What Is a Skunk in Cribbage?
A skunk is a cribbage game in which the loser finishes with 90 points or fewer, never reaching 91 while the winner made 121. The American Cribbage Congress glossary defines it by the board: the loser scored 61–90 and never made it onto fourth street. A skunk is commonly counted as a double win.
The skunk line
A standard cribbage board runs 120 holes as four "streets" of 30, plus the game hole that makes 121. The line between hole 90 and hole 91, the start of fourth street, is the skunk line, and many boards mark it with an S or a stripe. Cross it and you're safe; lose on the wrong side of it and you've been skunked.
Double skunk
If the loser scores 60 or fewer, never even reaching third street, that's a double skunk. Its value varies by table more than any other convention in the game: commonly three games, sometimes four. The full entry covers those conventions and where the ladder comes from.
How skunks are scored
A skunk changes nothing about how the game is played, only what it was worth:
| Result | Loser's score | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Win | 91–120 | 1 game |
| Skunk | 61–90 | 2 games |
| Double skunk | 60 or fewer | 3–4 games, by table |
In match play or series scoring, agree on the ladder before the first deal: like muggins, it's a rule that only causes arguments retroactively.
Where the word shows up
Skunk is the rare cribbage term that works as a verb: you don't have a skunk, you get skunked. Avoiding one is a real strategic consideration late in a lost game. Sometimes the right play isn't chasing a win you won't get, but pegging safely across the line at 91.
By the Nobs Cribbage team Last reviewed 2026-08-01