Cribbage
Card Track with Paper ScorePeg your way to 121.
Who goes first?
Settle it before the Cribbage argument starts. Pick how many players, add names if you like, and spin.
Keeping score too? Doodle Score remembers your players and tallies every round.
Game Identity
- Name: Cribbage
- Player Count: 2–4 players. Standard: 2.
- Teams: Optional (4-player can be 2 teams of 2).
- Theme: Classic British card game combining trick-counting and "pegging." The app tracks cumulative points — it does not simulate the pegging board or live trick play.
Scoring Mechanics
- Scoring Variant: Accumulative — scores grow toward a target.
- Target Score: 121 points (standard 2-player "once around"). 61 points for a short game. 181 or 241 for 3–4 player variants.
- Unit of Scoring: Points per hand (pegging + hand count + crib).
- Lower vs. Higher: Higher score wins.
Rules & Validation
Per-Hand Logic
- Points per Hand: Variable. Each hand contributes:
- Pegging points: Scored during play (fifteens, pairs, runs, 31s, last card).
- Hand points: Scored from the 4-card hand + starter card (fifteens = 2 pts each, pairs = 2, runs, flush = 4/5, His Nobs = 1).
- Crib points: Dealer counts additional points from the crib (same scoring rules as a hand).
- Common Point Totals: Typical hand+crib combos range from 0–29. A perfect 29 hand (5-5-5-J with a 5 as starter matching the Jack's suit) is the maximum possible.
- Validation Rules:
- No fixed per-hand total — each player's entry is independent.
- Values must be non-negative integers.
Special Actions / Bonuses
- His Nobs: Jack in hand matching starter suit = 1 point.
- His Heels (Nibs): Dealer turns over a Jack as the starter card = 2 points for the dealer immediately.
- Muggins (optional rule): If a player fails to count all their points, opponents may claim the missed points. Toggle in settings.
- Skunk: Winning by 31+ points (opponent didn't pass 90). Not scored in-app, but can be noted in history.
- Double Skunk: Winning by 61+ points (opponent below 61). Flavor only.
Win Conditions
- Condition: First player/team to reach or exceed the target (default 121) wins immediately — even mid-hand during pegging.
- Tie-Breaker: Cannot tie — the first player to hit the target during pegging or counting wins on the spot.
Set Up in Doodle Score
Cribbage doesn't have a dedicated scorecard yet — track it for free using a general scorecard:
- Tap New Scorecard and choose Quick Score (tracks one player's turn at a time)
- Add 2 players (adjust as needed)
Score type: Ascending — highest score wins.
Common Cribbage rules questions
The arguments that come up at the table, answered from the official rules. Where house rules differ, we say so.
Can you count a flush in the crib with only four cards?
No. A crib flush needs all five cards, crib plus starter, in one suit. In your hand, four of a suit is a 4 point flush, and 5 if the starter matches.
What's the difference between his nobs and his heels?
His heels: if the starter card is a Jack, the dealer pegs 2 right away. His nobs: a Jack in your hand or crib that matches the starter's suit is 1 point when you count.
Who counts first after the play?
The pone (non-dealer) counts first, then the dealer's hand, then the dealer's crib. Near 121 this order decides close games, since the first to 121 wins even if the other hand would have counted more.
How does a Go work?
When you can't play without going over 31, say Go. Your opponent plays on as far as they can and pegs 1 for the last card, or 2 if they hit 31 exactly. Then the count goes back to 0.
What is muggins?
An optional rule: if a player misses points in their count, the opponent can call muggins and take them. Agree on it before you start, because many friendly games don't use it.
What is a skunk?
Winning before the loser reaches 91 is a skunk, and it usually counts as two games. Under 61 is a double skunk in many leagues.
House rule Skunks only matter if you're keeping a series or playing for stakes.
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