Best Cribbage Hands
Best Cribbage Hands: The 29 Hand and Other Top Scores
The best cribbage hand is a 29: three fives and the right Jack with a five starter. See how it scores, the 28 and 24 hands, and which totals are impossible.
The highest hand in cribbage is 29 points: 5-5-5 and the Jack of one suit in your hand, with the five of that same suit cut as the starter. It combines eight fifteens (16 points), six pairs (12) and his nobs (1). Below are the hands just under it, how each is counted, and the totals no hand can ever score.
The 29 hand, counted
Hand: 5♥ 5♦ 5♣ J♠. Starter: 5♠.
- The Jack with each of the four fives: four fifteens, 8 points.
- Any three of the four fives: four more fifteens, 8 points.
- Four fives make six pairs: 12 points.
- The J♠ matches the starter’s suit: his nobs, 1 point.
Total 16 + 12 + 1 = 29. Of all 12,994,800 combinations of a four-card hand and a starter, only 4 score 29 — one for each suit of the Jack.
The highest cribbage hands
| Score | Hand + starter | Where the points come from |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | 5 5 5 J + 5 (Jack matches starter suit) | 16 fifteens, 12 pairs, 1 nobs |
| 28 | 5 5 5 5 + any 10, J, Q or K | 16 fifteens, 12 pairs |
| 24 | 4 4 5 5 + 6 | 8 fifteens, 4 pairs, 12 runs |
| 24 | 3 3 3 3 + 9 | 12 fifteens, 12 pairs |
| 24 | 7 7 7 7 + A | 12 fifteens, 12 pairs |
| 21 | 3 3 3 4 + 5 | 6 fifteens, 6 pairs, 9 runs |
| 20 | 3 3 4 4 + 5 | 4 fifteens, 4 pairs, 12 runs |
The 28 can also come from 5-5-5-J with a five starter when the Jack is the wrong suit for nobs.
Scores no cribbage hand can make
Count every possible hand and starter and four totals never appear: 19, 25, 26 and 27. Between 24 and 28 there is nothing at all, and “nineteen” has become the table joke for a hand worth zero.
For everyday play, an ordinary hand averages a little under 5 points. Anything in double figures is a good hand; 20 or more is rare enough to remember.
Keeping the best four cards
- Fives are the most valuable single card because sixteen cards in the deck count ten and pair with them for fifteen.
- Connected cards (6-7-8) and pairs give runs and pair points that grow with the right starter.
- Cards that add to 15 among themselves (7-8, 6-9, 4-5-6) score whatever is cut.
- As non-dealer, keep fives and pairs out of the crib; as dealer, a good crib discard is points for you.
Check any keep in the cribbage calculator before you commit to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hand in cribbage?
The 29 hand: three fives and the Jack of the starter’s suit in hand, with the remaining five as the starter.
What is the highest crib score?
Also 29. The crib is counted like a hand, so the same five cards score the same; only the flush rule is stricter.
Can a cribbage hand score 19?
No. 19, 25, 26 and 27 are impossible hand scores, which is why “nineteen” means a hand with no points.
How rare is a 29 hand?
Of the 12,994,800 possible four-card hands with a starter, only 4 are worth 29. Most players go years without holding one.