Cribbage
CardPeg your way to 121.
Game Rules: Cribbage
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.
Track Cribbage in Doodle Score
Free scorekeeper app for iOS & Android