The Best Cribbage Hand, and Strategy to Score More
The best hand in cribbage is 29: three 5s and the Jack in your hand, with the fourth 5 as the starter, of the same suit as the Jack. It has eight fifteens (16), four of a kind (12) and His Nobs (1). To score well every hand, keep fives, ten-cards, pairs and runs, throw your best leftovers into your own crib and your worst into your opponent's, and peg so you never leave the count on 5 or 21.
The highest cribbage hands
| Hand + starter | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 5-5-5-J + 5 (Jack matches the starter's suit) | 29 | 8 fifteens, four of a kind, His Nobs |
| 5-5-5-5 + any 10, J, Q or K | 28 | 8 fifteens, four of a kind |
| 5-5-5-J + 5 (Jack of another suit) | 28 | the same, without His Nobs |
| 4-4-5-5 + 6, or 4-5-5-6 + 4 | 24 | 4 fifteens, 2 pairs, 4 runs of three |
| 3-3-3-3 + 9 | 24 | 6 fifteens, four of a kind |
What to throw to the crib
The throw is the most important decision in cribbage. You keep four cards, but you're really choosing a hand and a crib at once:
- Your crib (you dealt): throw cards that score together: a 5, a pair, two cards that make 15 (7-8, 6-9, 5-10), or cards next to each other (6-7). Every point there is yours.
- Your opponent's crib: throw cards far apart that can't make 15 together, like a King and a 9, or a Queen and a 2. Never throw a 5 into their crib if you can help it: with all the ten-cards in the deck, a 5 is the best crib card there is.
- Keep combinations that a starter can improve: 6-7-8 with a 9 can grow runs with a 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 starter.
Pegging strategy
- Lead a card under 5 (an Ace to a 4). Nothing your opponent plays next can make 15. A 4 is the classic lead.
- Avoid leaving the count on 5 or 21. Sixteen ten-cards would give your opponent 15 or 31 for 2.
- Think before you pair. Pairing their card is 2 for you, but if they hold the third one they peg 6.
- Play off runs carefully. If they lay a 7 on your 6, a 5 or 8 makes a run of three for them next.
- Save a low card for the end. An Ace or 2 often grabs 31 or the point for the last card.
Playing the board
Near the end, the score decides how you play. A player scores roughly 26 points every two hands on average (pegging, hand and crib), so look at how far you and your opponent are from 121:
- You're ahead: play safe. Throw defensively, avoid risky pairs and runs, and keep your opponent's pegging low.
- You're behind: take chances. Keep the hand with the biggest possible score and peg for big plays.
- Counting first matters. The non-dealer counts first. When both players are close, they can win before the dealer's hand is counted.
Practise these in the GameLake cribbage game: Teach me shows the two best cards to throw and the best card to peg, with the reason, and Hard Hops weighs every possible starter. New to counting? Start with cribbage scoring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best hand in cribbage?
29: 5-5-5 and a Jack in hand, with the fourth 5 as the starter in the Jack's suit. It scores 16 for fifteens, 12 for four of a kind and 1 for His Nobs.
What is the second best cribbage hand?
28: four 5s with any ten-card starter, or 5-5-5-J with a 5 starter of a different suit from the Jack.
How rare is a 29 hand in cribbage?
About 1 in 216,000 hands. Many lifelong players never get one.
Should you ever throw a 5 into your opponent's crib?
Almost never. A 5 makes 15 with every 10, Jack, Queen and King, so it's the single best card a crib can get.
What is the best card to lead in cribbage?
A 4 or lower, so your opponent can't make 15 with their reply. The 4 is the classic lead: it keeps your low cards for later in the count.
Is cribbage luck or skill?
Both. The cards decide single hands, but over many games good throws and careful pegging win clearly more often.