Scoring the Hand
Scoring at the end of a round
Scoring a round consists of scoring points for the last card played in the round and points scored for each player’s hand. Points are first scored for playing the last card on the line, and then individual hands are scored sequentially starting with the player to the left of the dealer. The dealer also gets to score the crib. If the joker is placed as the final card on the line all scoring for the round is killed.
To score a hand the player turns their cards face up. The player chooses four out of five cards in the hand along with the common card, scoring 5 cards total. The card that is not scored from the hand is placed into the dealer’s crib face up. The total number of points earned is equivalent to the sum total of the points scored for the following items: the unique combinations of cards that sum 15; unique pairs and runs; flush; and Knobs.
To score a hand the player turns their cards face up. The player chooses four out of five cards in the hand along with the common card, scoring 5 cards total. The card that is not scored from the hand is placed into the dealer’s crib face up. The total number of points earned is equivalent to the sum total of the points scored for the following items: the unique combinations of cards that sum 15; unique pairs and runs; flush; and Knobs.
Unique Combinations of Cards that Sum to 15
The player scores 2 points every unique combination of card ranks that sum to 15.
Example
This example shows scoring the round. The 5s is the common card, which will be used in conjunction with the four cards that the player kept for their hand (each player discarded a card to the crib, which is not shown).
Player 1 scores 6 points for combinations of cards that sum to 15, which are Kd+5s 10c+5s and Jc+5s.
Player 2 scores 6 points for combinations of cards that sum to 15, which are the 6h+9c, 9c+Ad+5s, and 6h+8d+Ad.
Player 1 scores 6 points for combinations of cards that sum to 15, which are Kd+5s 10c+5s and Jc+5s.
Player 2 scores 6 points for combinations of cards that sum to 15, which are the 6h+9c, 9c+Ad+5s, and 6h+8d+Ad.
Unique Pairs and Runs
Pairs - The player will score 2 points for every unique pair. Three and four of kind scores 2 points for each unique pair with three of a kind scoring 6 points and four of a kind scoring 12 points.
Runs - The player scores 1 point for each card in a run of consecutive ranked cards. Ace is low and cannot be included in a run with a face card.
Runs - The player scores 1 point for each card in a run of consecutive ranked cards. Ace is low and cannot be included in a run with a face card.
Example
The player will score 2 points for every unique pair. Three and four of kind scores 2 points for each unique pair with three of a kind scoring 6 points and four of a kind scoring 12 points. The player scores 1 point for each card in a run of consecutive ranked cards. Ace is low and cannot be included in a run with a face card.
Example - Types of Combinations of Unique Runs and Pairs
Runs and pairs can create the patterns shown in these examples. The scoring is always the same for these patterns, so as you play the game you will become to recognize them and scoring will become second nature.
Flush
The player scores 4 points for a 4-card flush and 5 points for a 5-card flush. A 4-card flush comprises of all the same suit in the player’s hand. The common card is another suit. A 5-card flush consists of the same suit in the player’s hand and the common card. The crib can only score a 5-card flush, where a player’s hand is able to claim a 4 or 5-card flush.
Example
Player 1 scores 5 points for a five card flush, Qc-10c-6c-Ac-2c.
Player 2 scores 5 points for a four-card flush, 3d-8d-6d-Kd. The common card does need to be part of the flush to make it count.
Player 3 scores no points. For a 4-card flush to count it cannot include the common card (i.e. Q).
The dealer will score no points for the crib because a flush in a crib required all 5 cards to be in the same suit, which is different that scoring a player’s hand.
Player 2 scores 5 points for a four-card flush, 3d-8d-6d-Kd. The common card does need to be part of the flush to make it count.
Player 3 scores no points. For a 4-card flush to count it cannot include the common card (i.e. Q).
The dealer will score no points for the crib because a flush in a crib required all 5 cards to be in the same suit, which is different that scoring a player’s hand.
Knobs
The player scores 1 point if their hand contains the jack of the suit of the common card. If a jack is the common card, and the dealer scored two points when the common card was placed.
Kill Card
If the joker is part of the hand, or crib, the hand is killed. No points are scored. If the common card is the joker, all hands are killed. No points are scored for any player.
Example
Player 1 scores 1 point for Knobs. The Jd has the same suit as the common card, the 6d.
Player 2 scores no points because the joker is part of the hand.
Player 2 scores no points because the joker is part of the hand.
Examples - Try scoring these on your own, answers are below
Example - 1
The 5h is the common card and will be scored in all the hands.
Player 1 scores 17 points. 8 points for unique combinations that sum to 15. 8 points for a double run of 3 cards. 1 point for Knobs, the Jh is the same suit as the common card.
Player 2 scores 12 points. 6 points for unique combinations of 15 using the 7’s and the Ace. 6 points for the three of the kind of 7’s.
Player 3 scores 16 points. 2 points for unique combinations that sum to 15. 10 points for the double run of 4 cards. 4 points for a flush of spades.
Player 4 scores 24 points. 8 points for unique combinations that sum to 15. 16 points for a double-double run
Player 1 scores 17 points. 8 points for unique combinations that sum to 15. 8 points for a double run of 3 cards. 1 point for Knobs, the Jh is the same suit as the common card.
Player 2 scores 12 points. 6 points for unique combinations of 15 using the 7’s and the Ace. 6 points for the three of the kind of 7’s.
Player 3 scores 16 points. 2 points for unique combinations that sum to 15. 10 points for the double run of 4 cards. 4 points for a flush of spades.
Player 4 scores 24 points. 8 points for unique combinations that sum to 15. 16 points for a double-double run
Example - The 19 Point Hand
Cribbage hands can score from zero to 29 points. It is impossible to develop a cribbage hand that scores 19 points. When a player has a hand that scores no points, like this example, players will say they scored a “19 point hand”.
Example - High Scoring Hands
