If five card cribbage was about keeping hand scores lower and simplifying the game, the seven card variation of cribbage is the exact opposite. You can play face cards (K-10) to force a Go and try to avoid pegging opportunities or you can play lower value cards in an effort to force your opponent to play all of his cards. Likewise, you can score a four card flush for four points if the starter card is also the same suit.įive card cribbage is a simpler fast paced variant that adds a unique twist to your strategy especially around the Play phase (pegging). you can’t use two from your hand and the starter card). You can score a flush with three cards for three points, but you all the cards of your hand have to be the same suit (ie.

There is one exception to the scoring rules to account for only having three cards in your hand. Each player (starting with pone) score their hands as normal with one exception mentioned below.Play as you would normally, BUT if 31 or Go is reached, the play ends and you move straight to the Show phase even if every card wasn’t played.Each player discards two card to the dealer’s crib.Pone (ie non-dealer) pegs 3 points immediately at the beginning to compensate for dealer advantage Possibly the “original” version of cribbage, five card cribbage is a simpler variant than the more common six card. Four and six player cribbage can be played with teams where partners combine their points, but we cover all of that extensively in our article on how to play cribbage with three players or more. how many cards are dealt to each player and how many they have to discard to the crib). The only thing that changes is the “setup” (ie. The scoring and rules are exactly the same in these cribbage variants. These are essential for any cribbage player to know as they allow you to adapt to however many people want to play cribbage on any given night. You can play cribbage with the standard two players or you can find variations with three or more players.

Photo by Noémie Cauchon on Unsplash Three Player Cribbage (Four, Five and Six Player Too!)

Play cribbage with jake