The flush rule in Cribbage awards points when all cards in a player's hand, and sometimes the starter card, are of the same suit. This scoring opportunity occurs exclusively during the "show" phase, not during the "play" of the cards.
Understanding Flush Scoring
A flush is a specific scoring combination based on the suits of the cards held in your hand and the starter card. The points awarded depend on whether the starter card also matches the suit of your hand cards.
How to Score a Flush
- Four-Card Flush (4 Points): If all four cards in your hand (the ones you kept after discarding to the crib) are of the same suit, you score 4 points for a flush.
- Five-Card Flush (5 Points): If all four cards in your hand are of the same suit, and the start card (the cut card) is also of that identical suit, you score an additional point, totaling 5 points for the flush.
Important Considerations:
- No Three-Card Flush: There is no score for having three cards in your hand and the starter card all of the same suit if your fourth hand card is a different suit. A flush requires all four of your hand cards to match.
- Show Phase Only: Flushes are only counted during the "show" (or "counting") phase, which is when players reveal and score their hands after the pegging (play) phase is complete. There are no points awarded for a flush during the "play" of the cards.
Flush Scoring Summary
Here's a quick overview of how flush points are awarded:
Condition | Points Scored |
---|---|
All four cards in your hand are the same suit | 4 points |
All four cards in your hand AND the starter card are the same suit | 5 points |
Examples of Flushes
- Example 1 (4-point flush): Your hand is ♠J, ♠8, ♠5, ♠2. The starter card is ♦K. You score 4 points for a flush.
- Example 2 (5-point flush): Your hand is ♣A, ♣10, ♣7, ♣4. The starter card is ♣9. You score 5 points for a flush.
- Example 3 (No flush): Your hand is ♥Q, ♥6, ♥3, ♦K. The starter card is ♥A. Even though three hand cards and the starter are hearts, your fourth hand card (♦K) is a different suit, so no flush is scored.
The flush rule adds an exciting layer to hand evaluation, encouraging players to consider suit consistency alongside other scoring combinations like runs and pairs when building their hands.