How to Choose the Best Cribbage Board for Your Table
Quick answer
For most homes the best cribbage board is a 121-hole, two-track board with a clearly marked skunk line and pegs that are easy to grip. Choose a folding board if you travel (cards and pegs store inside), a three-track board if three of you play, and a custom wood board as a keepsake gift. If the holes are hard to see, look for wide spacing, contrasting tracks and large pegs.
A cribbage board does one job: it keeps score so you don’t have to write anything down. But you will look at it hundreds of times a game, so the details matter more than the price tag. Hole spacing, peg grip and how clearly the 5s and 10s are marked decide whether it’s a pleasure to play on or a squint.
We don’t sell boards, and nothing on this page is an ad. This is what to look for, type by type.
Cribbage board types compared
| Type | Tracks | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard straight board | 2 | Everyday play at home | Cheap ones have tiny, close-set holes |
| Folding board | 2 | Travel, the cabin, the RV: cards and pegs store inside | Check the hinge and latch; the storage well should hold a full deck |
| Three-track board | 3 | Three players, or two teams plus a spare track | Wider, so it takes more table room |
| Continuous track (121 in one line) | 2–3 | No going around twice; easier to follow | Decorative shapes can make holes harder to count |
| 60-hole board (“twice around”) | 2 | Small and portable | Easy to lose track of which lap you’re on |
| Custom / engraved wood board | Any | Gifts, anniversaries, family heirlooms | Ask about hole size and peg type before ordering |
| Large-print / big-hole board | 2–3 | Low vision, arthritis, dim rooms | Fewer choices; measure the pegs |
Folding boards: the travel favorite
A folding board is two hinged halves. Closed, it is a box that holds a deck of cards and the pegs; open, it is a full-length board. It is the one to keep in the car or take to a lake cottage. Check two things before buying: the latch should hold firmly closed (loose pegs everywhere are the classic complaint), and the storage well should be deep enough for a full deck in its box.
Two tracks, three tracks, or four players
Two players need two tracks. Three players need a three-track board, or each player keeps score on paper. Four players play in two partnerships, so a standard two-track board is enough: one track per team. The three-player game deals five cards each, with one card from the deck going to the crib; it’s all in how to play cribbage.
Custom cribbage boards
A custom board is a popular retirement, wedding or anniversary gift, and many families pass one down. Before ordering, ask the maker:
- Which wood, and is it sealed? Hardwoods like walnut, maple and cherry wear well; a sealed finish keeps hands from darkening the holes.
- How big are the holes and what pegs come with it? Peg sizes are not standard, so you want spares that fit.
- Is the skunk line marked? It should be clear at hole 90, and every fifth hole should be grouped or marked so counting is easy.
- Engraving placement. Names and dates look best on the end or the underside, away from the tracks you need to read.
A board that’s easy on the eyes and hands
If anyone at your table struggles with small holes, look for:
- Wide spacing between holes and clear gaps between groups of five.
- Contrasting tracks: a light inlay or painted line for each track, so you know at a glance which row is yours.
- Big pegs with a head you can pinch. Metal pegs are heavier and less likely to roll off the table.
- Numbers printed every 5 or 10 holes, not just dots.
Or let the computer do the pegging: when you play cribbage online here, the board shows large numbers and moves the pegs for you, with every score explained in words.
No board? Print one
This 121-hole board prints on a single Letter page in black ink. Tick a hole in pencil for each point, or use two coins per player as pegs, leapfrogging the back coin past the front one so the gap shows the last score.
A deal-by-deal score sheet comes with the board on our printable cribbage score sheet page. Want to sharpen your counting before your new board arrives? Try the cribbage hand calculator.
Games in this article
Cribbage
2–4 players · 20 min · Learn in a game or two
Race your pegs to 121. Count fifteens, pairs and runs.
Questions people ask
How many holes are on a cribbage board?
A standard board has 120 holes per player plus a final game hole, so the race is to 121. Most boards also have one or more starting holes where the pegs wait before the first score. Some smaller boards have 60 holes and you go around twice.
What is the difference between a continuous and a regular cribbage board?
A continuous board has one long track of 121 holes per player, often in a decorative shape, so you never go around twice. A regular straight board usually has four rows (streets) of 30 holes that you peg up and down.
Do cribbage pegs fit every board?
No. Hole sizes are not standard between makers, so buy spare pegs from the same maker, or measure the hole before ordering.
What is the skunk line on a cribbage board?
A mark after hole 90. If your opponent reaches 121 while you are still at or below 90, you are skunked, which usually counts as losing two games. A double-skunk line after hole 60 is marked on some boards.
Can I play cribbage without a board?
Yes. Print a paper board and tick holes in pencil, or keep a running score on paper. The board only keeps score; the rules don't change.