Cribbage (rules) - The Show

The Show

Once the play is complete, each player in turn receives points based on the content of their hand. Starting with the player on the dealer's left, players spread out their cards on the playing surface and calculate their score based on these four cards and the starter card:

• fifteen-twos
  • two points for each separate combination of two or more cards totalling exactly fifteen
• runs
  • three points for a run of three consecutive cards (regardless of suit)
  • four points for completing a run of four
  • five points for completing a run of five
• pairs
  • two points for a pair of cards of a kind
  • six points for three cards of a kind (known as a "pair royal", comprising three distinct pairs)
  • twelve points for four cards of a kind (a "double pair royal", comprising six distinct pairs)
• flush
  • four points for a flush, where all four cards in the hand are of the same suit, with an additional point if the starter card is also of that suit.
  • one point for holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter card ("one for his nob" or "... his nobs")

Common combinations are often scored as a group. For example, a run of three cards with an additional card matching one of the three in value, e.g., 2-2-3-4, is termed a "double run", and scores eight according to the above rules, three for each of the runs and two for the pair. Even more valuable are "triple runs" (three three-card straights including a three-of-a-kind, e.g., 2-2-2-3-4, that score fifteen) and "double-double runs" (four three-card straights including pairs, e.g., 2-3-3-4-4, that score sixteen). Combined runs may also include fifteen-twos. A 24 hand, the largest commonly seen, comprises a double-double run and four fifteen-twos. Two examples are 4-4-5-5-6 and 6-7-7-8-8.

The dealer scores his hand last and then turns the cards in the crib face up. These cards, in conjunction with the starter card, are scored by the dealer as an additional hand. The rules for scoring the crib are the same as scoring a hand, with the exception of the flush; a four-card flush in the crib is scored only if it is the same suit as the starter card (for a total of five points).

The highest possible score for a hand is 29 points: a starter card of a 5, and a hand of 5, 5, 5, J with the Jack being the same suit as the starter card. The score might be announced thus:

"Fifteen two, fifteen four, fifteen six, fifteen eight," (four J-5 combinations),

"fifteen ten, fifteen twelve, fifteen fourteen, fifteen sixteen," (four 5-5-5 combinations),

"and "twelve for pairs" (four 5s) is twenty-eight,

"and nobs makes twenty-nine."

Scores between 0 and 29 are all possible, with the exception of 19, 25, 26 and 27. Players may colloquially refer to a blank hand (one scoring no points) as a "nineteen hand".