Cribbage is a centuries-old two-player card classic, and this version lets you play free online Cribbage in your browser against a thoughtful AI opponent — no download and no account needed. Each deal you receive six cards and must discard two into the crib, a bonus hand that belongs to the dealer. A starter card is cut, then play unfolds in two stages: the pegging round, where you alternate laying cards and score for hitting fifteen, thirty-one, pairs and runs, and the show, where both hands plus the crib are counted in full on the classic 121-point board.
The game was invented in the early 1600s by the English poet and notorious gambler Sir John Suckling, who adapted it from an older game called Noddy. It has barely changed in four hundred years — the wooden pegging board, the 121-point track and the crib itself are all original — making cribbage one of the oldest card games still played essentially in its inventor's form. It remains a beloved pub and kitchen-table fixture across Britain, Canada and the northern United States.
Devotees chase the mythical perfect hand: a 29, made of three fives and a jack in hand with the matching fourth five cut as the starter. The odds are roughly one in 216,000 hands, so many players go a lifetime without seeing one — which is exactly why it is legendary.
Be the first to reach 121 points by pegging combinations during play and counting your hand, your opponent's hand, and the crib during the show.
Click two cards to send them to the crib, then confirm. Click Cut Deck to reveal the starter. During pegging, click a highlighted card to lay it down, or click Go when you cannot play without exceeding 31. Everything is point-and-click on desktop or mobile.
Score 2 for any fifteen or thirty-one, 2 for a pair (6 for three of a kind, 12 for four), and points equal to the length of any run. In the show, count fifteens, pairs, runs, flushes and his nobs (a Jack matching the starter suit). A Jack cut as the starter pegs the dealer 2 for his heels.
When discarding to your own crib, throw connected cards or a five; when it is your opponent's crib, starve it — never gift a five or two cards close in rank. In pegging, lead from a pair so you can score if your lead gets paired, and hold combinations that let you reach fifteen or thirty-one.
What is the crib in Cribbage?
The crib is an extra four-card hand made from each player's two discards. It belongs to the dealer and is scored after the regular hands, and the deal alternates so both players benefit in turn.
What is the best hand in Cribbage?
A perfect 29: three fives and a jack in hand, with the fourth five — matching the jack's suit — cut as the starter. It combines fifteens, four of a kind and his nobs.
Is Cribbage free to play here?
Yes — play unlimited games free in your browser against the computer, with no download or sign-up.
More classic games: Gin Rummy, Whist, Hearts, Canasta, Golf, plus all 100 free games.