Play continues until the hand is gone, the last card played being worth one point. The spent cards are turned over and another series begins with the player who said, 'go' on the previous play. One point is scored for playing the last possible card without going over 31, two points for exactly 31. If a player can't play without going over, she says 'go', her opponent continues play alone if he can. Play alternates up to 31 without going over. Play continues with the non-dealer laying down another card and calling the sum of the three. Each player keeps his own cards in separate piles. The dealer then follows with one of her cards and calls the sum of the two cards. The non-dealer starts the series by showing a card from his hand and calling its value. The starter isn’t used until after the hand is played: however, if it is a jack the dealer immediately pegs two points for 'his heels'. The non-dealer then cuts the remainder of the deck and the dealer turns up the top card, called the starter, placing this card on the top of the deck. This goes to the dealer after play is completed. The four cards are put together to form an extra hand called the crib. Each player then discards two of his six cards putting them face down on the table. Dealer begins by dealing six cards to each. Low card is the dealer and thereafter the deal alternates.

The first deal is determined by cutting the deck. A player winning before her opponent passes the halfway mark is credited with winning two games. The extra six holes per player are to score the final point and to keep count of games won with a third peg. Points are scored and pegged during play and by counting the hand after play is finished.

Points are recorded by jumping the rear peg ahead of the other by the number of points scored. Each player has two pegs of a color for keeping his own score. A continuous board will have 120 holes for each player. A game of 121 points would be twice around. On a standard board, the pegs are moved down the outer row (30 holes) and back the inner row. The object of cribbage is to be the first to peg 61 or 121 points, depending what is agreed upon. Play with three requires an extra set of holes for keeping score playing with four is done in pairs. All that is required is a standard deck of 52 cards and a cribbage board, with pegs, for keeping score. Cribbage is a card game that can be played with two, three, or four players.

How to play cribbage 3 players