Cribbage Calculator - Accurate Scoring Tool
Enter your cards, starting with the cut card, then score your hand or crib.
Enter the cut first for hand/crib scoring. For pegging, enter cards in play order; the last card is scored.
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Permanent score page and full breakdown
Open this hand in the interactive calculator
Use this link to share this scoring page with the current showing cards.
Scoring Examples
Every possible score · Explore 260 scored hands
- 29 Points - 5H,5D,5C,5S,JH (Maximum possible score with four Fives and a Jack) Hand
- 12 Points - 5D,5C,6S,7H,8H (Run combinations) Hand
- 20 Points - 7D,7C,8S,7H,8H (Multiple pairs and fifteens) Hand
- 10/6 Points - 5C,8D,3D,JD,5D (Hand scores 10, Crib scores 6) Hand Crib
- 5 Points - 6D,4C,5S,7H,8H (Pegging sequence) Pegging
Cribbage Scoring Rules
The Starter Card
The player on the dealer's left cuts the undealt portion of the deck (leaving at least 4 cards), and the dealer reveals the top card, called the "starter" or the "cut", placing it on top of the deck face up. (It is illegal to peek at any other cards in the deck during this process.) If this card is a Jack, the dealer scores two points for "his heels", also known as "his nibs", or simply "nibs". The game can end on a cut of a Jack for the dealer.
The Play (Pegging)
In addition to scoring one or two points for the last card, players score points according to the following rules:
-
fifteen-twos
- two points for a cumulative total of exactly fifteen ("fifteen two")
-
runs
- three points for completing a run of three cards, regardless of the order in which they are laid (a 6, then a 4, then a 5 is a run of three even though they were not laid in order)
- four points for completing a run of four
- five points for completing a run of five
- six points for completing a run of six
- seven points for completing the run of seven; e.g. playing 2, 4, 6, A, 3, 5 and 7
-
pairs
- two points for laying a card of the same rank as the previous card, thus completing a pair
- six points for laying a third card of the same rank (a "pair royal" or "trips")
- twelve points for laying a fourth card of the same rank (a "double pair royal" or "quad")
The Show (Hand Scoring)
Once the play is complete, each player in turn receives points based on the content of their hand. Starting with the player on the dealer's left, players spread out their cards on the playing surface and calculate their score based on these four cards and the starter card:
-
fifteen-twos
- two points for each separate combination of two or more cards totalling exactly fifteen
-
runs
- three points for a run of three consecutive cards (regardless of suit)
- four points for completing a run of four
- five points for completing a run of five
-
pairs
- two points for a pair of cards of a kind
- six points for three cards of a kind (known as a "pair royal", comprising three distinct pairs)
- twelve points for four cards of a kind (a "double pair royal", comprising six distinct pairs)
-
flush
- four points for a flush, where all four cards in the hand are of the same suit, with an additional point if the starter card is also of that suit.
- Unlike the dealer's own hand, the crib cannot score a four-card flush, but it can score a five-card flush with the starter.
- his nob
- one point for holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter card ("one for his nob" or "... his nobs" )
Flush Rules
A flush in cribbage scores points when all cards in the hand are of the same suit:
- Four-card flush: 4 points when all four cards in the hand match the same suit. The starter card does not need to match.
- Five-card flush: 5 points when the four hand cards and the starter card are all the same suit.
- Crib flush: The crib only scores a flush if all five cards (four crib cards plus the starter) are the same suit. A four-card flush in the crib does not score.
His Nobs
"His nobs" awards 1 point for holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter card. This is scored during the show phase when calculating hand points. Note that this is different from "his heels" which awards 2 points when the starter card itself is a Jack.
Common Scoring Combinations
- Fifteen: Any combination of cards totaling 15 scores 2 points. Multiple fifteen combinations each score separately.
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank score 2 points.
- Pair Royal: Three cards of the same rank score 6 points (three distinct pairs).
- Double Pair Royal: Four cards of the same rank score 12 points (six distinct pairs).
- Run of Three: Three consecutive cards score 3 points.
- Run of Four: Four consecutive cards score 4 points.
- Run of Five: Five consecutive cards (a straight) scores 5 points.
- Double Run: A run with a pair creates multiple run combinations (e.g., 4-4-5-6 scores 8 points: two runs of three plus a pair).
- Triple Run: A run with three of a kind creates even more combinations (e.g., 4-4-4-5-6 scores 15 points).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cribbage Calculator tool?
A Cribbage Calculator for scoring the Hand, Crib, and Pegging cards. A great cribbage hand counter tool. This tool will count your cards and display a breakdown of the scores. The card calculator will score the hand or crib. The hand and crib score slightly differently as well as the cut card.
What is the highest possible scoring hand?
The highest possible score is 29 points. The scored five-card combination contains four 5s and a Jack: your hand must contain three 5s and the Jack, while the starter must be the fourth 5 and match the Jack's suit. The six pairs score 12 points, eight combinations totaling 15 score 16 points, and nobs scores 1 point. The commonly quoted odds are approximately 1 in 216,580 for a six-card deal that can become a 29 after the discard and starter are taken into account.
Can you score 27, 26, or 25 points with a hand in Cribbage?
No. There are no combinations that can score 27, 26, or 25 points.
When was Cribbage invented?
Cribbage was developed in England in the early 17th century and is traditionally attributed to the poet Sir John Suckling, who adapted the older game noddy.
What is the average Crib score?
A commonly used estimate is about 4.5 points per crib, although the result depends on the two discards and the starter card.
What is the average Hand score?
A retained hand is often estimated at about 8 points after the starter is included, although the result depends on the cards dealt and the player's discard choices.
Source
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