Cribbage Scoring Cheat Sheet: Every Combination at a Glance
The complete cribbage scoring cheat sheet — every point combination, pair/run/flush values, double runs, impossible scores, and a quick counting checklist. Print or bookmark.
Cribbage Scoring Cheat Sheet
Bookmark this page or print it — it covers every scoring combination in cribbage at a glance.
Core Scoring Table
| Combination | Points | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fifteen (any cards totaling 15) | 2 each | 6+9, 5+K, 7+8, A+5+9 |
| Pair (2 of same rank) | 2 | 7-7 |
| Three of a Kind (pair royal) | 6 | 9-9-9 |
| Four of a Kind (double pair royal) | 12 | Q-Q-Q-Q |
| Run of 3 | 3 | 4-5-6 |
| Run of 4 | 4 | 3-4-5-6 |
| Run of 5 | 5 | 2-3-4-5-6 |
| Flush (4 cards, hand only) | 4 | ♥J-♥7-♥4-♥2 |
| Flush (5 cards, hand + starter) | 5 | all five same suit |
| Flush (crib, must be 5 cards) | 5 | all five same suit |
| Nobs (Jack in hand matches starter suit) | 1 | Hold ♦J, starter is ♦ |
| Nibs / His Heels (dealer cuts a Jack) | 2 | Dealer pegs immediately |
| Go (opponent can’t play ≤ 31) | 1 | |
| Thirty-one (exact 31 during play) | 2 | |
| Last card (final card played) | 1 |
Go and last card are the same point. When neither player can play without going over 31, whoever played the last card scores 1. The last card of the whole play earns that same 1 point, not an extra one. A card that makes exactly 31 scores 2 in total, never 31 plus a point for last card.
Pairs Quick Reference
| Cards of Same Rank | Name | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pair | 2 |
| 3 | Pair Royal (Three of a Kind) | 6 |
| 4 | Double Pair Royal (Four of a Kind) | 12 |
Why: Pairs count every unique combination. Three cards = 3 pairs × 2 pts = 6. Four cards = 6 pairs × 2 pts = 12.
Runs Quick Reference
| Run Length | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 cards | 3 | Minimum run |
| 4 cards | 4 | |
| 5 cards | 5 | Maximum possible |
Runs don’t need to be the same suit. A-2-3 is a valid run. Q-K-A is not (Aces are always low).
Double Runs (Run + Pair)
These are the combinations that beginners most often undercount:
| Hand Pattern | Score | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Run of 3 + 1 pair (e.g., 4-5-5-6) | 8 | 2 runs of 3 (6) + pair (2) |
| Run of 3 + 2 pairs (e.g., 4-5-5-6-6) | 16 | 4 runs of 3 (12) + 2 pairs (4) |
| Run of 3 + 3 of a kind (e.g., 4-5-5-5-6) | 15 | 3 runs of 3 (9) + three of a kind (6) |
| Run of 4 + 1 pair (e.g., 3-4-5-5-6) | 10 | 2 runs of 4 (8) + pair (2) |
Double run drill: If you see a run with a pair inside it, multiply the run score by 2 and add the pair score.
Common High-Scoring Hands
| Hand (+ Starter) | Score | Key Combinations |
|---|---|---|
| 5-5-5-J + 5 (starter) | 29 | 8 fifteens (16) + 6 pairs (12) + nobs (1) |
| 5-5-5-J + anything else | 21–24 | Varies |
| 7-7-8-8 + any 7 or 8 | 24 | Multiple double runs + fifteens |
| 6-7-7-8 + 8 | 24 | Double-double run + fifteens |
| 5-5-J-Q + K | 20 | Multiple fifteens + pair |
| 5-J-Q-K + 5 | 20 | Five fifteens + more |
| 4-5-5-6 + 5 | 20+ | Triple run + fifteens |
Fifteens Checklist
When counting fifteens, check every combination:
- ☐ All 2-card combos that total 15
- ☐ All 3-card combos that total 15
- ☐ All 4-card combos that total 15
- ☐ Does all 5 cards total 15?
Common pairs that make 15: 5+10, 5+J, 5+Q, 5+K, 6+9, 7+8, A+5+9, A+6+8, 2+4+9, 2+5+8, 3+4+8, 3+5+7, A+2+3+9
Flush Rules Summary
| Context | Rule | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Your hand (4 cards) | All 4 same suit | 4 |
| Your hand + starter | All 5 same suit | 5 |
| Crib | All 4 crib cards same suit | Does NOT score |
| Crib + starter | All 5 cards same suit | 5 |
A 4-card flush never scores in the crib. Only 5-card flushes count there.
Impossible Scores
These totals cannot be scored by any valid 5-card hand:
19 · 25 · 26 · 27
All other values from 0 to 29 are achievable. A “nineteen hand” is cribbage slang for a zero-point hand.
Counting Order (Show/Hand Count)
Always count in this order to avoid missing anything:
- Fifteens — “Fifteen-two, fifteen-four…”
- Pairs / three of a kind / four of a kind
- Runs (including double runs)
- Flush
- Nobs (Jack matching starter suit)
In tournament play (muggins rules), missing any of these lets your opponent claim them.
Pegging Scores Quick Reference
| Event | Points | Who Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Fifteen (running count = 15) | 2 | Player who played last card |
| Pair (same rank as last played) | 2 | Player who paired |
| Pair Royal (3rd of same rank) | 6 | Player who played 3rd |
| Double Pair Royal (4th) | 12 | Player who played 4th |
| Run (3+ consecutive in any order played) | 1 per card | Player who completed run |
| Exact 31 | 2 | Player who reached 31 |
| Go (opponent can’t play) | 1 | Opponent of player who called go |
| Last card (end of all play) | 1 | Player who played last |
For a complete explanation of every combination with worked examples, see the Cribbage Scoring Guide. To practice counting hands, use the free Counting Practice tool; to check a hand or keep score of a game, use the Score Calculator. Or play a live game to test yourself counting real hands under pressure.