Cribbage Scoring Chart and Examples
A quick-reference cribbage scoring chart for everyday play, with notes on tournament rules.
Counting your hand and crib
| Combination | Points |
|---|---|
| Any cards totaling 15 | 2 per combination |
| Pair | 2 |
| Three of a kind | 6 (three pairs) |
| Four of a kind | 12 (six pairs) |
| Run | 1 per card, minimum 3 |
| Four-card flush in hand | 4; 5 if starter matches |
| Flush in crib | 5 only if all five cards match suit |
| Nobs: jack in hand matching starter suit | 1 |
Scoring during pegging
| Play | Points |
|---|---|
| Running count reaches 15 | 2 |
| Running count reaches 31 | 2 |
| Pair made by consecutive cards of same rank | 2 |
| Three consecutive cards of same rank | 6 |
| Four consecutive cards of same rank | 12 |
| Run formed by consecutive plays | 1 per card, minimum 3 |
| Go or last card when total is below 31 | 1 |
Examples
Fifteen: A 7 and an 8 total 15, scoring 2 points. Pairs: Two queens score 2; three queens score 6. Run: A 4, 5 and 6 score 3 for a run, even if played in a different order, as long as they form a valid consecutive run in the pegging sequence.
Perfect hand: Three fives plus a jack, with the fourth five as the starter and the jack matching the starter's suit, scores 29 points.
For official penalties, claims, muggins and scoring disputes, consult the tournament rules guide and the ACC rulebook.
Rules reference: American Cribbage Congress Official Tournament Rules (2025 PDF), effective August 1, 2025. Northwoods is an independent resource, not an ACC-sanctioned or affiliated organization.
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Worked scoring examples, card by card
Count each distinct combination once. The starter card counts as a fifth card for every hand and the crib.
Example: 5♠, 5♥, 5♦, J♣ with 5♣ starter = 29 points
Four fives and a jack produce eight different 15s (16 points), six pairs among the fives (12 points), and nobs because the jack matches the starter's club suit (1 point). Total: 29. The jack must match the starter's suit.
Example: 4♠, 5♥, 6♦, 7♣ with 8♠ starter = 9 points
Five-card run 4–5–6–7–8 scores 5. The combinations 7+8 and 4+5+6 each total 15, worth 2 each. Total: 9.
Hand versus crib: why the flush rule changes
In your hand, four same-suit cards score 4 even if the starter is a different suit; if the starter matches, score 5. In the crib, all four crib cards and the starter must match to score the five-point flush. There is no four-point crib flush.
Counting runs during pegging
Played cards do not have to appear in numerical order to make a run. For example, 4 then 6 then 5 scores 3 points for the player who plays the 5, provided the uninterrupted most recent sequence contains those three ranks. If another card breaks the sequence, reassess the most recent consecutive cards.
Rules reference: ACC 2025 tournament rules, Rules 1.7, 7 and 9.