The non-dealer lays the first card face up and the dealer follows. The basic aim of cribbage is to peg as many points as possible. If it is a ‘jack’, the dealer pegs two (2) points (saying out loud ‘two for his heels’ – also called nibs). The top card of the deck becomes the ‘ turn card‘ (also called the start card). The crib should stay face down until it is ready for cribbage scoring and pegging. Important: An English pub cribbage game will often award three (3) points to the non-dealer once only and at the start of play.Įach player should discard two (2) cards, face down into the dealers crib.

The dealer should deal out six (6) cards face down and in turn to each player, dealing out to the non-dealer first.

The dealer shuffles the pack once more and then the non-dealer cuts the deck. What if both players cut the same card, such as two queens? In this case the players should reshuffle the whole pack and both players cut the deck once more. But, the dealership alternates between the players after making the first deal. A ‘ king‘ is the highest card and an ‘ ace‘ is lowest.Ĭutting the deck determines the first dealer. The player turning up the lowest card becomes the dealer. The first step is to shuffle the pack of cards and then each player cuts the deck in turn. The Crib: Adding up extra scores from the box and pegging them on the board.The Show: Adding up the scores and pegging on the board.The Play: Pegging as many points as possible.Cribbage Discards: Placing cards into the dealers crib (box).The Cut: Cutting the deck before dealing.Another section contains more information about old English laws not repealed. Legal Note about Crib Rules: Last time we checked, cribbage is the only card game you can play ‘legally’ for money in British pubs. But, the 121 point game is the most popular version played in pubs, especially when there are 4 players. You need a 52 standard deck of cards and a crib board – called a cribbage pegging out board.Īs a rule, a crib tournament will use the 61 point game to speed up the knockout stages.

Players need nominal equipment to play crib. The aim is to be the first player to score 61 or 121 points. RULES OF CRIBBAGE UK: The regulations explained in this article refer mostly to the two (2) player cribbage game.

How cribbage is played