Your Cribbage Hand Trivia Quiz

The odds of being dealt this hand and getting the correct suit-matching cut card is 1 in 216,580 (when playing a 2-player game and are dealt six cards). The odds become more extreme when only dealt five cards (3- or 4-player games) at 1 in 649,740.

The count of 29 points:
16 points worth of 15s (4x J-5 combinations, 4x 5-5-5 combinations)
12 points for 4-of-a-kind (6x 5-5 pairings)
1 point for His Nobs (Jack suit matches the 5 cut card)

Keeping a hand of cards that can optimize the chance of multiple runs is a great way to get a high-scoring hand. With the given 4-5-6-6 hand, you are already guaranteed the 'double run' score of 8 points (2x 3-point run plus a pair), not counting combinations that add up to 15, and a cut of either the 4 or 5 (in this scenario) will double that to 16. This would work for any similar hand with different numbers or face cards. All that's left to consider are the 15s.

The count of 24 points:
12 points of 3-point runs (4x 4-5-6 runs)
8 points of 15s (the same 4x 4-5-6 combinations)
4 points of pairs (5-5 and 6-6)

A combination of four different means of acquiring points make up the 21-point total for this hand, adding a flush to the previously seen runs, pairs, and 15s.

The count of 21 points:
12 points worth of 15s (6x face card with 5 combinations)
4 points for the flush (all four cards IN this hand are the same suit, hearts) - the cut card can be a different suit (and has to be in this instance, to have a pair of 5s)
3 points for the single run (J-Q-K)
2 points for the single pair (5-5)

This is a very similar hand to the 24-point hand of Question 2 (4-5-5-6-6), with the difference being the number of 15s that can be made.

The count of 20 points:
12 points of 3-point runs (4x 3-4-5 runs)
4 points of 15s (2x combinations of 3-3-4-5)
4 points of pairs (3-3 and 4-4)

This is another hand that utilizes multiple 3-point runs, only this time it is limited to just two. But with all face cards in the hand, the 5 cut card is perfect for making 15s.

The count of 16 points:
8 points of 15s (four combinations of 5 with a face card)
6 points worth of runs (2x J-Q-K runs)
2 points for the single pair (K-K)

Of course, with five cards in play, it is certainly possible to make a run of more than three cards. In this case, we have a double-run of four cards, which always makes 10 points before looking for combinations of 15s.

The count of 14 points:
8 points of 4-point runs (2x 4-5-6-7 runs)
4 points of 15s (2x combinations of 4-5-6)
2 points for the single pair (5-5)

The scoring variety slims down with this hand, limited to simple 2-card combinations of 15s with a single pair.

The count of 10 points:
8 points of 15s (2x 10-5, 2x Q-5)
2 points for the single pair (5-5)

The A-2-3-4 run in your dealt hand provides the potential for the cut card to make a double-run, or some 15s with a 10/face card, but with our given 5 of spades cut card for this quiz, it still manages to yield a 7-point hand.

The count of 7 points:
5 points for the run (A-2-3-4-5)
2 points for the 15 (again, A-2-3-4-5)

With only two points in the dealt hand (the 3-4-8 combination), and not many possibilities for great gains, the 5 of spades cut card only manages to add a single run to the tally.

The count of 5 points:
3 points for the single run (3-4-5)
2 points for the 15 (3-4-8)

Interestingly, it is impossible to make a hand in cribbage of zero points when you have a 5 of any suit in it. Give it a try, if you have the time.

The count of 2 points:
Just the one combination of 15 (A-2-5-7)