Five-card Cribbage♠

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Context and objective

Cribbage developed from Noddy in early modern England. Five-card play is the older form, still documented in British local leagues; six-card play is now more widespread. This guide selects the 5-card game, not a mixture. First to reach 61 wins immediately, including during play or turning the starter. Scores cannot tie because they are counted in a fixed order.

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Deal and discard

Use 52 cards without jokers; ace is low. For totals A=1, numerals face value, J/Q/K=10. Cut for first dealer: lower card deals; recut equal values. Alternate dealers thereafter. Dealer shuffles, opponent cuts, then deal 5 each singly. Each secretly discards two into the dealer’s four-card crib, keeping 3. Opponent cuts the remainder; expose the top of the lower packet as starter. A jack starter gives dealer 2 immediately. The starter is never played. Only before the first deal, non-dealer receives 3 compensation points.

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Play and immediate scores

Non-dealer starts; alternate single cards, keeping each player’s cards separate. Announce the combined running value, never exceeding 31. If unable to play, say go; opponent continues while able. Score immediately: total 15 gives 2; same-rank consecutive pair/triple/quadruple gives 2/6/12 to the latest player; a suffix of at least three consecutive ranks gives its length, in any order, with no duplicates or gaps. Only the longest suffix run counts. Aces are low; suits do not matter.

When neither can play, this play phase ends permanently, even with cards unplayed. Do not restart at zero. The last player gets 2 for exactly 31, otherwise 1 for go or last card; never both. Other combinations score in addition.

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Counting hands and crib

Reassemble the original 3-card hands. Count non-dealer first, dealer second, dealer’s crib last; add the same starter to each. Every distinct subset totalling 15 scores 2; every pair scores 2. Count each distinct longest run of at least three at its length, including multiplicity from duplicate ranks, but not shorter contained runs. A card may score in several different combinations. A hand jack matching the starter’s suit adds 1.

All 3 hand cards of one suit score 3, increased to 4 if the starter matches. A crib flush requires all four crib cards plus starter of one suit, worth 5. No flush is scored during play. Correct missed counts openly; our profile has no muggins point stealing. Gather all cards, shuffle and change dealer if nobody has won.

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Worked example

Hand:4♣,5♦,6♥; starter 5♠. The pair scores 2. Two runs:3+3=6. Two totals of 15:2+2=4. Total 2+6+4=12. No flush or matching jack.

← On a small screen, scroll the diagram horizontally. →

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Choose before starting

Partnership play, different targets, muggins and match bonuses for a heavily defeated opponent require separate agreements. They do not alter this individual game. The decisive distinction is the single count to 31, not merely dealing one fewer card.

Common questions