Cribbage Card Values: How Cards Are Worth Points
How card values work in cribbage — face values for counting, Ace-low rule, how face cards all equal 10, and how values affect fifteens, runs, and pegging.
Cribbage Card Values
Understanding how cards are valued is the foundation of cribbage. The values affect pegging (the running count), fifteens (the most common scoring combination), and runs (consecutive rank sequences).
The Complete Card Value Table
| Card | Pegging Value | Run Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace | 1 | Lowest (1st) | Always low; A-2-3 is a run |
| 2 | 2 | 2nd | |
| 3 | 3 | 3rd | |
| 4 | 4 | 4th | |
| 5 | 5 | 5th | Most valuable card in cribbage |
| 6 | 6 | 6th | |
| 7 | 7 | 7th | |
| 8 | 8 | 8th | |
| 9 | 9 | 9th | |
| 10 | 10 | 10th | |
| Jack | 10 | 11th | Special: “nobs” if matches starter suit |
| Queen | 10 | 12th | |
| King | 10 | Highest (13th) |
Two Different Ways Cards Have Value
1. Pegging / Counting Value
This is the card’s numeric worth — what it contributes to the running count during pegging, and what it adds to combinations when counting your hand.
- Numbers count at face value: 4 = 4, 9 = 9
- Aces = 1
- J, Q, K = 10 each
This value determines fifteens (combinations totaling 15), the count during the play phase, and hands that total 31.
2. Rank (For Runs)
Rank determines runs — whether cards are consecutive. For runs, the order is:
A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K
A run requires consecutive ranks, not consecutive values. So J-Q-K is a valid run even though all three are worth 10. And 9-10-J is a valid run.
Ace is always rank 1 — it can only start a run (A-2-3), never end one (Q-K-A is not valid).
Why Fives Are the Most Valuable Card
Fives are worth 5 in value terms — but their real power comes from how they interact with the deck:
- A 5 + any 10-value card (10, J, Q, K) = 15 → 2 points
- There are 16 ten-value cards in a 52-card deck (30.8% of the deck)
- So any 5 you hold has nearly a 1-in-3 chance of matching the starter card to make a fifteen
This is why:
- Keeping 5s is almost always correct
- Giving a 5 to the opponent’s crib is painful (it will likely score there too)
- The magic 29 hand requires three 5s in hand + one as the starter
The Ten-Value Cards: Pegging vs. Runs
The Jack, Queen, and King all equal 10 — important for pegging — but they’re three different ranks.
For pegging (counting value): J, Q, K are identical = 10
For runs (rank): J (11th), Q (12th), K (13th) — these are consecutive
This means:
- 10-J-Q is a valid run (ranks 10, 11, 12) ✓
- J-Q-K is a valid run (ranks 11, 12, 13) ✓
- Q-K + another K = pair (two Kings) ✓
- Q-K-A is NOT a run — Ace is rank 1, not 14 ✗
Ace: Always Low
In many card games (poker, blackjack), an Ace can be high or low. In cribbage, Ace is always low.
| Combination | Valid? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| A-2-3 | ✅ Yes | Consecutive ranks 1-2-3 |
| A-K-Q | ❌ No | Ace is rank 1, not 14 |
| Q-K-A | ❌ No | Same issue |
| A-2-3-4-5 | ✅ Yes | Run of 5 |
Ace + King = 11 in pegging (not 15 together). Ace + 4 = 5 in pegging.
Card Values During Pegging
During the play phase, the running count uses numeric values. Some key patterns to know:
| Pair of Cards | Running Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A + 4 | 5 | Not 15 |
| 5 + K | 15 | Score 2! |
| 5 + Q | 15 | Score 2! |
| 5 + J | 15 | Score 2! |
| 5 + 10 | 15 | Score 2! |
| 6 + 9 | 15 | Score 2! |
| 7 + 8 | 15 | Score 2! |
| A + A | 2 | Just a pair |
| K + K | 20 | Just a pair (no fifteen) |
| A + 5 + 9 | 15 | Score 2! (3-card fifteen) |
| 2 + 4 + 9 | 15 | Score 2! |
| K + A | 11 | Not 15 |
Card Values in Hand Counting
When counting your 4-card hand plus the starter card (5 cards total):
- Count every combination of 2, 3, 4, or 5 cards that totals exactly 15
- Each fifteen = 2 points
- Cards can appear in multiple fifteens simultaneously
Example hand: 5-5-J-K + starter 5
Fifteens:
- 5 + J = 15 ✓ (three ways — three 5s × one J)
- 5 + K = 15 ✓ (three ways — three 5s × one K)
- 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 ✓ (one way — all three 5s)
That’s 7 fifteens = 14 points from fifteens alone, plus 6 points from the three-of-a-kind = 20 points minimum.
For a complete scoring reference, see the Cribbage Scoring Cheat Sheet.