Play Cribbage Online — Free Card Game
Cribbage is the centuries-old card-and-board game of clever combinations: score for fifteens, pairs, runs and flushes, then peg your way down the board to 121. Don't forget the crib. Play Cribbage free against the computer in your browser.
How to Play Cribbage
Each player is dealt six cards and discards two to the dealer's 'crib'. A starter card is cut, then players take turns playing cards in 'the pegging' before counting their hands.
Scoring
- Fifteen: any cards totalling 15 score 2 points.
- Pairs score 2; three of a kind 6; four of a kind 12.
- Runs of three or more consecutive cards score one point each.
- A flush in hand scores for matching suits; his heels (a Jack as the starter) and nobs (a Jack matching the starter's suit) score too.
The crib
The dealer scores the crib as an extra hand, so discarding to your own crib is good and to your opponent's is not.
Strategy & Tips
- Keep cards that combine for fifteens and runs — fives are especially valuable.
- When it's your crib, discard helpful cards to it; when it's your opponent's, starve it.
- In the pegging, avoid making the count reach 15 or 31 for your opponent.
- Hold pairs and runs that can also peg during the play, not just count in hand.
- Lead a card that's hard for your opponent to pair or build a run on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of Cribbage?
Be the first to peg 121 points around the board by scoring combinations in play and in your hand.
What is the crib?
An extra hand made from the cards both players discard. It belongs to the dealer, who counts it after the hands.
What is the most valuable card?
The five — it combines with all the tens and face cards to make fifteens, so it appears in many scoring plays.
Is Cribbage free to play?
Yes — free, with no sign-up or download, against the computer.
More Free Games
Enjoy Cribbage? Try another: