Cribbage is a two-player card game where you score points for card combinations in your hand and during play, moving pegs along a board. The first player to reach 121 wins. This version deals six cards, scores everything for you and plays at your pace.
How a hand goes here
Each hand starts with six cards apiece. You choose two to set aside face down for the crib, a bonus hand that belongs to whoever is dealing. Then one card is turned up from the deck, the starter, and the real action begins: you and the computer take turns laying cards in a single pile while a running count climbs toward 31.
When the cards are all played, the hands are counted. The player who is not dealing counts first, then the dealer counts a hand and finally the crib. Every fifteen, pair, run and flush gets its own line on screen, and the cards involved are raised so you can follow along. Press Continue when you are ready for the next one.
What makes cribbage different
Most card games reward one skill. Cribbage rewards three at once: building a hand that counts well, reading the pegging so you pick up points while the opponent gets none, and managing the crib, which you want to be fat when it is yours and thin when it is theirs. The deal swaps every hand, so those roles trade places all game long.
The board is your scoreboard. Each side has a front peg and a back peg, and the gap between them shows your most recent scoring. Look for the dashed line near the end of the third lane. If the loser has not crossed it when the winner reaches 121, that is a skunk.
Quick tips for a first game
- Hold on to fives and cards that pair with them. Any ten-card plus a five makes fifteen.
- When you have the crib, toss cards that work together. When you do not, split them up.
- In pegging, try not to leave the count at 5 or 21, which hand the opponent an easy score.
- Use Hint when stuck. It is the Hard computer's answer, so it is a free lesson.
Rules at a glance
| Item | Rule in this game |
|---|---|
| Players | You against the computer |
| Deal | Six cards each, two go to the crib |
| Goal | First to 121 points, even in the middle of a hand |
| Pegging limit | The count may not go past 31 |
| Counting order | Non-dealer hand, dealer hand, crib |
| Skunk | Loser under 91 when the game ends; double skunk under 61 |
| Muggins | Not used. The game counts for you. |
New to the game? Read the beginner walkthrough or the full rules. To check a hand you were dealt at the kitchen table, use the cribbage hand counter, and for deeper play see the strategy guide and the scoring tables.
Cribbage questions
Is this cribbage game really free?
Yes. There is nothing to install, no account to create and no limit on how many games you play. Your win record is stored in your own browser.
Does the game count my hand for me?
It does. After the pegging, each hand and the crib are counted line by line, with the scoring cards lit up, so you always see why the points were awarded. Nobody can miscount, and there is no muggins.
How do I play a card or discard?
Tap a card to pick it. During the discard step, pick two and press the button to send them to the crib. During pegging, tap the card you want to play. Cards that would push the count past 31 are dimmed.
What do the Easy, Normal and Hard levels change?
Easy makes mostly random legal choices. Normal keeps a good-looking hand and takes obvious pegging points. Hard weighs every possible starter card when it discards, thinks about whose crib it is, and avoids setting up easy scores for you during pegging.
What is the daily game?
Everyone who opens the Daily tab on the same date gets the same shuffles, played against the Normal computer. You see your margin of victory or defeat, a share line, and a small leaderboard.
Can I take back a move?
You can undo your last discard or play as long as the computer has not answered yet. The Hint button shows what the Hard computer would do in your seat.