International Cribbage Day

What you’ll find in this article about International Cribbage Day: History | Equipment | How to Play | Scoring | Cribbage Terms | Personalized Playing Cards | TLDR |

International Cribbage Day, celebrated every year on February 10, honors one of the world’s most enduring and beloved card games. Cribbage has been played for centuries, bringing people together around card tables, in pubs, at family gatherings, and in tournament halls. The game’s unique combination of strategy, skill, and luck keeps players coming back hand after hand. Despite its age, cribbage remains wildly popular today, with clubs, tournaments, and online communities celebrating it worldwide.

Cribbage’s quirky scoring, engaging play, and unique board make it both timeless and fun. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, International Cribbage Day is the perfect reason to learn, play, or share your love of this fun card game.

To celebrate this day, I created some new designs featuring fun cribbage sayings.

Cribbage – the Basics

Cribbage is a card game traditionally played with two players, though three and four‑player variants exist. The goal is to be the first to reach a target score (usually 121 points) by forming combinations of cards and earning points in two main phases: pegging and showing. Play and scoring typically continue until someone wins.

Equipment You Need

• Deck of 52 cards (no jokers)
• Cribbage board — usually wood or plastic with pegs and holes to keep score
• Two pegs per player — one shows your current total, the other shows your progress

How to Play Cribbage (Simple Explanation)

1. Deal & Crib

Each player gets six cards (in two‑player games).
Both players discard two cards into the crib, a separate hand scored by the dealer.

2. Starter Card

After discarding, the non‑dealer cuts the deck and the dealer reveals the starter card. This card counts with each player’s hand to form scoring combinations.

3. Pegging (Playing Cards)

Players alternate laying down cards face up and announce running totals without exceeding 31.
Points are earned for:

• Reaching 15 (2 points)
• Reaching 31 exactly (2 points)
• Pairs, three or four‑of‑a‑kind
• Runs of consecutive cards

4. Show & Crib Scoring

Once both players have played their cards, they score points in their hands (with the starter card) for things like 15s, runs, flushes, and certain jacks. Then the dealer scores the crib the same way.

5. Pegging the Board

Players move pegs along the cribbage board to record points earned. The first to reach 121 wins.

Common Scoring

• 15 = 2 points
• Pair = 2 points
• Three of a kind = 6 points
• Four of a kind = 12 points
• Run of 3 = 3 points
• Run of 4 = 4 points
• Run of 5 = 5 points
• 31 during play = 2 points
• Last card before 31 = 1 point

Face Card Values

• Ace = 1
• 2–10 = face value
• Jack, Queen, King = 10

Cribbage Terms Every Player Should Know

• “15 for 2” – You made 15 points
• “Go” – You can’t play without going over 31
• “Skunked” – You lost badly (by 30+ points)
• “Double skunked” – You lost very badly
• “Nobs” – A jack matching the starter suit
• “Pegging” – Moving your pegs on the board
• “The crib” – The dealer’s bonus hand
• Muggins – Optional rule where unclaimed points may be stolen.

These phrases are so iconic that they basically beg to be turned into designs. Which… yeah… that’s exactly what I did.

Why Personalized Cribbage Cards Are So Popular

Cribbage players love traditions, inside jokes, clubs and tournaments, and giftable game gear. That’s why I designed my cribbage decks with sayings like: “Don’t Get Skunked“, “Welcome to the SHOW“, and “I Love Getting Pegged“. Each deck can be easily personalized with player names, cribbage club names, tournament titles, game night hosts.

Personalized playing cards are perfect for cribbage clubs, retirement gifts, Father’s Day / Mother’s Day, cabin or lake house games, and tournament prizes. Because cribbage uses a standard 52-card deck, these work for every variation of the game.

TL;DR – Cribbage in 30 Seconds

Cribbage is a classic card game played with a standard deck and a scoring board. Players race to 121 points by forming combinations like 15s, pairs, and runs during play and when counting their hands. It’s easy to learn, endlessly replayable, and packed with fun slang like “skunked” and “15 for 2.” Personalized cribbage playing cards make the game even more fun and are perfect gifts for clubs, tournaments, and game nights.