How many cards does each player receive in standard two-player cribbage?

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cribbage Modern 120-hole cribbage board.

In standard two-player cribbage, each player is dealt six cards.

While the original version of the game utilized five cards, the modern standard in the United States and in the British domestic game has shifted to six cards per player. After receiving these cards, each player discards two face-down to form the "crib," leaving each player with four cards to play and score. Five-card cribbage remains a common variant in some British club and tournament settings.1