Scoring and counting in Cribbage is the biggest barrier to playing the game.
It’s not hard with practice, but for those who are new to the game, it’s pretty tricky!
One of the scoring issues my sons had the hardest time with at first was in counting runs, especially double runs.
This is why I decided to write a guide for how to count runs in Cribbage with every variation covered.
Look ahead for the information!
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Table of Contents
Counting Runs In Cribbage Basics
For each card in a run, you get one point. Runs have to be at least three consecutive cards in length and can be at most 5 cards long (since you only get four cards and the cut card to help you out).
Aces are low and can only connect to the 2. Kings are high and can only connect to the Queen. Aces and Kings cannot be next to each other to make a run.
Cards used in a run may be used in another run as long as one card is different.
For example:
If you have the Ace of Hearts, 2 of spades, 2 of clubs, and 3 of spades, you can use the Ace and the 3 with both 2s to count two runs.
But you can’t split a run of four to make two runs of three.
For example:
If you have the Ace of hearts, 2 of spades, 3 of spades, and 4 of diamonds, you only get four points. You can’t count the A-2-3 and 2-3-4 as separate runs.
There’s nothing wrong with counting each run one point at a time, but as you gain more experience, you’ll notice different patterns of runs are always worth the same amount of points.
This will speed up your play and make games go faster.
It’ll also help you with determining the correct discards faster.
Look ahead as I cover the common run combinations with examples.
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Single Runs
Single runs are when you don’t have any pairs in the run. It’s the easiest run to count.
You just count the number of cards in the run.
Single runs can come in the form of 3, 4, or 5 depending on the cut card.
An example of a single run of 5 is:
- 9 of hearts
- 10 of hearts
- Jack of spades
- Queen of spades
- King of clubs
*A single run of 5 is only possible if you get the cut card to fit.
Check out our complete glossary of Cribbage terms.
Double Runs In Cribbage
A double run in Cribbage is the bread and butter of the hand. In fact, there is a common saying in Cribbage:
“Never break up a double run.”
Double runs are when you have a single run, and one of the cards is a pair.
A double run is always worth 8 points. 6 points for the two single runs, and 2 points for the pair.
Here’s an example of a double run:
- 2 of hearts
- 3 of clubs
- 3 of spades
- 4 of hearts
The count goes like this:
- 2H-3C-4H for three
- 2H-3S-4H for three more (six total)
- A pair of 3s for two more (eight total)
Double Run of Four
A double run of four is the same as a double run, but now you add a fourth card to the single run. This is only possible with the cut card included.
This is worth 10 points (excluding potential 15s).
Here’s an example:
- Ace of hearts
- 2 of clubs
- 3 of spades
- 3 of clubs
- 4 of diamonds
Here’s how you count it:
- AH-2C-3S-4D for four
- AH-2C-3C-4D for four (now eight)
- A pair of 3s for two more (now ten)
Double-Double Run
A double-double run is when you have single runs and two sets of pairs inside it.
This one is worth 16 points!
Here’s an example:
- Ace of hearts
- Ace of clubs
- 2 of spades
- 2 of hearts
- 3 of diamonds
Here’s how it’s counted:
- AH-2S-3D for three
- AH-2H-3D for three (six total)
- AC-2S-3D for three (nine total)
- AC-2H-3D for three (twelve total)
- A pair of Aces for two (fourteen total)
- A pair of 2s for two (sixteen total)
Triple Runs In Cribbage
The triple run in cribbage is when you have single runs and three of a kind of one of the cards.
Three of kind is also know as trips or a Royal Pair.
Triple Runs are worth 15 points when all is said and done.
Here’s an example:
- 10 of spades
- Jack of hearts
- Queen of hearts
- Queen of diamonds
- Queen of clubs
Here’s how it’s counted:
- 10S-JH-QH for three
- 10S-JH-QD for three (six now)
- 10S-JH-QC for three (nine now)
- Royal Pair* of Queens for six (fifteen total)
Check out our article on counting pairs in Cribbage here.
Counting Runs In Pegging or The Play
In The Play or Pegging phase of the Cribbage game, runs count as points too.
Like with hands, you get one point per card in the run.
In pegging, the cards don’t have to in numerical order.
For example, let’s say someone plays this:
- Pone starts with 2.
- Dealer plays 4.
- Pone plays a 3 and gets three points.
2-3-4 is a run, and it doesn’t matter if it’s in order or not as long as they’re connected.
Note: When 31 or Go is hit, the counting of the pegs start over. In this case, you can’t connect a run with the cards that came before.
Deadly Run Traps In Pegging
There are two big run traps I’ve seen in my play so far.
Once is the combination of 4-5-6 in the beginning (in any order).
If you start at zero, this puts you at a count of 15 (4+5+6=15).
You get two points for making 15 and three more for making the run.
Five points in pegging like this are killer.
Another common run sequence I’ve seen uses an 8 or 7 card to start.
If the Pone or non-dealer starts with a 7 (for example), the dealer may play an 8 for 15 and get two points. The Pone may then fire back with a 6 or 9 to make a run of three.
But if you’re prepared, you can then fire back with another card to make even more points.
Pegging and runs go hand in hand, so be prepared for anything!
Further Reading: Frequently Asked Cribbage Board Questions
