer played the last card.
- Dealer leads J♠︎: “ten”.
- Non-dealer plays K♥︎: “twenty”. Not a pair — a Jack and a King are different ranks.
- Dealer plays 3♦︎: “twenty-three”, the last card of the play. Dealer +1
Pegging total: non-dealer 7, dealer 5.
Want to see this happen without doing the maths? The online game scores every 15, pair, run and go for you, and explains each one.
Common pegging disputes
Most pegging arguments come down to five rules: you must play if you can, go and 31 never score together, pairs need the same rank, runs can be in any order, and nothing carries past a reset.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I hold a card back and say go? | No. If a card fits, you must play it. |
| I made 31. Do I also get the go? | No. 31 scores 2 on its own. |
| Is Jack-Queen-King a run? | Yes, if they are the last three cards played, in any order. It also counts 30. |
| Is 10 then King a pair? | No. Same value, different rank. |
| My opponent said go. Can I keep scoring? | Yes. Keep playing while cards fit, and score any 15s, pairs, runs or 31 as normal. |
| Who leads after the go? | The player who did not play the last card. |
| Does pegging count for the skunk line? | Yes. Every point counts, whenever it is scored. |
For tactics — what to lead, and which counts to avoid — see the pegging strategy tips. For the rest of the game, read the full cribbage rules.
Questions
Do you get a point for go and 31?
No. If your card makes exactly 31 you peg 2 for the 31 and nothing extra for the go. If you play the last card and the count is under 31, you peg 1 for the go.
Do you get a point for the last card in cribbage?
Yes. Whoever plays the final card of the whole play pegs 1 point for last card, or 2 if that card makes exactly 31.
Can you say go if you have a card you can play?
No. If any card in your hand keeps the count at 31 or under, you must play it. You only say go when every card you hold would take the count past 31.
Who leads after a go in cribbage?
The player who did not play the last card. The count goes back to zero and that player starts the next series with any card.
Is a 10 and a King a pair in cribbage?
No. A pair must be the same rank. A 10, Jack, Queen and King are all worth 10 points, but they are four different ranks, so they never pair with each other.
Do runs have to be in order when pegging?
No. The last three or more cards played count as a run in any order. 5 then 3 then 4 is a run of three. A card that does not fit, or a pair, breaks the run.
Do pairs and runs carry over after 31 or a go?
No. When the count resets to zero, scoring starts fresh. A card played after the reset cannot pair or run with cards from the previous series.
Can you score a flush while pegging?
No. Flushes only count in the show, when hands and the crib are counted. Suits never matter during pegging.
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