Cribbage Glossary of Terms

Cribbage Board · Hand · Crib · Cut Card · Go · Thirty One · Fifteen · Pair · Run · Flush · His Heels · Nineteen · Nobs · Match · Pone · Skunked · Double Skunked · Peg Out · Game Hole · Twenty Nine

Cribbage Board

Board with pegs and 121 numbered holes used to keep score in a cribbage game.

Hand

The cards dealt to each player.

Crib

Two cards from each player set aside for the dealer.

Cut Card

The card flipped over by the dealer after the opponent cuts the deck at the start of each round. The players use the cut card when scoring their hands. Sometimes called the Starter Card.

Go

A player says go when they can't play a card without exceeding a total count of 31. The opponent scores a point on a go.

Thirty One

Expression said by player who makes the count 31 and in so doing scores 2 points.

Fifteen

15 comes up twice in cribbage: During the play of cards and also when counting hands. In either spot, a combination is worth two points. So, you'll hear Fifteen-Two, Fifteen-Four, etc.

Pair

Two cards of the same rank.

Run

Three or more cards in sequence. For example, 5-6-7 is a three card run. Scores one point per card. Also called a straight.

Flush

When all the cards in the hand or crib are of the same suit.

His Heels

When the cut card is a Jack, the dealer scores two for His Heels. This is also called Nibs.

Nineteen

An impossible score in the hand or crib. For this reason, players often joke that they have nineteen when they have a zero hand.

Nobs

Jack of the same suit as the cut card, either in the hand or crib. The player scores one for His Nobs.

Match

A series of games. For example, players may play a best of seven match.

Pone

The non-dealer.

Skunked

When the loser scores less than 90 points the are said to be skunked. Sometimes called lurched instead.

Double Skunked

When the loser scores 60 points or they are said to be double skunked.

Peg Out

To score 121 points or more and win the game.

Game Hole

The final hole (hole number 121) on the cribbage board.

Twenty Nine

29 is the best possible cribbage hand score.

Now that you know how to "Speak Cribbage," Go Play! Or, if you need more help, you can check out the Rules of Cribbage.