Cribbage Variants

While standard two-player cribbage is the most widely played version, the game has spawned several variants that accommodate different player counts, change the deal structure, or introduce new strategic elements. Some variants have been played for centuries, while others are modern innovations from competitive cribbage circles. Each offers a different experience while preserving the core cribbage mechanics of pegging, counting fifteens, and racing to 121.

Two-Player Cribbage (Standard)

The original and most common version. Two players are each dealt 6 cards and discard 2 to the crib. The pone cuts the deck for the starter card. Players peg through the play phase, then count hands (pone first) and the dealer counts the crib. First to 121 wins. This version offers the deepest strategy because each player has full control over their discards and every card played during pegging is a direct contest between two opponents. Standard two-player cribbage is the version used in all American Cribbage Congress tournaments.

Three-Player Cribbage

Three-player cribbage adapts the game for three participants. Each player is dealt 5 cards and discards 1 to the crib. One additional card is dealt directly from the deck to the crib, making 4 cards total. The game is typically played to 121 points on a three-lane cribbage board.

Strategically, three-player cribbage is less predictable than the two-player version. With three players pegging, runs and pairs happen more frequently and the pegging phase tends to be higher-scoring. The discarding decision is simpler (only one card to the crib) but more impactful because you keep a smaller four-card hand. Three-player cribbage introduces a natural “gang up on the leader” dynamic that adds a social element not present in head-to-head play.

Four-Player (Partners) Cribbage

Four players form two partnerships, sitting across from each other. Each player is dealt 5 cards and discards 1 to the crib. The game is played to 121 points with partners sharing a single score track on the cribbage board.

Partnership cribbage adds a team dimension to the game. Partners cannot communicate about their hands, but experienced teams develop an understanding of each other's pegging tendencies and discarding habits. The pegging phase is particularly dynamic with four players — runs extend further, pairs turn into pair royals more often, and the running count approaches 31 quickly. Partners cribbage is popular in social settings and at cribbage clubs where the partnership dynamic adds another layer of enjoyment.

Five-Card Cribbage

The original form of cribbage as invented by Sir John Suckling. Each player is dealt 5 cards and discards 2 to the crib, keeping only 3 cards. The game is played to 61 points (one lap of the board) because hands and pegging scores are naturally lower with fewer cards.

Five-card cribbage is faster and involves more luck than the modern six-card version. With only 3 cards in hand, the starter card has a proportionally larger impact on scoring. The non-dealer (pone) receives 3 points at the start of the game to compensate for the dealer's crib advantage — a rule unique to this variant. Five-card cribbage was the standard version in England for centuries and is still played in parts of the United Kingdom.

Seven-Card Cribbage

An expanded version where each player is dealt 7 cards and discards 2 to the crib, keeping 5 cards in hand. The game is played to 181 points because the extra card dramatically increases hand scores. With 5 cards plus the starter, there are far more combinations of fifteens, runs, and flushes. Average hand values are significantly higher, and the pegging phase lasts longer. Seven-card cribbage is a longer, more strategic game that appeals to players who want deeper hand-counting challenges. It is less commonly played than the standard six-card version but has a dedicated following.

Lowball Cribbage

A reversal variant where the goal is to score as few points as possible. The first player to reach 121 points loses. Players must still count their hands honestly (and muggins applies in competitive play), but all strategic decisions are inverted: you discard your best cards to your opponent's crib, keep bad hands, and try to avoid scoring during pegging. The “nineteen hand” (0 points) becomes the ideal outcome. Lowball cribbage is a fun novelty variant that tests whether players truly understand cribbage scoring by forcing them to think in reverse.

Variant Comparison