Cribbage Scoring: The Complete Guide to Every Point

Q: "What is the highest possible cribbage hand?"

"The highest possible hand in cribbage is **29 points**. It requires three 5s and a Jack in your hand, with the fourth 5 (matching the Jack's suit) as the starter card. This scores 16 points from eight fifteens, 12 points from six pairs, and 1 point for nobs."

Q: "How do you count fifteens in cribbage?"

"Look at every possible combination of cards in your hand (plus the starter card) and find all groups that add up to exactly 15. Each combination scores 2 points. A single card can be used in multiple fifteens. For example, with 5-5-5-J-K, each 5 pairs with both face cards (6 fifteens) plus all three 5s together make 15 (1 fifteen) = 14 points from fifteens alone."

Q: "Does a flush count in the crib?"

"A flush in the crib only counts if all five cards (the four crib cards plus the starter card) are the same suit. A four-card flush does not count in the crib, unlike in a regular hand."

Q: "What is nobs in cribbage?"

"Nobs (also called 'one for his nob') is when you have a Jack in your hand that matches the suit of the starter card. It's worth 1 point. Don't confuse it with nibs (his heels), which is when the starter card itself is a Jack — that's worth 2 points to the dealer."

Q: "What is a double run in cribbage?"

"A double run occurs when you have a pair that extends a run, counting the run twice. For example, 3-4-4-5 is a double run of three (3-4-5 and 3-4-5), scoring 8 points (6 for runs + 2 for the pair). A double run of four (like 3-4-4-5-6) scores 10 points."

Q: "Can you count the same cards twice in cribbage?"

"Yes! The same card can be used in multiple scoring combinations. For example, a 5 can be part of a fifteen, a pair, and a run all at once. This is why hands with 5s and face cards often score highly - each 5 makes fifteens with every 10-value card."

Q: "What is the lowest possible cribbage hand?"

"The lowest possible hand is 0 points (a 'nineteen' hand, since you can never score exactly 19). A hand like A-4-6-9 with an incompatible starter has no fifteens, no pairs, no runs, and no flush. Zero-point hands occur in about 1.5% of deals."

Q: "How many different 15s can you have in cribbage?"

"The maximum number of fifteens in a hand is 8, which only happens with the perfect 29-point hand (5-5-5-J with a 5 starter). Common high-fifteen hands include 7-7-8-8 (6 fifteens) and 5-5-5-10 (6 fifteens)."

Q: "What is 'his heels' in cribbage?"

"His heels (also called 'nibs') is scored when the starter card (cut card) is a Jack. The dealer immediately scores 2 points for this. It happens approximately once every 13 deals on average."

Master cribbage scoring with this comprehensive guide. Learn to count fifteens, pairs, runs, flushes, nobs, and nibs with detailed examples and practice tips.

Updated: March 14, 2026 · 6 min read

By Garrett Pegg · Reviewed against ACC standards

Cribbage Scoring: The Complete Guide

Scoring is the heart of cribbage. Understanding every scoring combination — and being able to count them quickly and accurately — is what separates casual players from skilled ones.

This guide covers every way to score in cribbage, with detailed examples and systematic counting methods.

Scoring Overview

Points in cribbage are earned in three contexts:

During the Play (Pegging) — points scored as cards are played
Counting Your Hand (The Show) — points from your 4 cards + the starter card
Counting the Crib — the dealer scores the crib (4 discarded cards + starter)

Play Phase Scoring

During the play, the following score:

Event	Points	Description
Fifteen	2	Running total reaches exactly 15
Thirty-one	2	Running total reaches exactly 31
Pair	2	Card matches the rank of the previous card
Pair Royal	6	Third consecutive card of the same rank
Double Pair Royal	12	Fourth consecutive card of the same rank
Run (3+)	Length of run	3+ cards in consecutive rank, any play order
Go	1	Opponent cannot play without exceeding 31
Last Card	1	The final card played (2 if it makes 31)

Pairs During the Play

Pairs must be consecutive — if any other card is played between matching ranks, the pair is broken.

Runs During the Play

Cards do not need to be played in sequence order. If the cards played are 6, 4, 5, that’s a run of 3 for 3 points. If the next card is 7, that’s a run of 4 for 4 points (the earlier run doesn’t also score).

Hand and Crib Scoring

When counting your hand (and the crib), you use all 5 cards: your 4 hand cards plus the starter card. Here are all scoring combinations:

Fifteens — 2 Points Each

Any combination of cards that totals exactly 15 scores 2 points. You can use 2, 3, 4, or even all 5 cards.

Example 1: Hand: 5♠, 10♥, Q♦, K♣ | Starter: 5♣

5♠ + 10♥ = 15 (2 pts)
5♠ + Q♦ = 15 (2 pts)
5♠ + K♣ = 15 (2 pts)
5♣ + 10♥ = 15 (2 pts)
5♣ + Q♦ = 15 (2 pts)
5♣ + K♣ = 15 (2 pts)
Fifteens: 12 points

Counting tip: Work through combinations systematically — two-card combos first, then three-card, then four-card, then all five.

Pairs — 2 Points Each

Two cards of the same rank score 2 points per pair.

Pair: 1 combination = 2 points
Three of a Kind (Pair Royal): 3 combinations = 6 points
Four of a Kind (Double Pair Royal): 6 combinations = 12 points

Example: Hand: 7♠, 7♥, 7♦, K♣ | Starter: 9♠

7♠-7♥, 7♠-7♦, 7♥-7♦ = 3 pairs = 6 points

Runs — 1 Point Per Card

Three or more cards in consecutive rank order (regardless of suit) score 1 point per card in the run.

Key rules:

Runs go by rank: A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K
Aces are always low (A-2-3 is valid; Q-K-A is not)
Suit doesn’t matter
Duplicate cards create multiple runs

Example — Simple run: Hand: 3♠, 4♥, 5♦, 9♣ | Starter: K♠

3-4-5 = run of 3 = 3 points

Example — Double run: Hand: 3♠, 4♥, 4♦, 5♣ | Starter: 9♠

3-4♥-5 = run of 3 (3 pts)
3-4♦-5 = run of 3 (3 pts)
4♥-4♦ = pair (2 pts)
Total: 8 points (this is called a “double run of 3”)

Example — Triple run: Hand: 3♠, 3♥, 3♦, 4♣ | Starter: 5♠

Three runs of 3-4-5 (one with each 3) = 9 pts
Three 3s = pair royal = 6 pts
Total: 15 points

Example — Double-double run: Hand: 3♠, 4♥, 4♦, 5♣ | Starter: 5♠

3-4♥-5♣, 3-4♥-5♠, 3-4♦-5♣, 3-4♦-5♠ = four runs of 3 = 12 pts
Two pairs = 4 pts
Total: 16 points

Flush — 4 or 5 Points

A flush occurs when cards share the same suit.

In your hand:

4 cards of the same suit (not counting the starter): 4 points
5 cards (4 hand cards + starter) of the same suit: 5 points

In the crib:

All 5 cards must be the same suit for a flush to count
A 4-card flush does not count in the crib

Example: Hand: 2♥, 6♥, 9♥, J♥ | Starter: K♠

Four hearts in hand = 4 points flush

Hand: 2♥, 6♥, 9♥, J♥ | Starter: K♥

Five hearts = 5 points flush

Nobs — 1 Point

If you hold a Jack that matches the suit of the starter card, score 1 point.

This is called “one for his nob” or simply “nobs.”

Example: Hand: J♥, 3♠, 5♦, 7♣ | Starter: 9♥

Jack of hearts matches the heart starter = 1 point

Nibs (His Heels) — 2 Points

Separate from hand counting: if the starter card is a Jack, the dealer immediately scores 2 points. This is called “nibs” or “his heels.”

Complete Scoring Examples

Example 1: Moderate Hand

Hand: 4♠, 5♥, 6♦, 6♣ | Starter: 5♠

Fifteens:

4 + 5♥ + 6♦ = 15 (2 pts)
4 + 5♥ + 6♣ = 15 (2 pts)
4 + 5♠ + 6♦ = 15 (2 pts)
4 + 5♠ + 6♣ = 15 (2 pts) Fifteens: 8 points

Pairs:

5♥ + 5♠ = pair (2 pts)
6♦ + 6♣ = pair (2 pts) Pairs: 4 points

Runs:

4-5♥-6♦ = run of 3 (3 pts)
4-5♥-6♣ = run of 3 (3 pts)
4-5♠-6♦ = run of 3 (3 pts)
4-5♠-6♣ = run of 3 (3 pts) Runs: 12 points

Total: 24 points

Example 2: The Perfect 29 Hand

Hand: 5♥, 5♦, 5♣, J♠ | Starter: 5♠

Fifteens:

J + 5♥ = 15, J + 5♦ = 15, J + 5♣ = 15, J + 5♠ = 15 (8 pts)
5♥ + 5♦ + 5♣ = 15, 5♥ + 5♦ + 5♠ = 15, 5♥ + 5♣ + 5♠ = 15, 5♦ + 5♣ + 5♠ = 15 (8 pts) Fifteens: 16 points

Pairs:

Six pair combinations of four 5s = 12 points

Nobs:

J♠ matches 5♠ starter = 1 point

Total: 29 points — the maximum possible!

Example 3: Zero-Point Hand (The “19 Hand”)

Hand: 2♠, 4♥, 6♦, 8♣ | Starter: K♠

No fifteens, no pairs, no runs, no flush, no nobs
Total: 0 points

In cribbage slang, a zero-point hand is often called a “19 hand” because 19 is an impossible score — there’s no valid combination that scores exactly 19 points.

Systematic Counting Method

Use this order to count every possible point in your hand:

Fifteens — Check all 2-card, 3-card, 4-card, and 5-card combinations
Pairs — Count all matching ranks
Runs — Identify consecutive sequences
Flush — Check if 4 (or 5) cards share a suit
Nobs — Check for a Jack matching the starter’s suit

Pro tip: Always count in the same order. This builds muscle memory and prevents you from missing points.

Common Scoring Mistakes

Forgetting the starter card — It’s used in every combination
Missing multi-card fifteens — Don’t just check pairs; look at 3, 4, and 5-card combos
Under-counting runs with duplicates — Each unique combination of cards counts as a separate run
Counting Q-K-A as a run — Aces are always low
Claiming a 4-card flush in the crib — Must be all 5 cards
Confusing nobs and nibs — Nobs is a Jack in hand matching the starter suit (1 pt); nibs is a Jack as the starter (2 pts to dealer)

Practice your scoring with our Cribbage Score Calculator or play a free game to see scoring in action!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest possible cribbage hand?

The highest possible hand in cribbage is 29 points. It requires three 5s and a Jack in your hand, with the fourth 5 (matching the Jack’s suit) as the starter card. This scores 16 points from eight fifteens, 12 points from six pairs, and 1 point for nobs.

How do you count fifteens in cribbage?

Look at every possible combination of cards in your hand (plus the starter card) and find all groups that add up to exactly 15. Each combination scores 2 points. A single card can be used in multiple fifteens. For example, with 5-5-5-J-K, each 5 pairs with both face cards (6 fifteens) plus all three 5s together make 15 (1 fifteen) = 14 points from fifteens alone.

Does a flush count in the crib?

A flush in the crib only counts if all five cards (the four crib cards plus the starter card) are the same suit. A four-card flush does not count in the crib, unlike in a regular hand.

What is nobs in cribbage?

Nobs (also called ‘one for his nob’) is when you have a Jack in your hand that matches the suit of the starter card. It’s worth 1 point. Don’t confuse it with nibs (his heels), which is when the starter card itself is a Jack — that’s worth 2 points to the dealer.

What is a double run in cribbage?

A double run occurs when you have a pair that extends a run, counting the run twice. For example, 3-4-4-5 is a double run of three (3-4-5 and 3-4-5), scoring 8 points (6 for runs + 2 for the pair). A double run of four (like 3-4-4-5-6) scores 10 points.

Can you count the same cards twice in cribbage?

Yes! The same card can be used in multiple scoring combinations. For example, a 5 can be part of a fifteen, a pair, and a run all at once. This is why hands with 5s and face cards often score highly - each 5 makes fifteens with every 10-value card.

What is the lowest possible cribbage hand?

The lowest possible hand is 0 points (a ’nineteen’ hand, since you can never score exactly 19). A hand like A-4-6-9 with an incompatible starter has no fifteens, no pairs, no runs, and no flush. Zero-point hands occur in about 1.5% of deals.

How many different 15s can you have in cribbage?

The maximum number of fifteens in a hand is 8, which only happens with the perfect 29-point hand (5-5-5-J with a 5 starter). Common high-fifteen hands include 7-7-8-8 (6 fifteens) and 5-5-5-10 (6 fifteens).

What is 'his heels' in cribbage?

His heels (also called ’nibs’) is scored when the starter card (cut card) is a Jack. The dealer immediately scores 2 points for this. It happens approximately once every 13 deals on average.