How to Play Cribbage

Have you ever wanted to know how to play cribbage? Well here is your chance to learn. La Pluma Negra has put together this video to help people learn how to play this fun card game!
Produced by: blackfeathercreative.com

[@domestikate1]

My daughter learned to play cribbage on vacation with friends and was given a cribbage board. She wanted to play with me but I hadn't played since I was a child and couldn't remember how to play. She was getting frustrated trying to explain the rules in an understandable way. After watching several other videos we were just getting more frustrated until we found this tutorial. Perfect! It was just enough to help us get started and my daughter could then fill in the more complicated rules. As a bonus, the video was so enjoyable to watch with the pleasant voice of the narrator and appealing visuals. Well done indeed!

[@vincecollura4004]

Three player cribbage is possible on a board like this and is better than the more common version played with three different sets of tracks/pegs. It's called "captain's cribbage:" The "captain" (who deals first) plays against the other two opponents who are on a team together. The captain plays to 61 and the captain's opponents play to 121 together, combining their hands, cribs, and pegging. Each person plays a game as the captain once. Makes for fun, quick games of cribbage on a classic board.

[@madelinebutterfly]

this is the most amazing video I have ever seen. I felt like I was transported into a beautiful Wes Anderson movie, and it brought a sense of warmth in this cold, cold world.

[@kellenwitschen]

I'm glad you realized the inspiration for the style ;)

[@publiusel-sadat8247]

I'm not sure if you're exaggerating, just a little, but, I agree that it is extraordinary. Like your Starry Nights, it's a theme on a few things on our home.

[@dirtpipedan]

ooook buddy

[@ThePlatinum0069]

I just wanted to say thank you for posting this easy to follow video. I haven't played Cribbage in almost 10 years and I just downloaded it to my phone and watched this tutorial. Thanks a million times over! It came right back to me! Out of most of the videos on youtube, this was the easiest to follow!!!

[@kellenwitschen]

+T.Q. Powell Thank you! Im glad you like it. I really appreciate the feedback because it helps me to improve future videos so thank you for the post!

[@blogmanfan]

I was looking for this exact board and play style, and after watching this I feel more confident in playing on my new board. Thank you so much for recording this video. Loved the narrator and instructions.

[@stinkinfresh]

This just might be the most overly complicated game in history. It is more like 6 games in one. It makes sense this game never became a hit. It requires too much of an attention span. But, I am determined to find the joy in it. Thanks for the video.

[@cscappaticci6918]

Excellent video. This really helped me understand the play, because it breaks it down into separate pieces I can’t wait to play.

[@katherineharter7104]

I needed a cribbage refresher video and watched a few (snoooooooze....) before I found this delightful tutorial. Thank you for making the review so pleasant!

[@evilpandakillabzonattkoccu4879]

outstanding, thank you! I've been trying to collect/learn these types of games (backgammon, pinochle, etc)....then I noticed that I had a cribbage set, I just didn't recognize it as one because I'm not familiar with it at all and I'm used to seeing a rounded, colorful board. mine is simplistic, like your's and I love it!

[@dustydubs8139]

thank you! It has been years since I played and this was a great refresher!

[@melaniemcdougal8103]

Thank you so much for this video! I've been searching for a clearly explained how to video. This is perfect.

[@kellenwitschen]

+Melanie McDougal No problem! I'm glad you like it!

[@ElizabethBartley]

this really helped my boyfriend and I learn cribbage. my grandparents played every night for decades and kept a score book. they were only ever a few games apart in score. thanks so much, and I may go watch moonrise kingdom now

[@mikevyvyan6397]

Very good, instructive video. Would benefit from: the piano playing volume being turned down a summary of the scoring repeated at the end. Thank you!

[@zucchini_flowers]

Very cinematic and well done. Explained well as well!

[@benjaminborup1275]

Have never played cribbage before. I saw several how to play cribbage videos which were terrible, completely confusing. This video is excellent. Great job.

[@andrewberry5617]

I have looked at about 20 videos on how to play Crib. All of them EXCEPT this one are gabbled in American, far too fast, or miss things out, this is the BEST I HAVE SEEN. - and its nicely spoken ( even though its American !! it sounds almost English )

[@kellenwitschen]

+Andrew Berry Thank you! That means a lot!

[@TheKimimisae]

This tutorial was VERY helpful and easy to understand. Thank you very much!!!

[@oldhounddog57]

Very well explained! Thank you!

[@harpnspud2349]

Great job! Thank you for sharing.

[@morgaj21]

Lovely video. Clearly explained and beautifully produced.

[@kellenwitschen]

+John Morgan Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

[@mee23chelle]

This sounds exhausting! I just got a board...wanted to teach my 7 and 8 year old... I think we'll wait a bit.

[@4641lester]

Do they have to be tiny cards!? Lol!!! Great lesson and yes this has Wes Anderson wrote all over it. Thank you! I enjoyed it.

[@wzlee583]

Very helpful video!

[@jennymickelson827]

this is awesome!

[@HudsonJT]

Awesome video, thank you so much.

[@TheMajestuoso]

This walks you through a game really well. I find it a little confusing to call it "a pegging round", though. I prefer to say "the play", because you peg (score points) in "the show" as well as "the play". 1) The deal 2) Discard (2 cards each to dealer's crib) 2) The cut (& turn up starter card) 3) The play (lay down one card at a time against other player's cards) 4) The show (score hands and the crib) Also, if both players spread their cards out during *the play* it is possible to make runs (like 8, 9, 10 cards) for points (even 8, 10, 9 consecutively played is considered a run). Much easier if both players' cards are visible (laid side-by-side on the table) rather than stacked in piles.

[@EricPerreault]

Where did your board come from? I love it.

[@brennaleena]

great video. well explained

[@OnwardUnknowing]

Great video! Any chance there are any online retailers that offer that sweet cribbage set?

[@nicolefowler6725]

This video was very well done but I'm still confused. The hardest thing for me to understand is the scoring and the pegging. I'm going to watch it again to see if I can work it out a bit better.

[@virv1ndo973]

i would recommend you a "cribbage deluxe" it is free game for windows which you can find in microsoft store, first read the manual in the game, than play and after all rounds - read the scoring, after some practice you will understand the strategy by yourself :)

[@YknotLearnall]

Start at the beginning. Explain the board. And the pegs on the board. Everyone is going over rules, no one explains the pegs. And the movement of the pegs. 3 players, 6 pegs, 2 colors of pegs, which peg is who's? How do you keep track of who's peg is who's if they're all the same color? How do I know how many people my board is meant for?

[@iank2615]

whose*

[@YknotLearnall]

@@iank2615 - I thought they defunded, then dismantled the internet grammar police years back...?

[@iank2615]

@@YknotLearnall must have missed that memo

[@YknotLearnall]

@@iank2615 - no worries mate. At least now you know and you're up to speed...

[@samortimer1]

Thank you for your tutorial! I run a Cribbage League in New Hampshire and I linked our FAQ page to your video. BTW - What is the name of the calming piano background music? :)

[@kellenwitschen]

+Scott Mortimer Great! I'm glad you like it! Its actually just music that we self recorded just for this video

[@publiusel-sadat8247]

Excellent video, thank you. I've watched many and this is, by far, the clearest and most pleasant. Although, I'm confused about scoring. At 8:40 in the video the pone reaches 15 (3, K, 2) but scores only one point. The dealer appears to do the same thing later. I thought 15 is worth 2 points. What am I missing? Thanks again and you're a Saint if you take time to answer this question! Best of luck in life!

[@publiusel-sadat8247]

Got it! After reading about the GO phase and re-watching (several times), I understand. Thanks again.

[@antonydandrea]

so as a dealer I would want to put good cards in the crib?

[@pnutbutrncrackers]

I don't like being negative, so let me say that I enjoyed this video, and it does help if one wants to begin to learn the game of cribbage. There are a couple fairly small corrections I would make, but overall a good job with your creative and visually attractive vid. :)

[@oceanistoosmall]

+Kellen Witschen what is the brand of the card deck?

[@chelseaschlais3822]

I wish I could've watched this video all the way through it seems really well done and clearly explained. I couldn't keep looking at the screen though. It gets like..."jumpy" often. and it was making my eyes kinda buggy. anyone else notice that?

[@PurplePollos]

Chelsea Schlais yeah, I noticed that

[@kochampion7]

Good video. Something that could have been helpful would be to explain sequences in the pegging, and perhaps some variations if you like. For example, I play where if your opponent misses calling points, the other player can claim them. There are a lot of variations you could talk about, but not all are popular or necessary.

[@kellenwitschen]

+kochampion7 Yeah, we thought about putting the "cut throat" rules in it but we didn't want to muddle the learning too much. We just wanted people get up and running with the game. That is a good thought though!

[@MrCtaz1319]

thank god cause I am 148 IQ and it seamed extremely muddled to me.

[@wallace4932]

PERFECT!

[@Reythx]

I am VERY confused about the peg placement?! can someone explain? They just seem to move them randomly instead of in points..?

[@crzycnt8566]

Reyth they leap-frog to stop you sneaking a point. Both pegs start on zero, if you win...4pts you move a peg 4, next time you win...2pts, the back peg will move 2 from first peg, next turn...3pts, back peg moves 3 from front peg and so on...

[@crzycnt8566]

@Tony Ramiro thats right

[@grotto3535]

Great video. I would echo other comments this is the BEST one I have found online. Something that came up when playing with my son that is not covered in the video: when in the play round, what if one of the players gets two or more cards AHEAD of the other? For example, player A holds 2 face cards + a pair 2's. Player B holds a 6 and 3 face cards. Player A leads with a king, player B plays a 6, player A plays another king, total 26 points, and player B says "go." Player A scores 1 for go. Player A now plays his first 2 for 28, and his next 2 for 30. Player A is now out of cards, and scores 2points for the pair. But player B still holds 3 cards in her hand. Player B plays a Jack. Does player A say "go" (and so player B scored a point ) since, being out of cards, he is not able to play? Or does he remain silent while player B plays three face cards one after the other totaling 30 points, and player B scores one point for playing the last card? (And any other points that the 3 face cards might have earned.) thanks for any help you can offer. Happy gaming.

[@jessedreher7378]

Thanks for the video!

[@jeffa9171]

Very well done and useful. If you still have the opportunity to edit, I would have appreciated the scoring pop-ups during the last game demonstration as well - perhaps even adding an annotation about why the points are being scored. For example, "Pair - 2", "Run - 3", etc. Thanks for creating this.

[@kellenwitschen]

+Jeff A Thanks! I appreciate your feedback. My hope with that section was just to demonstrate how the gameplay went. I didn't want to display the numbers because I wanted people to test their counting and not have someone counting it for them.

[@farnams1]

+Kellen Witschen I am new to learning how to play cribbage and thought that your video was terrific, but I do agree with Jeff A. I was trying to add the scoring points in my head and when it differed from the player's score recorded I was confused. Perhaps you could accomplish your goal as well as my need for explanation by pausing before the player moves the peg to show the tally in detail. This way we would have already tried to do it on our own.

[@dtecum]

If the starting card is a Jack " his heels" it is worth 2 points and is scored immediately. Otherwise the Jack in the hand or the crib of the suit of the upturned card is called "his knobs" and is worth 1 point.

[@ElGeecho]

Great video that was very informative. This helped me understand the game, which has a lot of loosely-related elements. I love the music.

[@lesliemorin4409]

Why do they pass their other peg by alot of points then what they counted? Do they count from their other peg ahead of them?

[@sokashingallan3682]

this video is awsome.

[@PNEfc001]

Nice tutorial and what a lovely voice to listen to. The music is a tad annoying tho. Lori you dont need a board to play. Just a pen and paper is enough to keep count.

[@annvoigt7069]

It started off good but should've explained the scoring when actually playing the game instead of just the piano music.

[@nikkeyaberryhill5695]

Ok I am learning how to play cribbage and so far I have found this video really helpful. I really like the way the table is laid out and the design. However, is it just me or are you guys counting the same card as a 9 sometimes and a 6 at other times? Is that how you play? Are 9's and 6's reversible?

[@kellenwitschen]

+Nikkeya Berryhill thank you for the feedback! I watched through the video again and didn't find a spot where a 9 was counted as a 6 or 6 as a 9. Did you see a specific spot in the video?

[@nikkeyaberryhill5695]

+Kellen Witschen Thanks Kellen! Oh I was wrong! It was around 5:57, the narrator was talking about pairs getting two points and held the 6 by the 9, but I didn't realize the 9+6 was getting 2 points because it added up to 15. Ooops. My bad. ;)

[@kellenwitschen]

+Nikkeya Berryhill Ok, I'm glad it worked out. Yeah we realized after we made it that we should have set it up so that we were playing with the same numbers that we were talking about. Sorry for the confusion!

[@hoganfoundation]

As far as the pair of 4's I saw 7's. Thanks for taking the time to teach us.

[@antonydandrea]

so are points scored with the turned up card worth double?

[@loriseaborn3589]

well I like this I trying to learn cribbage I just need pegs and a cribbage board to practice so I can play

[@joeblow8097]

Lori Seaborn there are some really good apps on Google play that you will just LOVE!☺

[@aidanpatman-clark7131]

you can actually play without a board! Just keep track of your score. Easy!

[@SavannaOlivia]

Such a quality video, voiceovers voice is so pleasant!

[@TheLetterJ10]

what cards do you use?

[@lelandshennett]

This is a very well done video. Very well done

[@peppercornlace128]

3:04 is inaccurate, no? I was taught a pair breaks a run, which would mean in this 5-4-4-3 example there's only 2 points for the pair, and 0 points for a run because it's not actually there - it would read 5-4-4, then 4-4-3 after the 3 is played.

[@jims2181]

Bravo very well done! Thank You!

[@badlaamaurukehu]

I want these cards...

[@youtubered434]

At 8:25 why does he move so much when isn't he just supposed to move 2 for making a pair??

[@joeblow8097]

seems you forgot the "GO" points

[@stephenramos6178]

How do you finish this game on this board?

[@hoganfoundation]

Thanks for sharing with us. Why did he move his peg at the 8:37 time on video when he had a 2 and she had a 5? The total count was 30 wasn't it? Also why 2 pegs? Thanks again.

[@kellenwitschen]

Thanks for watching! He moved it because the other player didn't have any cards that would add up to 31 or less so he gets 1 point, called a "go" The two pegs are so you don't mess up counting. When you leapfrog over the peg, you can't loose track of where your started counting. Try it without two pegs and you will see why.

[@hoho-eg4zj]

When a player says, "go," the same player who put down goes again, in the pegging round.

[@AC_Lerok]

I still don't understand why there are two pegs per player and how you determine which one to move

[@kellenwitschen]

+mbarigian Hey sorry about that not being explained in the video. The point of the two pegs is only that the one acts as a place holder so you know where to count from. Try playing it with on peg and you will see why it is there. always pick the peg from the back, and "leap frog" over the next peg. That peg represents where you last pegged making it easy to count your points from where you were last time you moved the peg.

[@willowridgeapartments9917]

Every day, every hour, Cribbage games and tournament at GameColony com!

[@onebadhombre7158]

Alfredo Mayer why do you have Antonio Centeno in your profile picture? 😂😂😂

[@327365hp]

WOW, your hands are huge!

[@moviesstuff25]

sweet deck, what's the name?

[@Wookie023]

Yeah I want to know. I love them.

[@meganshinnick1517]

Where'd you get your table cloth 😃

[@Doing_TheMost]

This is so cute..

[@johnanderson4749]

At 6:02 how does the 6 diamonds correlate with 9 hearts??

[@johnanderson4749]

I got it.. equals 15!

[@coriarts]

Great video but felt the tablecloth was a bit distracting. That said, thumbs up.

[@bixbybixby6752]

Thanks, pretty good vid. After learning to play cribbage (2 player) and playing quite a bit, the playing off of each other hands (pegging round) is the only real place in the game for some skill---the cut card is pure luck and the crib mostly luck when figuring the scoring at the end of the game. Yes you can 'salt' or try to hedge your luck a bit in the crib, but it's basically wild. Maybe it's better with 4 people? Anyway, not bad for a 400 yr. old game I guess.

[@swvastories3498]

4 people is fun. Yes a 2 player game is where some skill does come into the game. I'm not that great at cribbage but love to play.

[@mistervacation23]

Over at city hall we have cribbage game and boiled chicken dinner every Tuesday night. Some idiot dummped his whole chicken dinner down the toilet. Then tried to flush it causing an overflow at city hall that went down the steps and out in to the street even. What a mess we had on our hands.

[@postscript67]

How many points do you get for that?

[@mistervacation23]

@@postscript67 none plus he got kicked out of the cribbage club

[@sharonrouse3089]

What happens if one person is out of cards and the other person has two left?

[@sharonrouse3089]

Think it was a mistake on our first time playing!

[@blueshark3354]

Cribbage is kind of like playing fizzbin

[@dreasmom2789]

Finally understand. Thank you.

[@Gushry]

Why are there 4 markers for 2 players ?

[@swvastories3498]

To keep track of where you were in case you counted wrong the first time? At least that's what we always thought. Douglas Anderson states in his book its so your opponent can track your last scored points.

[@jaredarcilla571]

At 8:27, wouldn't the king and the 5 make 15?

[@kellenwitschen]

+Jared Fenwick Kennedy In that case the 3 had been played first to start the round of pegging, so when the king was played next, that made 13. If the top player would have played the 5 it would have added up to 18 and they wouldn't have gotten the 2 points.

[@jazzy7805]

This video was somewhat helpful. Ill just keep replaying it to understand every thing you guys did 😬

[@rybread2129]

This was way better I just wish someone would tell me in real life to tell me right to my face so I could understand better

[@pannaraisattra4148]

Ok

[@Gushry]

4:16 why did the amount of spaces the person move was more than 1????

[@Gushry]

2**

[@kellenwitschen]

Im not sure I understand your question. When a jack is cut the dealer gets 2 points and when the cut card matches the suit of the jack in your had you get 1 point.

[@bhikkhu]

A mini Wes Anderson film!

[@Jinks1447]

As a cribbage player I enjoyed this video. Of course the non-dealer would try to avoid a discard like 6 and 8 to the dealer's crib, since you wouldn't want the starter card (the cut) to be a 7 or find that the dealer put a 7 into his crib. Most of the time the non-dealer tries to make a "wide card" discard, such as an Ace, 2, or 3 with either a King or Queen. If you can't make that discard try throwing a 6, 7, 8, or, 9 with a King or Queen. Also when a Jack is the starter card it is usually called "His Heels." Thanks! Good video!

[@kellenwitschen]

+Daniel Yentzer Thanks for the insights!

[@TheMajestuoso]

Watch this video, then find a good online game that describes the points as you play. Then, maybe come back and watch again. Written instructions are the most explicit explanation, if you want to learn that way too. cardgames.io/cribbage/ is a good one with nothing to download. I'm not affiliated in any way, just like the simple interface.

[@DCFunBud]

Cut the chopsticks.

[@johnnymcribblestonebreaker5910]

I was following along fine until the explanation of the pegging round scoring that begins around the 4:40 mark. Needed way more detail. Off to google I go to (hopefully) find a more thorough explanation.

[@kellenwitschen]

+johnny mcribblestonebreaker What part about pegging are you having issues with? I might be able to help you out with it.

[@duccie]

o_O Confused

[@mlmorris33]

Is this Wes Anderson cribbage?

[@mismaillangove]

Great video but stupid like me want more detailed explaination

[@ediosnjaviervillarroel1861]

en español por favor... tengo este juego años y no se jugarlo :(

[@braveheartq5540]

good video but tablecloth was too distracting for me

[@TheMajestuoso]

I think this is how the hand plays out at 8:11 *NON-DEALER* *DEALER* 3 K (13 is the count so far) K (2 points for the king pair) 3 (26 is the count) 2 (1 points for closest to 31) 4 (Count starts over, Dealer plays 4) 5 (count is now 9) Q (Dealer plays last card for 1 point) Note that if someone had reached the count of 31 exactly, that person would have earned 2 points (The count can not go over 31). Neither the last card played nor the non-dealer reached 31 exactly, so 1 point for being closest and last card. Hope this helps!

[@TheMajestuoso]

The count at 8:58 *NON-DEALER:* Ace-2-3 (run of 3) 3 points, 2-3-K (15) 2 points, 5-K (15) 2 points. Total: 7 points *DEALER:* K-5 (15) 2 points, Q-5 (15) 2 points, K-4-Ace (15) 2 points, Q-4-Ace (15) 2 points. Total: 8 points The Crib: 7-7-Ace (15) 2 points, 7-7-Ace (15) 2 points, 7-7 (pair) 2 points, Ace-Ace (pair) 2 points. Total: 8 points

[@chrisplatt4]

This was bugging me, thanks!

[@nigelbelton4748]

Again, just like all the other American produced tutorials I’ve watched, you failed to mention the ‘Muggins’ rule. It keeps you focused, maintains concentration and gains you more points. You want to win don’t you?

[@SliceOfLife100]

then 'ave a game of crib

[@olaftheodor]

i think i'm going to die before i work out how to play cribbage :(

[@awolf913]

At 9:09 how is that 7 points?!

[@martywilliard]

Fingernails matter …. Good video all said

[@marselutepov7438]

Читаешь книгу Кладбище домашних животных?)))

[@stephanieduttonk55]

I can't concentrate on instructions with the music but thank you

[@lindasarafin9669]

I can't concentrate because of the woman's manicure.