Winning before your opponent has crossed the ninety point line is called a “skunk” and in tournaments gives you an extra point. As we’ve previously discussed cribbage was invented by the English poet Sir John Suckling. The thing is, Suckling never seems to have left Europe so he’s very unlikely to have seen a skunk. So where did the name come from?

The most commonly accepted theory among the academic circles* that have studied this in detail is that during his exile in France he met Pepé Le Pew who was caught cheating at a game of cribbage and therefore the skunk was named in his dishonor.

image of a Pepé Le Pew playing cribbage with sir John Suckling

* So far I’m the only member of that academic circle.

Hope to see everyone tomorrow.

DC Cribbage League

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Tuesdays 6pm

Trusty’s 1420 Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast, Washington, DC 20003 Potomac Ave Metro (Orange/Blue/Silver Lines)