Printable Cribbage Rules (PDF Cheat Sheet)
Quick answer
This cribbage rules PDF fits on one page: the deal, the crib, pegging, the count and every score in large print. Press “Print the cheat sheet,” then choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Black ink only, US Letter or A4.
Cribbage — Rules on One Page
Setup (2 players)
52-card deck, no jokers. Ace = 1, J Q K = 10. Low card deals first; the deal then alternates. Non-dealer = pone.
Each hand
- Deal 6 each. Each throws 2 face down to the dealer's crib.
- Pone cuts; dealer turns the starter. A jack = 2 for the dealer (his heels).
- Pegging: pone leads. Play in turn, say the count. Never over 31.
- Can't play? Say “go.” The other player plays on. Last card scores 1 (31 scores 2). Count restarts at 0.
- The show: pone counts, then dealer's hand, then the crib. Each counts with the starter.
Scoring the hand (with the starter)
| Fifteen (any cards adding to 15) 7 + 8, or 5 + K | 2 |
| Pair 9 9 | 2 |
| Three of a kind (pair royal) 4 4 4 | 6 |
| Four of a kind 3 3 3 3 | 12 |
| Run, 1 per card 3 4 5 | 3 |
| Double run of three (with the pair) 3 4 4 5 | 8 |
| Flush: 4 in hand, same suit hand only, not crib | 4 |
| Flush: 4 cards + starter hand or crib | 5 |
| His nobs: jack of starter’s suit J♥, starter ♥ | 1 |
Count in order: fifteens, pairs, runs, flush, nobs. Best hand: 29.
Scoring during pegging
| Count reaches 15 | 2 |
| Count reaches 31 | 2 |
| Pair / three / four of a kind | 2 / 6 / 12 |
| Run of 3+, any order | 1 each |
| Go (last card under 31) | 1 |
| Last card of the hand | 1 |
| His heels: starter is a jack (dealer) | 2 |
No flushes or nobs in pegging. A run must be the latest cards, unbroken.
Winning
- First to 121 wins, the moment it happens. Pone counts first.
- Skunk: loser on 90 or less. Counts double.
- Double skunk (house rule): loser on 60 or less.
Board
Two pegs each. Move the back peg ahead of the front one; the gap is your last score. Twice around = 120, then the game hole.
3 or 4 players
Deal 5 each, each throws 1. With 3, add 1 card from the deck to the crib. With 4, partners sit opposite and share a score.
Muggins (only if agreed)
Missed points in a count may be claimed by the opponent.
Free from cards51.com · Full rules: /cribbage/rules/ · Scores checked by our cribbage engine
What’s on the cribbage cheat sheet
The left column follows one hand from the deal to the show, then lists every way a hand scores. The right column covers pegging points, winning and skunks, the leapfrog peg rule, and short notes on three and four players and muggins.
Each number on the sheet comes from the same scoring engine that runs our online game, checked against the example cards. The full explanations live on our cribbage rules page and the scoring guide, and you can print a cribbage board to go with it.
If you like Cribbage, try
Euchre
2–4 players · 20 min · Learn in a game or two
Partners, trump and the two bowers. Take three tricks of five.
Spite & Malice
2–4 players · 25 min · Easy to learn
Play off your pile before your opponent does. The game Skip-Bo grew from.
Canasta
2–6 players · 60 min · Learn in a game or two
Meld sevens of a kind with your partner. Red threes are a bonus.
Questions people ask
Is there a cribbage rules PDF?
Yes. Press “Print the cheat sheet” and choose “Save as PDF” in the print window. You get one page with the deal, pegging, the show, every score and how to win.
What size does it print?
One US Letter page, portrait, in black ink only. It also fits A4. The scoring tables are printed large enough to read across the table.
Which rules does the sheet use?
The standard two-player game, as played in American Cribbage Congress tournaments, without the optional muggins rule. House rules like the double skunk are marked as such.
Where are the rules for 3 or 4 players?
The sheet has a short note. Our page on cribbage for 3 and 4 players covers the deal, the crib and partner rules in full.