Cribbage scoring chart
A cribbage hand scores 2 points for every distinct combination of cards totalling fifteen, 2 for each pair, 1 per card in a run of three or more, 4 or 5 for a flush, and 1 for the jack matching the starter suit. The two charts below cover the show and the play in full, including the compound runs that are the usual place points go missing.
The scoring chart
Everything a hand or crib can score, on one table. Count fifteens first, then pairs, then runs, then the flush and his nobs, in that order, and out loud, because that is how you stop missing points.
| Combination | Points | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Each combination totalling 15 | 2 | 7♠ 8♦ = fifteen two |
| Pair | 2 | 9♠ 9♥ |
| Pair royal (three of a kind) | 6 | 9♠ 9♥ 9♦ (three distinct pairs) |
| Double pair royal (four of a kind) | 12 | 9♠ 9♥ 9♦ 9♣ (six distinct pairs) |
| Run of three | 3 | 4♦ 5♠ 6♥ |
| Run of four | 4 | 4♦ 5♠ 6♥ 7♣ |
| Run of five | 5 | 4♦ 5♠ 6♥ 7♣ 8♦ |
| Double run of three (run + one pair) | 8 | 4♦ 5♠ 5♥ 6♥ (two runs and a pair) |
| Double run of four | 10 | 4♦ 5♠ 5♥ 6♥ 7♣ |
| Triple run (run + three of a kind) | 15 | 4♦ 5♠ 5♥ 5♦ 6♥ |
| Quadruple run (run + two pairs) | 16 | 4♦ 4♥ 5♠ 5♥ 6♥ |
| Four-card flush (hand only, not crib) | 4 | All four hand cards one suit |
| Five-card flush | 5 | Hand or crib plus the starter, all one suit |
| His nobs | 1 | Jack in hand matching the starter suit |
| His heels (at the cut, dealer only) | 2 | Starter card is any jack |
| Event | Points |
|---|---|
| Bringing the count to exactly 15 | 2 |
| Bringing the count to exactly 31 | 2 |
| Pairing the previous card | 2 |
| Third card of the same rank | 6 |
| Fourth card of the same rank | 12 |
| Completing an unbroken run of N cards (any order) | N |
| Go: opponent cannot play under 31 | 1 |
| Last card of the hand (if not 31) | 1 |
| His heels: starter cut is a jack (dealer) | 2 |
The scores people miss
How do you score a run of 4 in cribbage?
- A run of four scores 4 points, one per card, so 9-10-J-Q is 4. It looks like it should be worth more, because a four-card run contains two separate runs of three, but cribbage does not count them separately: a run scores its own length and nothing else. The same rule gives 3 for a run of three and 5 for a run of five.
What cribbage scores are impossible?
- A hand of four cards plus the starter can never total 19, 25, 26 or 27, and nothing above 29 exists. Every other total from 0 to 29 is achievable. "Nineteen" is the traditional way of announcing a hand worth nothing.
What are nibs and nobs in cribbage?
- They are two different jacks. "His nibs" is a jack turned up as the starter card, and it scores the dealer 2 points immediately, before a card is played. "His nob" is a jack held in your hand or in the crib whose suit matches the starter, and it scores 1 point when you count. Both are scored from the jack, which is why the names get mixed up, but only the dealer can take nibs.
Does a flush score in the crib?
- Only a five-card flush does. Four cards of one suit in the crib score nothing at all; the starter must match the suit as well, and then the crib scores 5. In the hand a four-card flush scores 4, and 5 if the starter matches. It is the one scoring rule that treats the hand and the crib differently.
Printable score sheet
For games at a real table without a board: a clean printable sheet with running-total columns to 121, skunk lines marked, and a compact copy of the scoring chart so nobody has to look anything up mid-game.
- Cribbage score sheet + scoring chart (PDF): Free to print and share. Attribution appreciated, not required.