Cribbage Plain-English guide
Cribbage Scoring Explained
Learn how cribbage hands score fifteens, pairs, runs, flushes, and nobs, with a calculator ready to verify the total.
Score a cribbage hand →Count every combination totaling 15
Each distinct combination of cards that totals 15 scores two points. A single hand can contain several overlapping fifteens, and every valid combination counts.
Add pairs and runs
A pair scores two points, three of a kind contains three separate pairs for six points, and four of a kind contains six pairs for 12 points. Runs score one point per card and can be multiplied by duplicate ranks.
Finish with flushes and nobs
A four-card flush in the hand scores four; matching the starter makes it five. In the crib, all five cards must share a suit. A Jack in the hand matching the starter's suit scores one for nobs.
FAQ Quick answers
Common questions.
What is the highest cribbage hand?
The maximum hand is 29 points: three fives plus a Jack, with the starter being the fourth five and matching the Jack's suit.
Do runs have to use the same suit?
No. Cribbage runs depend on consecutive ranks, not suits.