Cribbage Hand Score Calculator

How to Count a Cribbage Hand

When it is time to count your hand, you must combine your 4 hand cards with the 1 cut card to create a 5-card pool. You then score points based on five distinct categories.

The golden rule of Cribbage counting is that a single card can be used multiple times across different combinations. For example, if you have three 5s, you can use the first two to make a pair, the second two to make a pair, and the first and third to make a pair (which is why three-of-a-kind is worth 6 points, or 3 pairs).

The Elusive 29-Point Hand

The holy grail of Cribbage is the perfect 29-point hand. The odds of being dealt this hand in a two-player game are roughly 1 in 216,580.

To score a 29, you must hold a Jack and three 5s in your hand. The cut card must be the final remaining 5, and its suit must match the suit of the Jack in your hand. This creates an absurd cascade of points:

• Four 5s = 12 points (Pairs)
• Each 5 combined with the Jack = 8 points (Fifteens)
• Combinations of three 5s = 8 points (Fifteens)
• Jack matching the cut suit = 1 point (Nobs)

Fifteens and Pairs

Fifteens: Any combination of cards that sums exactly to 15 is worth 2 points. Aces count as 1. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) count as 10. You can combine two cards (e.g., 8 and 7) or five cards (e.g., A, 2, 3, 4, 5) to reach 15.

Pairs: Any two cards of the same rank are worth 2 points. If you have three of the same rank, it creates three distinct pairs, scoring 6 points. Four of a kind creates six distinct pairs, scoring 12 points.

Runs and Flushes

Runs: A sequence of three or more consecutive ranks (e.g., 4, 5, 6) scores 1 point per card. If you have a duplicate card in the run (e.g., 4, 5, 5, 6), you score the run twice (two runs of three = 6 points) plus the pair of 5s (2 points).

Flushes: If all 4 cards in your hand are the exact same suit, you score 4 points. If the cut card also matches that suit, you score 5 points. (Note: The rules are stricter for the dealer's "Crib" hand, which only scores a flush if all 5 cards match).