CribWithFriends

Pull up a chair

Play free online cribbage against the computer, invite a friend with a private link, or join a public or private tournament.

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HOW TO PLAY

Cribbage rules & scoring

Goal & first crib

Be first to reach 121 points. Before the first deal, both players cut a card from the spread. The lower rank gets the first crib; ace is low. Equal ranks mean another cut. The dealer alternates each round.

Deal & starter

Each player gets six cards and discards two face down into the dealer’s crib, keeping four. A separate starter card is turned up. It is not played during pegging; it is the fifth card used when counting each hand and the crib. If the starter is a jack, the dealer immediately scores 2 (“his heels”).

Pegging

The nondealer plays first. Players alternate playing one kept card and announce the running total. Aces count 1; number cards count their number; jacks, queens and kings count 10. The total cannot exceed 31. A player who cannot fit a card says “go”; the other plays any cards they can. After a go or 31, start a new count with the cards remaining. Pegging scores can add together on one play.

PlayPoints
Reach 152
Reach 31 exactly2
Pair of consecutive played ranks2
Three / four of a kind in a row6 / 12
Run of 3 or more recent cards, in any order1 per card
Last card before a reset or “go”1, unless it made 31

Counting hands & crib

After all cards are played, count the nondealer’s hand, dealer’s hand, then dealer’s crib, each with the same starter card. Count every distinct combination of cards that makes 15 or a pair. Only the longest runs count; duplicate ranks can make multiple runs.

CombinationPoints
Each combination totaling 152
Each pair2
Run of 3, 4 or 53, 4 or 5 per run
Four original cards of one suit (hand only)4
Four original cards and starter of one suit (hand or crib)5
Jack in the hand or crib matching the starter’s suit (“his nob”)1

Example: 5–5–6–7 scores two runs of three (6) and a pair (2), before counting any fifteens.

Winning & skunk line

The first player to 121 wins immediately, even during pegging or before all hands are counted. If the loser is still at 90 or fewer, they are skunked. The board marks the boundary before hole 91. This game awards points automatically; there is no muggins claim.

Scoring reference: American Cribbage Congress scoring sheet ↗

SITE INFORMATION

Terms & Conditions

Effective September 28, 2026

Using the game

CribWithFriends is provided for casual entertainment. By using the site, you agree to use it lawfully and respectfully. The site does not offer wagering, cash prizes, or anything of monetary value. In a game against another player, someone who leaves or stops checking in has two minutes to return before forfeiting; an unresponsive connection may take a short time to be detected.

Accounts and player links

Ranked games require an account. Usernames, password hashes, ratings, and game records are stored in SQLite; there is no email recovery, so keep your password safe. Ranked game links also require signing in to the matching account. Unranked personal game or tournament links act as access keys. Anyone with one may use that seat and see its chat; keep those links private and share invitation links only with intended players.

Chat and conduct

Do not send harassment, threats, spam, unlawful content, or sensitive personal information. Game messages are shown to the other player. Tournament lobby messages are shown to registered players during registration and live rounds. Each chat displays the latest 50 messages and retains at most 100 in the database. The operator may remove games, tournaments, or messages that misuse the service.

Game data and availability

The site stores account details, ratings, player names, moves, scores, tournament details, game chat, and tournament lobby chat in SQLite. This browser tab may also store your invitation and last-game shortcut in session storage. Games, tournaments, and their messages remain until removed; there is no automatic deletion schedule. The service and saved games may be interrupted, changed, or removed, so do not rely on them as permanent records.

Copyright

© 2026 CribWithFriends. All rights reserved for original site text, code, and artwork. Traditional cribbage rules and linked third-party material belong to their respective owners.

Changes and limits

These terms may be updated as the site changes. The game is provided as available. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the operator is not responsible for losses caused by service interruptions, scoring errors, or misuse of player links.