Muggins is one of the most debated optional rules in cribbage. If you’ve ever sat down to play with experienced players and heard someone shout “Muggins!” after you counted your hand, this page will explain exactly what happened — and what you can do about it.
This guide covers what muggins is, when it applies, how to use it correctly, and whether you should play with it.
What Is Muggins in Cribbage?
Muggins is an optional rule that allows a player to claim points their opponent failed to count.
Here’s how it works:
When you count your hand (or the crib), if you miss a scoring combination — a fifteen, a run, a pair — your opponent can call “Muggins” and take those points for themselves.
The missed points are transferred to the opponent, not simply lost.
Muggins is not part of the official standard rules of cribbage. It is a widely played optional rule that must be agreed upon before the game starts.
When Muggins Can Be Called
Muggins applies during hand counting and crib counting, not during pegging.
The timing matters:
- Your opponent must call Muggins before you move your peg for the next hand
- Once your peg has been moved and accepted, the opportunity to call Muggins is gone
- During pegging, missed points cannot be claimed via Muggins — though some groups use a similar rule for pegging misses, this is less common
The standard version of Muggins applies only to missed hand and crib points.
👉 For a full explanation of how hands are counted, see: Cribbage Scoring Explained
How Muggins Works — Step by Step
- You count your hand and announce your total
- Your opponent listens carefully
- If you missed a scoring combination, your opponent calls “Muggins”
- They identify the missed combination specifically
- Those points are added to their score, not yours
- The opponent must correctly identify what was missed — they cannot simply guess
The caller must be specific. Saying “you missed something” is not enough. They must name the combination: “You missed a fifteen — jack and five.”
Muggins Example — Missed Fifteen
Your hand: 5♠ J♦ Q♣ 3♥ Starter card: 6♦
You count:
- J♦ + 5♠ = 15 → 2 points
- Q♣ + 5♠ = 15 → 2 points
- 3♥ + 6♦ + J♦ (wait — 3+6+J = 3+6+10 = 19, no)
- 3♥ + 6♦ + Q♣ = 3+6+10 = 19, no
- 3♥ + 6♦ = 9, no
You announce: “4 points.”
Your opponent spots: 5♠ + J♦ = 15 ✓ (counted), 5♠ + Q♣ = 15 ✓ (counted). But also: 5♠ + 3♥ + 6♦ = 5+3+6 = 14, no. And: 6♦ + 3♥ + J♦ = 6+3+10 = 19, no.
Actually your count was correct here. Muggins cannot be called.
Muggins Example — Missed Run
Your hand: 4♣ 5♦ 6♠ K♥ Starter card: 3♦
You count:
- 4♣ + 5♦ = 9, no fifteen
- K♥ + 5♦ = 15 → 2 points
- 3♦ + 6♠ + K♥ = 3+6+10 = 19, no
You miss the run entirely: 3♦ + 4♣ + 5♦ + 6♠ = run of 4 = 4 points.
You announce “2 points.”
Your opponent calls: “Muggins — run of 4, three four five six.”
Those 4 points go to your opponent. Your score stays at 2 (you keep what you counted). Opponent gains 4.
👉 For how runs are scored in hands, see: Cribbage Scoring Explained
Muggins Example — Missed Pair
Your hand: 7♠ 7♦ Q♣ 4♥ Starter card: 9♣
You count:
- 7♠ + 7♦ = pair → 2 points
- 7♠ + 4♥ + … no fifteen
- 7♦ + 4♥ + … no fifteen
- Q♣ + … no
You announce “2 points.”
Your opponent spots: Q♣ + 4♥ + … = 14, no. No other fifteens. No missed combinations. Muggins cannot be called.
What Counts as a Valid Muggins Claim?
To call Muggins correctly, your opponent must:
- Identify a real missed scoring combination
- Name it specifically (e.g. “run of 3” or “fifteen — nine and six”)
- Call it before your peg moves for the next hand
Common valid Muggins calls:
- A missed fifteen (any combination of cards totalling 15)
- A missed pair, three of a kind, or four of a kind
- A missed run (3 or more consecutive cards)
- A missed flush (4 or 5 cards same suit — though flushes are rarer to miss)
- A missed nobs (Jack in hand matching starter suit)
👉 For the full list of scoring combinations: Cribbage Scoring Explained
👉 For common mistakes that lead to Muggins: Common Cribbage Mistakes
Muggins and the Crib
Muggins applies to the crib as well as hands.
If the dealer miscounts the crib and misses points, the non-dealer can call Muggins on the crib — as long as they call it before the dealer’s peg is accepted.
One important note: both players can see all four cards in the crib and the starter card when it is being counted, so paying close attention during the dealer’s count is worthwhile.
👉 For how the crib is scored: What Is the Crib in Cribbage?
Should You Play With Muggins?
Muggins is common among experienced players. It adds a layer of attentiveness — both players must count carefully, and even a small missed fifteen can cost you 2 points.
Play with Muggins if:
- Both players are comfortable counting hands accurately
- You want to add competitive pressure to counting
- You are both experienced and familiar with scoring combinations
Skip Muggins if:
- One or both players are still learning to count hands
- You want a more relaxed, casual game
- Disputes over what was missed would slow the game down
For beginners, learning to count hands correctly is already a challenge. Adding Muggins before you are confident with scoring combinations tends to create frustration rather than fun. It is better to introduce it once both players can count reliably.
👉 If you are still building your scoring confidence: Cribbage Hands Explained
Muggins Strategy — How to Use It Effectively
If you are playing with Muggins, counting your opponent’s hand is just as important as counting your own.
Tips for calling Muggins effectively:
Count silently as your opponent counts aloud. As they announce each combination, track along. When they stop, check whether you found anything they didn’t.
Focus on the combinations beginners most commonly miss:
- Overlapping fifteens (a hand with three cards totalling 15 in multiple ways)
- Runs with duplicate cards creating multiple runs
- Nobs — many players forget to check if their Jack matches the starter suit
Check runs carefully. A hand of 4-5-6-7 scores not just a run of 4, but contains two runs of 3 as well — 4-5-6 and 5-6-7. Wait, that is not quite right. A hand of 4-5-6-7 scores a single run of 4 (4 points), not separate runs of 3. But a hand with a pair within a run — like 4-5-5-6 — scores two runs of 3 (4-5-6 twice, using each 5 once) = 6 points. This is a common counting trap.
👉 For advanced hand counting examples: Best Cribbage Hands
Do not rush the caller. If you think Muggins applies, pause and confirm before their peg moves.
The “Muggins for Muggins” Rule
Some groups play an additional house rule: if you call Muggins incorrectly — claiming points that were not actually missed — you lose those points yourself as a penalty.
This variation keeps players honest and prevents speculative Muggins calls. If you are not certain, it is better to stay quiet.
This is a house rule, not a standard rule. Agree on it before the game starts.
Muggins vs. Calling Mispegs
Muggins applies to hand counting. A related but separate situation is a mispeg — when a player moves their peg incorrectly on the board.
Mispegs (moving the wrong number of holes) are handled differently in most rule sets — the incorrect move is corrected, and in competitive play, a penalty may apply. Muggins is specifically about unclaimed scoring combinations, not about board errors.
👉 For how scoring and pegging interact: Cribbage Pegging Rules
Quick Muggins Reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Muggins a standard rule? | No — optional, agree before playing |
| When can it be called? | During hand or crib counting, before peg moves |
| What can be claimed? | Any missed scoring combination |
| Does caller keep their own points too? | Yes — missed points transfer to caller |
| Does it apply during pegging? | Not in standard Muggins — pegging misses vary by house rules |
| What if you call it wrongly? | No penalty in standard rules — house rule variants may penalise |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to play with Muggins?
No. It is optional. Most casual games do not use it. Agree before the game starts.
Can I call Muggins on a missed pegging point?
Standard Muggins applies to hand counting only. Some groups extend it to pegging — this is a house rule that should be agreed in advance.
What if we disagree on whether something was missed?
Count the hand together and verify each combination. If there is genuine disagreement, the points are usually left as the original player counted them. For competitive play, a neutral third party or rulebook should resolve disputes.
Can Muggins be called on the crib?
Yes — if the dealer miscounts the crib, the non-dealer can call Muggins before the peg is accepted.
Is there a time limit for calling Muggins?
You must call it before the player’s peg is moved for the next scoring event. Once the peg is accepted and play moves on, the opportunity is gone.
What if I call Muggins but got the combination wrong?
In standard rules, nothing happens — you simply cannot claim those points. Under the house rule version, you may lose the points you incorrectly claimed.