Cribbage boards aren’t just scorekeeping devices — they’re maps with meaningful landmarks. Skunks and corners are two of the most important concepts in competitive cribbage, defining thresholds that change both scoring and strategy.

What Is a Skunk?

A skunk occurs when the winning player finishes the game (reaches 121) while the losing player has not yet passed the 91-hole (the skunk line). In other words, the loser has 90 or fewer points when the winner crosses 121.

Outcome Loser’s Score Result
Normal win 91–120 Winner gets 1 game point
Skunk 61–90 Winner gets 2 game points (counts as 2 wins)
Double skunk 0–60 Winner gets 3 game points (counts as 3 wins)

Getting skunked isn’t just embarrassing — in tournament play, it has real point implications.

The Skunk Line: Hole 91

The skunk line sits at hole 91 on a standard 121-point board. This is exactly 30 holes from the finish. Many cribbage boards mark this position with a special indicator — a painted line, an “S” marker, or a different-colored hole.

Why 91?

The threshold reflects that a 30+ point deficit at the end of a 121-point game represents a decisive loss. The losing player was more than two full average rounds behind — a clear skill or luck gap.

Tournament Implications

In tournament cribbage (sanctioned by the American Cribbage Congress), skunks are worth 2 match points instead of the normal 1. This means:

  • A close loss costs you 1 match point
  • A skunk loss costs you 2 match points
  • Avoiding the skunk is strategically important, even when winning is unlikely

Strategic Consequence

If you’re losing badly and unlikely to win, crossing the 91-line becomes your tactical goal. Getting past 91 turns a 2-point loss into a 1-point loss. This can affect your:

  • Pegging aggression (take every possible pegging point)
  • Discard strategy (maximize hand points over crib denial)
  • Risk tolerance (gamble for higher-variance hands)

The Double Skunk: Hole 61

A double skunk occurs when the loser hasn’t reached hole 61 by the time the winner finishes. The loser was more than 60 points away from winning — a thorough defeat.

Feature Skunk Double Skunk
Loser’s maximum score 90 60
Tournament penalty 2 match points 3 match points
How common Fairly common (~15-20% of games) Rare (~2-5% of games)

Double skunks usually only happen when one player has extremely bad luck or makes fundamental strategic errors.

Corners on the Cribbage Board

Cribbage boards traditionally loop around in a track (up one side, back down, and repeat). The corners are the turning points of that track, and they naturally divide the board into sections called streets.

The Four Corners (Standard 121-Point Board)

Corner Hole Street Boundary
First corner 30 End of 1st street
Second corner 60 End of 2nd street
Third corner 90 End of 3rd street (also near skunk line at 91)
Fourth corner 120 One hole from home

Strategic Significance

Corners aren’t just physical board features — they represent strategic checkpoints:

First corner (30): If you haven’t reached 30 by the time your opponent passes it, you’re roughly one average round behind. Not critical, but worth noting.

Second corner (60): Passing 60 means you’re safe from a double skunk. If you’re behind, crossing 60 is a damage-control milestone.

Third corner (90): This is the critical checkpoint. Reaching 91 avoids the skunk. In tournament play, the difference between 90 and 91 is enormous — it’s the difference between losing 1 match point and losing 2.

Fourth corner (120): You’re one point from winning. At this position, a single Go point, a nibs, or any pegging score wins the game.

Board Position Awareness

Experienced cribbage players constantly track both pegs relative to the corners and skunk line. This creates four basic game states:

1. Both Players Neck-and-Neck

When both players are within 5 points of each other, play standard strategy. Neither player is at skunk risk, and the game will likely be decided in the final hands.

2. You’re Leading Comfortably

If you’re 15+ points ahead entering third or fourth street:

  • Peg defensively — don’t give your opponent free pegging points
  • Don’t take risks — steady, average hands will coast you to victory
  • The opponent is trying to avoid a skunk — they’ll peg aggressively, so watch for pair traps

3. You’re Behind Significantly

If you’re 20+ points behind and the opponent is in fourth street:

  • Shift goal from winning to avoiding the skunk — cross that 91 line
  • Peg aggressively — every point matters
  • Keep high-scoring hands — favor variance over safety
  • Don’t waste energy denying the opponent’s crib — focus on your own scoring

4. Skunk Watch

When one player is near 121 and the other is hovering around 90:

  • The leading player should try to peg out quickly to end the game before the opponent crosses 91
  • The trailing player should focus every decision on reaching 91, even if it means giving up points to the opponent (they’re winning regardless)

Skunking Etiquette

In social play:

  • Don’t gloat about skunking someone — it happens to everyone eventually
  • Some boards have a “skunk hole” near the 91 mark — in casual games, players sometimes peg their “skunk marker” here to track close calls
  • In tournament play, skunks are simply recorded on the scoresheet — they’re a normal part of competition
  • Teaching games: If you’re playing a beginner, consider whether tracking skunks is appropriate for the learning environment

Skunk Statistics

How often do skunks actually happen?

Scenario Approximate Frequency
Close game (within 10 points) ~40% of games
Normal win (loser at 91–120) ~40% of games
Skunk (loser at 61–90) ~15% of games
Double skunk (loser at 0–60) ~3–5% of games
Triple skunk (loser at 0–30) Extremely rare — not official

Between evenly-matched players, skunks happen about once every 6–7 games. Between mismatched players, they’re more common.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the skunk line in cribbage?

The skunk line is at hole 91 on a 121-point board. If you haven’t reached 91 when your opponent finishes the game, you’ve been skunked — and in tournament play, the winner gets double the match points.

Is a double skunk worth triple points?

In American Cribbage Congress (ACC) tournaments, a double skunk is worth 3 match points (the normal win is 1, a regular skunk is 2). Some casual games and local leagues may have different scoring for double skunks.

Is there a triple skunk?

There’s no official “triple skunk” in standard cribbage rules. Some house rules define a triple skunk as losing without reaching hole 31 (or 61 in some variants), but this isn’t recognized in tournament play.

How do I avoid getting skunked?

Play solid fundamentals: keep your best-scoring hands, don’t throw 5s to your opponent’s crib, and peg aggressively when you’re behind. If you’re in skunk danger (approaching 91 from below while your opponent nears 121), shift your entire strategy toward reaching 91 — even at the expense of other goals. See our Endgame Strategy guide for detailed tactics.