How to Score Points During Play

SCORING POINTS DURING PLAY

In addition to scoring one or two points for the last card or 31, players score points according to the following rules:

• Fifteen-twos
  • two points for a cumulative total of exactly fifteen points
• Runs
  • three points for completing a run of three cards, regardless of the order in which they are laid 
  •  eg. a player lays a 6, then a 4, then a 5 is a run of three even though they were not laid in order
  • four points for completing a run of four
  • five points for completing a run of five
  • six points for completing a run of six
  • seven points for completing the run of seven; e.g. playing 2, 4, 6, A, 3, 5 and 7
• Pairs
  • two points for laying a card of the same rank as the previous card, thus completing a pair
  • six points for laying a third card of the same rank (a "pair royal" or "trips")
  • twelve points for laying a fourth card of the same rank (a "double pair royal" or "quad")

If a card completes more than one scoring combination, then all combinations are scored. For example, if the first three cards played are 5s, the third one scores eight points: two for making 15, and six for a pair royal. Card combinations cannot span a reset; once the total reaches 31 (or a Go has been scored) and counting has restarted at zero, cards already played cannot contribute to runs or pairs. 

During this phase of play run combinations cannot span a pair; in a play of 2, 3, 3, 4 the pair interrupts the run so only the pair is counted for points.

Players choose when to lay each card in order to maximize their score 

SCORING POINTS DURING SHOW

Once the play is complete, each player in turn receives points based on the content of their hand. Starting with the player on the dealer's left, players spread out their cards on the playing surface and calculate their score. The starter card turned up at the beginning of play serves as a fifth card shared in common by all hands; thus each player’s score is based on their own four cards along with the starter card. Scoring combinations are the following:

• Fifteen-twos
  • two points for each separate combination of two or more cards totalling exactly fifteen
• Runs
  • three points for a run of three consecutive cards (regardless of suit)
  • four points for a run of four
  • five points for a run of five
• Pairs
  • two points for a pair of cards of a kind
  • six points for three cards of a kind 
  • twelve points for four cards of a kind
• Flush
  • four points for a flush, where all four cards in the hand are of the same suit, with an additional point if the starter card is also of that suit.
  • one point for holding the Jack of the same suit as the starter card 

Common combinations are often scored as a group. For example, a run of three cards with an additional card matching one of the three in value, e.g., 2–2–3–4, is termed a "double run", and scores eight according to the above rules, three for each of the runs and two for the pair. Even more valuable are "triple runs" (three three-card straights including a three-of-a-kind, e.g., 2–2–2–3–4, that score fifteen) and "double-double runs" (four three-card straights including pairs, e.g., 2–3–3–4–4, that score sixteen). Combined runs may also include fifteen-twos. A 24 hand, the largest commonly seen, can comprise a double-double run and four fifteen-twos. Two examples are 4–4–5–5–6 and 6–7–7–8–8.

The dealer scores his hand last and then turns the cards in the crib face up. These cards, in conjunction with the starter card, are scored by the dealer as an additional hand. The rules for scoring the crib are the same as scoring a hand, with the exception of the flush; a four-card flush in the crib is scored only if it is the same suit as the starter card (for a total of five points).

The highest possible score for a hand is 29 points: a starter card of a 5, and a hand of 5, 5, 5, J with the Jack being the same suit as the starter card. The score might be announced thus:

Your Scores can total anywhere between 0 and 29 with the exceptions of 19,25,26 and 27.

A Blank or 0 Scoring Hand is typically referred to as a 19 Hand.