01
What cards make a 29 hand?
The four cards in the hand are three fives and a Jack. The starter is the fourth five, and the Jack must match the starter's suit for his nobs.
The Jack of hearts matches the five of hearts starter, so it scores his nobs. The four fives create the pair combinations.
02
Why does it score 29?
Count the combinations, not just the cards. The same fives participate in several scoring categories.
- Eight fifteens
Four Jack + 5 combinations make 8 points, and four 5 + 5 + 5 combinations make 8 more.
+16 - Six pairs
Four fives contain six distinct pairs.
+12 - His nobs
The Jack matches the starter's suit.
+1 - Total
16 + 12 + 1.
29
There are no runs or flush points in this hand. The total is entirely eight fifteens, six pairs, and one point for his nobs.
Want to check the exact events yourself? Use the pre-filled cribbage scoring calculator.
03
Why do people joke about 19?
Cribbage players sometimes say a hand scored “19” because 19 is not a possible score for a standard hand.
It is a table joke for a hand that looked difficult to count or seemed to produce no obvious points. The perfect 29 hand is real, though—and it is the highest possible standard cribbage hand.
For the rules behind the count, read the cribbage scoring guide and beginner guide to how cribbage works. When you are ready to play a hand, play cribbage in your browser against Captain Avery.