The pegging phase (the play) is where cribbage becomes interactive. Unlike the show — where your score is determined by the cards — pegging rewards real-time tactical decisions. Strong peggers consistently pick up 2–4 extra points per game, and in ACC tournament matches, that advantage compounds.

How Pegging Points Are Scored

Quick reference (for details, see the Scoring Guide):

Event Points
Running total hits 15 2
Pair (matching rank) 2
Pair royal (three matching) 6
Run of 3+ (any order) 1 per card
Running total hits 31 2
Go (opponent can’t play) 1
Last card (final card under 31) 1

The Opening Lead

The pone (non-dealer) plays first. Your opening card sets the tone for the entire pegging round.

Best Opening Leads

Lead Why
4 Opponent can’t make 15 with a single card. Forces awkward responses.
3 Same logic — no single card makes 15 from 3.
2 No single-card fifteen from 2. Low enough to control the count.
A No single-card fifteen. Very safe lead but limits your own pairing chances.

Worst Opening Leads

Lead Why
5 Any 10-value card (10, J, Q, K) makes 15 — that’s 16 cards in the deck.
6 A 9 makes 15. Less dangerous than 5, but still exposes you.
7 An 8 makes 15. Both 7 and 8 are moderately risky leads.
10, J, Q, K A 5 makes 15. There are only four 5s in the deck, but good opponents hold 5s specifically to peg with them.

Key principle: Lead from pairs when possible. If you lead a 4 and your opponent pairs it (count = 8), you can play your second 4 for a pair royal (6 points at count 12). This trap works best with low cards where tripling doesn’t risk exceeding 31.

Offensive Pegging Tactics

The Pair Trap

Lead a card you hold a pair of. If your opponent pairs it, you score 6 for the pair royal. This works best with cards 7 or below, because three of them won’t exceed 31 (3 × 10 = 30, but 3 × 11+ risks going over).

Example: You hold 4-4-8-K. Lead the 4. Opponent plays a 4 (count = 8, they score 2). You play your second 4 — pair royal, count = 12, you score 6 points. Net: you gained 4 points on the exchange.

Playing for 15

When the count is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, play a card that brings it to exactly 15 for 2 points. This is the most common pegging score. Always be aware of the current count and which cards in your hand can make 15.

Playing for 31

When the count is in the 21–26 range, think about which card combinations could reach 31 exactly. Hitting 31 scores 2 points instead of the 1-point Go.

Common 31 setups:

  • Count 21 → play a 10-value card
  • Count 22 → play a 9
  • Count 26 → play a 5
  • Count 28 → play a 3

Building Runs

If the play has created two consecutive cards (e.g., opponent plays 7, you play 8), your opponent may extend with a 6 or 9. Be ready to extend the run further. Runs during pegging are worth 1 point per card, and a run of 4 or 5 can swing the pegging war.

Watch for run extensions: After a 6-7-8 sequence (3 points to whoever completed it), if you hold a 5 or 9, playing it scores 4 points for the run of 4.

Defensive Pegging Tactics

Avoid Pairing Traps

When your opponent leads a low card (especially 2, 3, or 4), be cautious about pairing it. They may hold a second one for the pair royal. If pairing is risky, play a different card that doesn’t help them.

Rule of thumb: Don’t pair your opponent’s lead unless you hold a third card of the same rank (so you can counter-royal if they triple) or the count would be too high for them to play a third one.

Don’t Make It Easy to Hit 15

Always calculate: if I play this card, what count will it leave? If the resulting count makes it easy for my opponent to reach 15, consider a different card.

Dangerous counts to leave for your opponent:

  • Count 5 → they play any 10-value for 15
  • Count 10 → they play a 5 for 15
  • Count 11 → they play a 4 for 15

The Dump

When you’re ahead and want to minimize pegging, play your highest cards first. High cards move the count toward 31 quickly, reducing the number of back-and-forth exchanges (and therefore the number of chances for either player to score). This “big card dump” strategy is particularly effective in fourth street when you’re trying to protect a lead.

Pegging as Pone vs. Dealer

Pone Pegging Strategy

The pone typically wants to peg aggressively. Since the dealer has the crib advantage, the pone needs to make up ground during pegging. Lead into pair traps, play for fifteens, and try to extend runs.

Average pegging: Pone ~3.5 points | Dealer ~2.5 points

The pone’s first-play advantage is real. Use it.

Dealer Pegging Strategy

The dealer can afford to peg more conservatively because the crib provides extra scoring. Focus on not giving up easy fifteens and pairs rather than actively seeking them. Play safely, avoid traps, and let the crib do the heavy lifting.

Exception: If you’re behind on the board, the dealer should peg aggressively too — every point matters when you’re trailing.

The Go and Last Card

Don’t underestimate the 1-point Go and last-card scores. Over a full game, Go points add up to 4–8 points — enough to decide close games.

Tactics for forcing a Go:

  • Play cards that push the count into the 25–30 range, where your opponent is likely to have no card small enough to play under 31
  • Save a low card (A or 2) for the end of a pegging round — it lets you squeeze in a last card when your opponent is stuck

Tactics for reaching 31:

  • Track which cards have been played. If you know the opponent has no 10-values left, you can plan your plays to land on exactly 31.

Frequently Asked Questions

How important is pegging compared to the show?

Pegging accounts for roughly 15–20% of total points scored in a game. While the show (hand counting) provides the majority of points, pegging decides close games. A 2-point pegging advantage per round is worth 16 points over an 8-round game — that’s one-eighth of the winning total.

Should I always peg aggressively?

No. Your board position matters. If you’re ahead, conservative pegging protects your lead. If you’re behind, aggressive pegging helps you catch up. In the middle of the board with no clear advantage, moderate aggression (taking fifteens and safe pairs) is correct.

What’s the maximum you can score in one pegging round?

Theoretically, you could score all your pegging points in one run of play — a run of 4 plus a Go hitting 31 could score 6 points in one sequence. In practice, pegging 4–5 points in a single round is excellent.

Is it worth pairing opponent’s lead?

If the resulting count is above 21 (so they can’t pair royal you without exceeding 31), pairing is usually safe. If the count would be low enough for a pair royal (under 22 for face cards, under 13 for low cards), think twice.