Some cribbage hands are far stronger than others. While most hands score only a few points, a small number of rare combinations can score 20 points or more — and one hand is famously the highest possible in the game.
This guide explains the best cribbage hands, how they score, and why they are so powerful.
If you’re learning scoring basics, start here first:
👉 Cribbage Hands Explained
👉 Cribbage Scoring Explained
What Makes a Great Cribbage Hand?
High-scoring cribbage hands usually include:
- Multiple fifteens
- Pairs or four of a kind
- Runs
- Occasionally nobs
The best hands combine several scoring types at once.
The Highest Possible Cribbage Hand (29 Points)
🏆 The Perfect 29-Hand
This is the highest possible cribbage hand and the most famous.
Hand:
- 5♣, 5♦, 5♥, J♠
- Starter: 5♠
Why it scores 29 points:
- Four of a kind (four 5s) = 12 points
- Fifteens (eight combinations) = 16 points
- Nobs (Jack matches starter suit) = 1 point
Total: 29 points
⚠️ This hand is extremely rare, but it is possible.
Second-Best Hand (28 Points)
The next best possible hand scores 28 points.
Hand:
- 5♣, 5♦, 5♥, 5♠
- Starter: any 10-value card
Why it scores 28 points:
- Four of a kind = 12 points
- Eight fifteens = 16 points
- No nobs possible
Total: 28 points
High-Scoring Common Hands (20–24 Points)
You don’t need a perfect hand to score big.
24-Point Hands
These often involve:
- Double runs
- Multiple pairs
- Several fifteens
Example:
- 4♠, 5♦, 5♣, 6♥ + starter 6♦
Scoring:
- Two pairs
- Two runs
- Multiple fifteens
👉 See how runs multiply: Cribbage Hands Explained
20–22 Point Hands
These typically include:
- Double runs of four or five
- Three of a kind plus runs
- Several overlapping fifteens
These hands are rare but realistic in normal play.
Best Cribbage Hands Without 5s
While 5s are the strongest cards for scoring fifteens, high scores are still possible without them.
Example:
- 6♣, 7♦, 8♠, 8♥ + starter 9♣
Scoring:
- Double run (6–7–8–9)
- Pair of 8s
Strong, balanced hand — especially in pegging.
👉 Pegging matters too: Cribbage Pegging Rules
Best Cribbage Hand During Pegging
Pegging scores are separate from hand scoring, but big pegging runs can swing a game.
High pegging scores often come from:
- Long runs created by card order
- Multiple pairs played consecutively
- Forcing your opponent into “Go”
👉 Learn more: Cribbage Pegging Strategy
Can the Crib Have the Best Hand?
Yes — the crib can score just as high as a regular hand, except flush rules are stricter.
- Crib flushes require all 5 cards to match suit
- All other scoring rules apply normally
👉 Learn crib rules here: What Is the Crib in Cribbage?
Why High Hands Matter (But Don’t Win Alone)
A massive hand feels great — but cribbage games are often won by:
- Consistent pegging
- Smart discards
- Avoiding beginner mistakes
👉 Beginner focus: Cribbage Strategy for Beginners
👉 Avoid errors: Common Cribbage Mistakes
Quick Comparison: Best Hands by Score
| Score | Hand Type |
|---|---|
| 29 | Perfect hand (four 5s + nobs) |
| 28 | Four 5s + 10-value starter |
| 24 | Double runs + pairs |
| 20–22 | Strong multi-run hands |
| 16–18 | Solid, common good hands |
Practice Recognizing Great Hands
The fastest way to recognize high-value hands is repetition.
👉 Practice online: Play Cribbage Online
👉 App options: Best Cribbage Apps
Frequently Asked Questions
Still wondering if a hand is “good” or not?