How do you score in cribbage?

Scoring in cribbage can be done during three different phases of the game. Players earn points in different ways at the cut, during play and during the scoring round.

1. Scoring on the cut

   After the hands are dealt, the cards remaining in the deck are cut by the player to the left of the dealer and a community card is turned face up. If the card turned up is a Jack then the dealer scores two points.

2. Scoring during play

   Once play begins, individual cards are played and added up with players aiming for a score of 31 without going over. Players score against each other by playing cards: Two of a kind is two points. Three of a kind is six points. Four of a kind is 12 points. A run of three or more cards of any suit is one point for each card in the run. Hitting 15 exactly is two points. Hitting 31 exactly is two points. A "Go" (31 is not reached but no cards can be played without going over 31) is one point. Playing the last card is considered a "Go" and is one point.

3. Counting the scores

   During the scoring round, players count their hands and the dealer counts the crib: A Jack in the same suit as the community card is one point. Two of a kind is two points. Three of a kind is six points. Four of a kind is 12 points. A run of three or more cards of any suit is one point for each card in the run. Each combination of unique cards that equal 15 is two points. Four cards of the same suit in a player's hand, not counting the community card, is four points. Five cards of the same suit, including the community card is five points.