- Crib
- An extra hand of four cards that belongs to the dealer. Each player discards two cards face-down to the crib before play begins. The dealer scores the crib after both hands are counted, using the starter card as the fifth card.
- Count (Running Count)
- The cumulative total of card values during the pegging phase. Players alternate playing cards and announce the running count, which cannot exceed 31. When 31 is reached or no one can play, the count resets to zero.
- Cut
- The act of splitting the deck after the deal. The pone (non-dealer) cuts the deck, and the dealer turns over the top card of the bottom half as the starter card.
- Double Pair Royal
- Four cards of the same rank (four-of-a-kind). Scores 12 points because it contains six separate pairs. For example, four 7s count as 12 points.
- Double Run
- A run of three or more consecutive ranks where one rank is duplicated by a pair. For example, 3-4-4-5 is a double run of three, scoring 8 points (two runs of 3 at 3 points each, plus a pair for 2).
- Double Skunk
- Winning a game before your opponent reaches 60 points (passing the halfway mark on the board). In many clubs and tournaments, a double skunk counts as three or four games.
- Fifteen
- Any combination of cards totaling exactly 15, scoring 2 points. In the show phase, every unique combination that totals 15 scores separately. During pegging, reaching a count of exactly 15 also scores 2 points.
- Flush
- Four cards of the same suit in your hand score 4 points. If the starter card matches the suit, the five-card flush scores 5 points. In the crib, only a five-card flush counts (all four crib cards plus starter must match).
- Go
- Declared when a player cannot play a card without the running count exceeding 31. The opponent continues playing until they also cannot play or reach 31. The last player to play a card scores 1 point for Go.
- His Heels
- Another name for nibs. When the starter card is a Jack, the dealer immediately pegs 2 points. Also called "two for his heels."
- His Nob
- Another name for nobs. Holding a Jack that matches the suit of the starter card scores 1 point during the show phase. Also called "one for his nob."
- Last Card
- The player who plays the final card in a pegging sequence scores 1 point for last card (unless the count reaches exactly 31, which scores 2 points instead).
- Muggins
- An optional rule allowing a player to claim points that their opponent fails to count. If a player undercounts their hand, the opponent says "muggins" and pegs the unclaimed points. Common in tournament play.
- Nibs
- When the starter card turned up is a Jack, the dealer immediately pegs 2 points. Scored before the pegging phase begins. Also called "his heels" or "two for his heels."
- Nobs
- Holding a Jack in your hand that matches the suit of the starter card scores 1 point during the show phase. Also called "his nob" or "one for his nob." Nobs applies to both the hand and the crib.
- Pair
- Two cards of the same rank, scoring 2 points. During pegging, playing a card that matches the rank of the previously played card scores 2 for a pair.
- Pair Royal
- Three cards of the same rank (three-of-a-kind). Scores 6 points because it contains three separate pairs. During pegging, if three consecutive cards are the same rank, the third player scores 6.
- Peg
- Both a noun and a verb in cribbage. As a noun, it refers to the markers used on the cribbage board to track score. As a verb, it means to score points — "peg 2 for a fifteen."
- Pegging
- The play phase of cribbage where players alternate laying down cards and scoring points for 15s, 31s, pairs, runs, and Go. Pegging happens before hands are counted in the show phase.
- Pone
- The non-dealer player. The pone leads the first card in pegging and counts their hand first in the show phase. Being the pone is slightly disadvantageous because the dealer gets the crib.
- Run
- Three or more cards in consecutive rank order (regardless of suit). Scores 1 point per card in the run. For example, 4-5-6 scores 3 points. During pegging, runs can be formed in any order — playing 5, then 3, then 4 is a valid run of three.
- Show
- The scoring phase after pegging is complete. Each player counts their four-card hand plus the starter card. The pone counts first, then the dealer counts their hand, then the dealer counts the crib.
- Skunk
- Winning a game before your opponent reaches 91 points (passes the three-quarter mark). In tournament play, a skunk typically counts as two games. The skunk line is usually marked at hole 90 or 91 on the board.
- Starter
- The card turned face-up from the deck after players discard to the crib. All players use the starter as a fifth card when counting their hands and the crib. If the starter is a Jack, the dealer scores 2 for nibs.
- Stinkhole
- Hole 120 on the cribbage board — one point from winning. A player on the stinkhole will win with any peg at all, even a single Go point. In some house rules, winning from the stinkhole (without earning a Go) is considered dishonorable.
- Street
- A section of the cribbage board. The 121-point board is divided into four streets: First Street (1-30), Second Street (31-60), Third Street (61-90), and Fourth Street (91-120). Board position relative to streets guides strategic decisions.
- Thirty-One
- Reaching a running count of exactly 31 during pegging scores 2 points. After 31 is reached, the count resets to zero and the next player leads a new card.
- Triple Run
- A run of three consecutive ranks where one rank appears three times. For example, 4-5-5-5-6 is a triple run, scoring 15 points (three runs of 3 at 9 points, plus three pairs at 6 points).
