Cribbage with 3 or 4 Players

Standard cribbage is a two-player game, but with a few rule adjustments it plays well with three or four. This guide covers the deal, crib, and scoring changes for each variant.

3-Player Cribbage

Setup

• Players: 3
• Cards dealt: 5 to each player
• Discard to crib: 1 card each (3 cards total)
• Ghost card: 1 card dealt face-down directly to the crib
• Crib total: 4 cards (as in standard cribbage)
• Cards in hand: 4 (same as standard)

The Ghost Card

Because 3 players × 1 discard = only 3 crib cards, a fourth card — called the ghost card (or “blind card”) — is dealt face-down to the crib by the dealer immediately after dealing. This card is unseen by all players and adds an element of uncertainty to the crib count.

Dealing and Crib Rotation

The deal rotates clockwise each hand. Whoever is the dealer owns the crib for that hand. Unlike 2-player cribbage, no player is the permanent dealer — all three players take turns holding the crib advantage.

This rotation is strategically significant: in a 3-player game, you’re the dealer (and crib owner) only one-third of the time rather than half.

Pegging

Pegging proceeds clockwise from the player to the dealer’s left. All three players contribute cards to the running count. The same rules apply:

• Count cannot exceed 31
• Say “go” if you can’t play without exceeding 31
• Last player to play in a sequence scores 1 (or 2 for exact 31)
• All three players must play through their hands

Key difference: With three players, pairs and runs during pegging become more complex. A player may pair a card that a third player then triples — all standard pegging scoring applies.

Scoring Order

After pegging, players count hands in this order:

1. Player to the dealer’s left (equivalent to pone in 2-player)
2. Player to that player’s left
3. Dealer (counts hand, then crib)

As in 2-player, the first player to reach 121 during counting wins — regardless of whether the dealer has counted yet.

Winning

First player to 121 points wins. Three-player cribbage is typically played to 121, though 61 is sometimes used for a faster game.

4-Player Cribbage (Partnership)

The most common 4-player form is partnership cribbage — two teams of two, with partners sitting opposite each other at the table.

Setup

• Players: 4 (2 teams of 2)
• Seating: Partners sit opposite each other (A-B-A-B around the table)
• Cards dealt: 5 to each player
• Discard to crib: 1 card each (4 cards total — no ghost card needed)
• Crib total: 4 cards
• Cards in hand: 4

Dealing

One player on one team deals first. The deal rotates clockwise each hand, so the deal alternates between teams every other hand.

Pegging

Pegging goes clockwise — players from both teams alternate contributing cards. Partners do not coordinate their plays (they can’t communicate), but knowing your partner holds certain cards changes your pegging strategy.

Partnership note: You cannot directly help your partner during play, but experienced partners develop implicit strategies — e.g., one partner plays defensively while the other plays offensively, depending on board position.

Scoring

Partners combine their scores on a single peg track. One cribbage board represents both players on a team. When either partner scores, the partnership’s peg advances.

The partnership with the crib (the dealing team) counts:

1. Non-dealing partnership’s hands (both players, in turn)
2. Dealing partnership’s hands (both players, in turn)
3. The crib

First partnership to 121 points wins.

Strategy Differences in Partnership

• Board position is shared — when you decide whether to peg aggressively, consider your partnership’s total score, not just yours
• Crib feeding — when discarding to your partner’s crib (as the non-dealing team sends cards to the dealer’s crib), coordinate defensive discards
• Endgame — if your partner is close to pegging out, play in ways that give them scoring opportunities

4-Player Cutthroat (Individual)

A less common 4-player variant where each player plays for themselves:

• Cards dealt: 5 each
• Discard: 1 card each to a shared crib
• Crib: Rotates to each player in turn
• Winning: First individual player to 121

Cutthroat four-player cribbage is rarely played in organized settings because the crib advantage rotation and pegging dynamics become very complex. Partnership is strongly preferred for 4 players.

Which Variant Is Best?

For the classic experience, two-player cribbage remains the gold standard. For groups, partnership four-player offers the closest experience to the 2-player game with added team dynamics.

Want to start with the classic 2-player format? Play free online now — no board or partner required.