What is the best hand in cribbage?

The best hand in cribbage is known as a "perfect hand" or a "29 hand." It is considered the highest achievable hand in the game and is exceptionally rare.

To form a perfect hand, a player must have the following cards in their hand:

1. Five cards of the same suit: This is known as a flush and scores five points.
2. Four cards with the same rank: This is called a "double pair royal" or a quadruple run of three. It scores 12 points.
3. One Jack of the same suit as the flush: This is known as "His Nobs," worth one point.
4. The fifth card must be the same suit as the previous cards, but it must be one rank below the four matching cards, completing a perfect sequence known as a "perfect 15." This scores two points.

When all these conditions are met, the total score for a perfect hand is 29 points, the highest possible score in cribbage.

It is important to note that achieving a perfect hand is incredibly rare, with odds estimated at around 1 in 216,580. This rarity adds to the excitement and challenge of the game, as players aim to create the highest-scoring hands possible.