Cribbage Hand Score Calculator

How a cribbage hand is scored

You score your four cards together with the starter card, so every hand counts five cards.

• Fifteens: 2 points for every different combination of cards that adds up to 15. Face cards count 10 and aces count 1.
• Pairs: 2 points for each pair. Three of a kind is three pairs (6 points) and four of a kind is six pairs (12 points).
• Runs: 1 point per card in a run of three or more in a row, such as 6-7-8. A pair inside a run makes two runs.
• Flush: 4 points when all four cards in your hand are the same suit, or 5 if the starter matches too. In the crib, only a five-card flush counts.
• His nobs: 1 point for the jack of the same suit as the starter.

Worked example: 6, 7, 8, 8 with a 2 starter

Take a hand of 6♥ 7♣ 8♠ 8♦ with the 2♣ as the starter. It scores 14 points:

• Fifteens: 7♣ + 8♠, 7♣ + 8♦ and 6♥ + 7♣ + 2♣ make three fifteens, for 6 points.
• Pairs: 8♠ and 8♦ are one pair, for 2 points.
• Runs: 6-7-8 can be made with either eight, so it counts twice, for 6 points.

The flush rule matters for the crib. 4♥ 5♥ 6♥ J♥ with the K♠ starter scores 13 in your hand, including a 4-point flush. The same cards score only 9 in the crib, because the starter is not a heart.

The highest possible hand is 29: three fives and the jack, with the fourth five of the jack's suit as the starter. The calculator opens with it.