Is Cribbage a Board Game or a Card Game?

If you’re new to cribbage or just curious about where it fits in the world of games, you might find yourself asking: Is cribbage a board game or a card game? The answer isn't as simple as it might seem—cribbage uniquely straddles both worlds, blending the strategy of card games with the tactile scoring of a board game. Let’s break it down.

The Heart of Cribbage: The Cards

At its core, cribbage is fundamentally a card game. It’s played with a standard 52-card deck (no jokers), and the action centers around:

• Dealing and discarding

• Forming card combinations

• Scoring during play ("pegging")

• Counting points in the hands and the crib

Much like other classic card games—such as gin rummy or euchre—cribbage demands strategy, memory, and a little luck. Players must think ahead, manage risk, and read their opponent. But the primary core is that the cards drive the game play, making cribbage, by strict definition, a card game.

Enter the Cribbage Board: A Scoring Companion

But cribbage isn’t just about cards. One of the game’s most iconic and unique features is the cribbage board—a track used to keep score by "pegging". Pegging is the means to track points scored by "leap-frogging" pegs according to how many points a player scores during game play. Scoring in cribbage is dynamic and happens throughout the game, making the board a key visual tool.

A cribbage board is used to:

• Track points earned during pegging play and hand scoring

• Adds a tactile, visual element to the game

• Helps maintain fairness by making scores easy to record and verify

While the board doesn’t change the actual rules or strategy of the card game, it elevates the experience. That’s why many people associate cribbage with being a board game as well.

So Which Is It?

Cribbage is first and foremost a card game—with a board. Think of the cribbage board as a scoreboard rather than part of the game mechanics. You could technically play cribbage without a board (some do, using paper, but that's lame). But the fact is you can not play cribbage without cards. So there you go.

The dual nature of cribbage is what makes it awesome. It's a game unlike any other, and another reason why it invokes passion amongst those who play it. It’s a card game in spirit, enhanced by a board. This combination has helped cribbage stand the test of time for over 400 years.

Final Thoughts

Whether you consider cribbage a card game, a board game, or a perfect mix of both, one thing’s clear—it’s a game of skill, wit, and tradition. At Cribbage King, we celebrate everything that makes cribbage special, from the finely crafted boards to the competitive thrill of pegging out just before your opponent. You can also find information about how to play cribbage and cribbage scoring.

Do you love cribbage? Stop using that plastic Walmart board and try something with character - while supporting local independent business!

Check out our premium cribbage boards at CribbageKing.com.

Jon Mullett

Cribbage King

www.cribbageking.com