Muggins is one of cribbage’s most distinctive optional rules: if your opponent forgets to count points they’re entitled to, you can claim those points for yourself. It’s a rule that rewards accurate counting and punishes carelessness — and it’s been part of cribbage tradition for centuries.

How Muggins Works

The basic mechanism:

  1. Your opponent counts their hand (or crib, or pegging points)
  2. They miss some points — either by miscounting or by overlooking a scoring combination
  3. You notice the error
  4. You call “muggins!” (or simply point out the missed points)
  5. You peg the unclaimed points on your own score

Example: Your opponent’s hand is 4-5-6-6-Q (with Q as starter). They count: “Fifteen two (5+Q), fifteen four (4+5+6), a pair for six, and a run for nine.” They missed the second run (4-5-6 using the other 6) and the second fifteen (4+5+6). The correct score is 14, but they pegged 9. You call muggins and take the 5 missed points for yourself.

When Muggins Applies

Muggins can apply during any scoring phase:

Phase Example
Hand counting Opponent miscounts fifteens, misses a pair, or overlooks a run
Crib counting Dealer miscounts the crib (same rules as hand counting)
Pegging Opponent fails to claim a fifteen, pair, or run during the play phase
Nibs Dealer forgets to claim 2 points when a Jack is cut

Pegging Muggins

During the play phase, muggins works slightly differently. If your opponent plays a card that completes a fifteen, pair, or run but forgets to peg it, you can claim those points. However, the window is short — muggins must typically be called before the next card is played.

The Timing Window

In most rulesets, muggins must be called:

  • During counting: Before the next player begins counting their hand, or before the cards are gathered
  • During pegging: Before the next card is played
  • For nibs: Before the first card of the play is led

If you notice the error too late, the points are lost — neither player gets them.

Is Muggins an Official Rule?

Muggins is considered an optional rule in most cribbage authorities:

Authority Status
American Cribbage Congress (ACC) Muggins is used in all sanctioned tournament play
Casual/social play Optional — players agree before the game
Online cribbage Usually not applicable (computer counts automatically)

In tournament play, muggins is almost always in effect. It’s considered a core part of competitive cribbage because it incentivizes accurate counting and penalizes errors.

The Case For Playing With Muggins

It Rewards Skill

Muggins makes counting accuracy a competitive advantage. If you can count your hand correctly every time, you’ll never give up points — and you might gain some from careless opponents.

It Teaches Better Counting

Playing with muggins forces both players to pay attention. Over time, you’ll get better at counting because the penalty for missing points is so direct.

It Adds Tension

Muggins creates a layer of drama. Every hand count becomes a small test — did they get it right? It keeps both players engaged during the counting phase.

The Case Against Muggins

It Can Feel Punishing

New players often find muggins frustrating. They’re still learning to count, and losing points they earned feels harsh. Many casual games omit muggins to keep the atmosphere friendly.

It Slows the Game

When muggins is active, the non-counting player carefully scrutinizes every count. This verification adds time to each hand, which can slow an otherwise brisk game.

It Can Create Arguments

Disagreements about whether points were actually missed — or whether muggins was called in time — can lead to disputes, especially in casual settings without a referee.

Muggins Etiquette

Even when muggins is in effect, there’s a social dimension:

  • Always agree before the game starts whether muggins is in play. Don’t surprise someone with it mid-game.
  • In friendly games with beginners, consider playing without muggins or implementing a “warning” system (point out missed points the first few times before enforcing muggins).
  • In tournaments, muggins is expected and not optional. Count carefully.
  • Don’t gloat. Calling muggins is a normal part of the game, not a personal attack. Keep it matter-of-fact.

How to Avoid Getting Mugged

Count Systematically

Follow the same counting order every time. The standard sequence from our How to Count Cribbage Hands guide:

  1. Fifteens — check every two-card, three-card, four-card, and five-card combination
  2. Pairs — count all matching ranks
  3. Runs — look for sequences of 3+ (remember runs with duplicate cards)
  4. Flush — four or five cards of the same suit
  5. Nobs — Jack matching the starter’s suit

Double-Check Before Pegging

After you announce your count, pause briefly before moving your peg. Mentally run through each category one more time. The two seconds you spend double-checking can save you 2–6 points.

Know the Tricky Hands

Common sources of missed points:

Situation What’s Missed
Runs with pairs The duplicate card creates two runs (e.g., 3-4-5-5 has two runs of 3, not one)
Three-card fifteens Players count two-card fifteens but overlook three-card combinations
Five-card fifteens All five cards totaling 15 — rare but possible
Nobs Easy to forget when focused on counting fifteens and runs
Nibs Dealer forgets to claim 2 points when cutting a Jack

Practice

The best defense against muggins is consistent counting practice. Play regularly, and your counting will become automatic.

Muggins vs. Other Cribbage Variants

Muggins is sometimes confused with other optional rules:

Rule What It Does
Muggins Claim opponent’s missed points
Shotgun cribbage Both players deal simultaneously
Lowball cribbage Lowest score wins
Five-card cribbage Original version with 5-card hands

Muggins can be combined with any cribbage variant — it’s a meta-rule about scoring accuracy, not a game variant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call muggins on myself?

No. Muggins only allows you to claim points your opponent missed. If you miscount your own hand and your opponent doesn’t notice, the points are simply lost.

What if both players miss points in the same hand?

Both miscounts are eligible for muggins. If your opponent miscounts and you count their correction wrong too, a third party (or re-examination of the cards) resolves it. In tournament play, a referee may be called.

Does muggins apply in the crib?

Yes. If the dealer miscounts the crib, the pone can call muggins and claim the missed points. The crib is counted just like a regular hand for muggins purposes.

Is muggins used in online cribbage?

Generally not, because online platforms automatically calculate scores. There are no miscounts for the opponent to exploit. Some platforms implement muggins as a separate game mode where players must manually count and can be penalized for errors.