Fifteens: two points each
Every different group of cards that adds up to fifteen scores two. Aces count one, face cards ten, and the rest their number. The same card can be part of several fifteens, so a five with a ten and a jack is two fifteens, four points.
Players call them out as they go: fifteen two, fifteen four, fifteen six.
Pairs: two points each
Two cards of the same rank are a pair, worth two. Three of a kind holds three pairs, six points, and four of a kind holds six pairs, twelve points. A king and a queen are not a pair: the rank has to match, not just the value.
Runs: one point a card
Three or more cards in rank order, in any suits, score one point for each card. Ace is low, so ace, two, three is a run and queen, king, ace is not.
A repeated rank doubles the run. Five, five, six, seven is a double run, two runs of three for six points, and the pair still scores two. Three of a rank makes a triple run, nine points, and two pairs inside one run make a double double run: four runs of three, twelve points. The pairs count on top.
Flush: four or five points
Four cards of one suit in your hand are a flush, worth four, or five if the starter matches too. Three of your cards and the starter are no flush.
The crib is stricter: it only scores a flush when all four crib cards and the starter are one suit, for five.
Nobs: one point
Holding the jack of the starter's suit is one point, called nobs or his nob. It counts in the crib too. If the starter itself is a jack, the dealer pegs two at once, called his heels; that is scored when the card is cut, not in the show, so this counter leaves it out.
Hands worth knowing
Press a hand to load it into the counter.
| Cards (starter last) | Counted as | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5♥ 5♣ 5♦ J♠ 5♠ | Hand | 29 | The best hand in cribbage: three fives and the jack, with the fourth five cut as the starter in the jack's suit. Eight fifteens (16), six pairs (12) and nobs (1). |
| 5♥ 5♣ 5♦ 5♠ K♥ | Hand | 28 | Four fives and a ten-point card, in either place: eight fifteens (16) and six pairs (12). Hold the jack instead of a five, in the starter's suit, and nobs makes it 29. |
| 7♥ 7♣ 8♦ 8♠ 9♣ | Hand | 24 | A double double run: four runs of three (12), two pairs (4) and four fifteens, each seven with the eight (8). |
| 3♥ 4♣ 5♦ 5♠ 5♣ | Hand | 17 | A triple run: three runs of three (9), three fives make three pairs (6) and one fifteen (2). |
| 2♥ 4♥ 6♥ 8♥ K♥ | Crib | 5 | In the crib, five hearts are a flush for five. Make the starter a club and the crib scores nothing at all. |
| 2♥ 4♣ 6♦ 8♠ K♣ | Hand | 0 | Nothing: every card is even, so no fifteen is possible, and there are no pairs, runs, flush or nobs. |
The counter follows the standard rules, as set out on pagat.com and played in Cards Royale. Its totals were checked against all 12,994,800 combinations of four cards and a starter, for the hand and for the crib.
