How to play Kings Cribbage
Cribbage meets crossword: from a rack of five tiles, lay 1–5 tiles in a line on the 13×13 board, connected to what’s already down. There’s no pegging and no 121 race — points pile up all game long.
Every line your tiles touch is scored like a cribbage hand: 15s, pairs, and runs, +10 for a five-tile line all in one color, +10 for playing all five of your tiles at once. Every tile in a line must contribute to the score, or the play is illegal. A 6 tile can even be flipped and played as a 9.
Lines max out at five tiles. Stuck? Exchange tiles instead of playing — it costs your turn. When the bag is empty and no one can move, the highest total wins.
Kings Cribbage strategy tips
- Every line your tiles touch is scored, so laying tiles alongside a line that is already down scores twice — once along your new line and once across it.
- Check every line before you commit: each tile in a line has to contribute to that line’s score, or the play is illegal.
- There are two separate +10 bonuses: one for a five-tile line all in one colour, and one for playing all five of your tiles in a single turn.
- A six can be flipped and played as a nine. Count it both ways before deciding.
Common questions
How is Kings Cribbage scored?
Each line of two to five tiles counts like a cribbage hand: 2 for every combination adding to 15, 2 for a pair, and 1 per tile for a run. Add 10 for a five-tile line all in one colour and 10 for playing all five of your tiles at once.
What if I can’t make a play?
Exchange tiles instead. It costs you the turn. The game ends when the bag is empty and nobody can move, and the highest total wins.
Play Kings Cribbage online
You can play Kings Cribbage at eCribbage Plus in any browser, on a computer, tablet or phone, with nothing to download. Open a table in the lounge and another player can sit down with you, or look for one already waiting; a free account is all you need.
