This guide is for recreational learning only and does not promote real-money gambling.
Pegging, also known as “the play”, is the active phase of Cribbage where players take turns laying cards and scoring points during the round. It happens after both players discard to the crib and the starter card is revealed, but before hand and crib counting. The core goal is to play cards without letting the running total go over 31, while scoring points for pairs, runs, 15s, 31, and “go”. These rules apply to two-player, three-player and four-player Cribbage, with only small turn-order differences.
First, card values for pegging. Aces count as 1, numbered cards 2 through 10 carry their face value. Jacks, Queens and Kings are all worth 10 points for the running total. Suit does not matter during pegging, only rank and the cumulative sum. The non-dealer always plays the first card to start pegging. Players alternate turns, laying one card face up and announcing the new running total out loud.
The hard limit for the running count is 31. You cannot play a card that pushes the total above 31. If it is your turn and you have no valid card to play, you call “go”. Your opponent gets 1 point for the go, and they may continue playing any remaining cards they have, still trying not to exceed 31. After they finish their sequence, the count resets to zero, and the next player starts a new series. If a player lands exactly on 31, they score 2 points instead of the standard 1-point go.
There are four main scoring combinations you can earn while pegging. The first is making the running total exactly 15, which earns 2 points. Second is pairs: two cards of the same rank score 2 points. Three of the same rank (pair royal) is 6 points, and four of the same rank (double pair royal) scores 12 points. Pairs only count for consecutive matching cards; if a different rank is played in between, the pair chain breaks. Third is runs, or sequences. A run scores points equal to the number of cards in the consecutive sequence, and suits do not matter. The run is built from the last set of cards played, and a non-consecutive card breaks the run. For example, 3, 5, 4 creates a run of three once the 4 is played, worth 3 points. Fourth is the exact 31 bonus of 2 points.
A critical rule: you cannot combine cards from separate count sequences. Once the count resets to zero after a go or 31, old cards from the previous sequence are discarded from pegging consideration. Only the current streak of played cards is used to check for pairs, runs and 15s. This is different from hand counting, where you use all four hand cards plus the starter to find every possible combination.
Turn order continues until every player has played all their cards. In two-player Cribbage, each player has four cards left after discarding, so there are eight total cards to play during pegging. It is important to state your score immediately when you make a qualifying combination. If you wait too long and the next card is laid, you forfeit that point.
Common beginner mistakes are easy to avoid. Many players think runs must be in order of play, but they only need to be consecutive ranks, regardless of the order they hit the table. Others forget that once the count resets, old cards do not count for new pairs or runs. A frequent error is mixing pegging scoring rules with hand scoring; flushes and nobs never give points during pegging — those bonuses only apply when counting your hand and crib after play ends.
Pegging is where a lot of Cribbage points are won or lost. Strong pegging strategy means watching the running total, saving cards to make 15s or runs, and forcing your opponent into a “go” when you still have playable cards. Learning these pegging rules makes your play faster and prevents disputes at the board.