Best Cribbage Hand

Best Cribbage Hand Average ratng: 6,9/10 2791 votes

The highest scoring cribbage hand you can get is worth 29 points. It consists of a Jack and three fives. The cut card is the five of the same suit as the Jack. So, there are actually four different hands that are worth 29 (each suit). Even so, your odds of getting this “perfect hand” is only 1 in 216,580!

The best cribbage hand is three fives and a Jack that matches the suit of the cut card which is also a five. These five cards will have a total score of 29 points, which is the best hand possible in cribbage. Cribbage 28 Hand. This 2nd highest scoring cribbage hand can happen with any combination of Ten or Jack or Queen or King for a cut card combined with four Fives in hand except the above 29 hand The chances of getting this 28 Cribbage hand are 1 in 15,028. Cribbage 24 Hand. The 3rd highest cribbage hand is 24 Examples include: Ace with four.

How does it work? There are eight different fifteens, each worth two points. The four-of-a-kind is worth another 12 points. Finally, nobs is worth one point, bringing the total to 29.

Any ten or face card other than a suited Jack will also give you an impressive 28 points. There are 76 possible hands in which that happens, so your odds are slightly higher, though still extremely slim.

The allure of the perfect 29 hand is so great that many people have it depicted on custom cribbage boards like this one:

Now, go play a game of cribbage and see how long it takes you to get your own 29 hand!

This article was written by Robert James Reese.

This page contains one or more affiliate links. If you make a purchase after following one, Ink Plant will earn a commission.


Traditional Cribbage is a card game that has been around since the 17th Century. It involves creating hands composed of pairs, runs, flushes, and sums to 15. Here at eCribbage.com, you can play 2 player, 3 player, and 4 player games. You can also play teams, muggins, and jokers.


What features make eCribbage.com the best?

How to play (2 player):

The players cut to see who gets the first 'crib'. Players are dealt 6 cards each, and both have to discard 2 cards into the crib. Then a community card is cut that will play for both hands in the show. If a jack is cut for the cut card, the player with the crib immediately gets 2 points. (This is called His Nobs). Now on to the play:

The play

Players take turns playing (pegging) their cards one at a time and announcing the total sum of the cards. Face cards count for 10. If the sum is equal to 15 or 31, that player gets 2 points. If the player forms a pair, they get 2 points. A triple pair is worth 6 points, and a quadruple pair is worth 12 points. If either player forms a run of 3 or more, they get to claim that many points as well. Runs do not necessarily have to be played in order. For example if 4,7,5,6 was played, whoever laid the 6 would get to claim a run for 4 points.

You are not allowed to play a card to make a sum over 31, so if you play to 28 and your opponent only has cards of over 3, they will say GO and you will continue to play as many cards as you can up to 31. You also claim one point for playing the last card of every trick. Whoever played the last card in the trick, their opponent starts the next trick. When all cards have been played, you move on to the show.

The show

The show is where you count all the hands up. The player that does not have the crib counts first, then the player with the crib counts their hand, and then finally the crib is counted. Scores count for the following:

  • 2 points for every pair
  • 3 points for every run of 3.
  • 4 points for every run of 4.
  • Best Cribbage Hands Possible

  • 5 points for a run of 5.
  • 2 points for each sum to 15.
  • Best Cribbage Hand
  • 4 points for a flush
  • Best Cribbage Hand
  • 1 additional point for a 5 card flush.
  • 1 point for 'His Heels', if you have a jack and the suit matches the cut card.

  • How to play (3 player):

    29 Hand In Cribbage

    3 player crib is very similar to 2 player crib except players are dealt 5 cards each instead of 6. They only throw one card each to the crib, and one card is taken off the top of the deck and placed in the crib.

    eCribbage.com also provides the variant where the dealer (the player with the crib) can deal themself 6 cards, and the rest of the players 5. The dealer throws 2 cards to their crib, and the rest of the players throw 1 card to the crib.


    How to play (4 player):

    Best Handmade Cribbage Board

    4 player crib is very similar to 2 player crib except players are dealt 5 cards each instead of 6. Every player throws one card to the crib. The play goes clockwise through all players. There is also a 2 vs 2, team cribbage game that is described on the team cribbage page.

    Best Cribbage Hand Possible