Standard cribbage is a two-player game, but it adapts well to three. The core mechanics — fifteens, pairs, runs, the crib, pegging — all stay the same. What changes is the deal, the crib composition, and the target score. For additional reference on multi-player variants, see Bicycle Cards.

Three-Player Cribbage Overview

Feature 2-Player 3-Player
Cards dealt 6 each 5 each
Cards discarded to crib 2 each 1 each (+ 1 from deck)
Cards in hand 4 4
Cards in crib 4 4
Target score 121 121 (or 61 for short game)
Pegging order Alternating Rotating (left of dealer starts)

The Deal

  1. The dealer shuffles and deals 5 cards to each player, one at a time, starting with the player to their left.
  2. Each player looks at their hand and discards 1 card face-down to the crib.
  3. The dealer places 1 card from the top of the deck face-down into the crib (bringing the crib to 4 cards total).
  4. The player to the dealer’s left cuts the deck, and the dealer reveals the starter card.

The Extra Crib Card

The fourth crib card comes from the deck, making the crib somewhat unpredictable. Even the dealer doesn’t know what that card is. This reduces the dealer’s crib advantage slightly compared to 2-player cribbage, where the dealer’s own two discards give them more control.

The Starter (Cut Card)

Same as 2-player:

  • The player to the dealer’s left cuts the deck
  • If the starter is a Jack, the dealer scores 2 for nibs (His Heels)

Pegging (The Play)

The play works the same way, but with three players rotating:

  1. Player to dealer’s left leads by playing a card face-up and announcing its value
  2. Next player clockwise plays a card, announcing the running total
  3. Third player plays a card, continuing the count
  4. Play continues rotating until all players have played all 4 cards or until the count reaches 31

Pegging Scoring

All standard pegging scores apply:

Event Points
Count reaches 15 2
Pair 2
Pair royal (three of a kind) 6
Double pair royal (four of a kind — unlikely with 3 players) 12
Run of 3+ 1 per card
Count reaches 31 2
Go (next player can’t play under 31) 1 (to the last player who played)
Last card 1

The Go in Three-Player

When a player says “Go,” play continues to the remaining players. The Go point goes to the last player who is able to play a card before 31 (or the player who hits 31 exactly). If two players consecutively can’t play, the third player (who played last) gets the Go point.

Example: Count is at 27. Player A says “Go.” Player B says “Go.” Player C played the last card — Player C scores 1 for Go. Then the count resets to 0 and play continues starting with the player after whoever got the Go.

The Show (Counting Hands)

After pegging, hands are counted in this order:

  1. Player to dealer’s left (eldest hand)
  2. Second player (middle)
  3. Dealer’s hand
  4. Dealer’s crib

This order matters in close games — the first player to count has the advantage of reaching 121 before others even count. The dealer counts last but gets the crib as compensation.

Scoring the Hands

Scoring is identical to 2-player cribbage:

  • Fifteens (2 points each)
  • Pairs (2 points each)
  • Runs (1 per card in the run)
  • Flush (4 for a 4-card flush in hand; 5 for a 5-card flush including starter; crib requires all 5 matching)
  • Nobs (1 point for holding a Jack matching the starter’s suit)

For the complete scoring guide, see Cribbage Scoring.

Target Score

The standard target for 3-player cribbage is 121 points, the same as 2-player. However, because:

  • Each player discards only 1 card to the crib (less control)
  • The dealer advantage is smaller
  • Games can run longer with three players

Some groups play to 61 points for a shorter game. Agree on the target before starting.

Discard Strategy for Three Players

With only 1 discard (instead of 2), the strategy shifts:

As Dealer

  • You only contribute 1 card to your own crib, plus the deck contributes 1 unknown card
  • Discard your best crib card — a 5 is still the strongest single discard
  • Your crib is less predictable (2 of 4 cards come from opponents + deck)

As Non-Dealer

  • You discard 1 card to the dealer’s crib
  • Minimize damage — throw a King or Ace (low crib scoring potential)
  • Don’t throw a 5 unless it dramatically improves your hand

The 5-Card Hand Decision

With 5 cards to start, you only discard 1. This means your decisions are simpler but the margin is tighter:

  • You see 5 cards and keep the best 4
  • Evaluate: which single card removal gives me the highest-scoring remaining 4?
  • Factor in crib ownership: if you’re the dealer, you might sacrifice 1 hand point to send a 5 to your crib

Dealing Rotation

The deal rotates clockwise after each hand. With three players:

  • Player A deals hand 1
  • Player B deals hand 2
  • Player C deals hand 3
  • Player A deals hand 4
  • And so on…

Each player deals roughly every 3 hands, so the crib advantage is distributed evenly over the game.

Seating and Board

Three-Track Cribbage Board

Three-player cribbage is best played on a three-track board (a board with three parallel rows of pegging holes). These boards are widely available. Each player uses one track.

Using a Standard Board

If you only have a two-track board, the third player can use a different colored peg on one of the existing tracks, or you can track the third player’s score on paper. This is workable but less elegant.

Strategy Differences From 2-Player

Pegging Is More Dynamic

With three players, pegging rounds involve more cards played before hitting 31. This means:

  • More opportunities for runs (the extra player adds cards that can extend sequences)
  • Pair royals are more realistic — three different players each holding the same rank
  • The count fluctuates more, creating more fifteens

Politics

Three-player cribbage introduces a subtle political element:

  • If one player is clearly in the lead, the other two may informally cooperate to slow them down
  • Players may choose to peg against the leader rather than scoring for themselves
  • Crib discards might target the leading dealer specifically

Reduced Dealer Advantage

The dealer’s crib contains 1 of their own cards, 2 from opponents, and 1 from the deck. This is significantly less controlled than the 2-player crib (where the dealer provides 2 of 4 cards). Average crib value is lower and more random.

Three-Player Variants

Cutthroat Cribbage

The standard 3-player game described above is sometimes called cutthroat cribbage — each player for themselves. It’s the most common 3-player format.

Captain’s Cribbage

In captain’s cribbage, each round one player is the “captain” and the other two form a temporary team:

  • The captain plays alone against the pair
  • The pair counts their hands separately but shares a single peg position
  • The captain gets the crib
  • Rotate captaincy each round

This variant balances the lonely position of the dealer against two opponents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you play cribbage with 3 players?

Yes. Three-player cribbage is a well-established variant with only minor rule changes from the standard 2-player game. Each player receives 5 cards, discards 1 to the crib, and one extra card comes from the deck. Target score is typically 121.

How many cards do you deal in 3-player cribbage?

5 cards each. Each player discards 1 to the crib, and 1 card is dealt from the deck to the crib, making 4 cards in the crib total. Each player keeps 4 cards in their hand.

Is 3-player cribbage as balanced as 2-player?

Reasonably balanced, but the dealer still has a slight advantage from the crib. The advantage is smaller than in 2-player because the dealer contributes only 1 of the 4 crib cards. The rotating deal ensures fairness over the course of a game.

Can you play with 4 or more players?

Four players typically play as two teams of two (partners sit across from each other, combine their scores onto one peg track). Five or more players aren’t well-supported by standard cribbage rules, though some house variants exist.