What is muggins, winning, skunks and the stink hole in Cribbage?

Verdict

Muggins is the only optional rule in ACC play: tournament officials must announce in the flyer, and prior to play, whether it is in effect, and when it is, it applies to all players and pegging out becomes mandatory (Rule 10.1). It permits a player to claim points their opponent failed to peg for...

Source: Rule 10.1, Rule 10.2, Rule 10.4, Rule 1.6, Rule 13.2 — American Cribbage Congress — Cribbage Tournament Rules

Why people argue about this

People often assume that Muggins is a mandatory part of cribbage play in ACC tournaments simply because it's an optional rule. However, they misunderstand that tournament organizers have to explicitly state its inclusion and enforce it for all players before the game starts; if not announced, Muggins isn't required at all.

Send this to your friend — argument over.

Section 5: Scoring & Winning

Every combination and its value is listed in a single chart, which is the authority for counting both during the play and in the hands (Rule 1.7).

A Jack turned by the dealer as the starter card scores 2 points, during the play only (Rule 1.7; Rule 6.3).
A Jack held in hand or crib of the same suit as the starter card — "nobs" — scores 1 point, in the hand or crib only (Rule 1.7; Rule 1.6).
A pair scores 2 points, a triple 6 points, and a quadruple 12 points, in both the play and the hand or crib (Rule 1.7).
A straight (or run) is a sequence of three or more consecutive cards, worth 1 point per card in both the play and the hand or crib; during the play it may be completed in any order (Rule 1.6; Rule 1.7).
Reaching a 15-count scores 2 points during the play, and any 15-combination in the hand or crib scores 2 points; a four-card flush scores 4 points and a five-card flush 5 points, both counted only in the hand or crib, never during the play (Rule 1.7).
Reaching a count of exactly 31 scores 2 points during the play; the final card played without reaching 31 scores 1 point (Rule 1.7).
Counting order and pegging of each score are governed by the counting rules: the pone counts and pegs first, then the dealer counts the hand, then the dealer counts the crib (Rule 9.2.a–d).

Muggins, Winning, Skunks and the Stink Hole

Muggins is the only optional rule in ACC play: tournament officials must announce in the flyer, and prior to play, whether it is in effect, and when it is, it applies to all players and pegging out becomes mandatory (Rule 10.1). It permits a player to claim points their opponent failed to peg for the underpegging of a hand, crib, or play score (Rule 10.2), subject to timing requirements for when a muggins call must be made (Rule 10.4).
To win by 31 or more points is a skunk (Rule 1.6).
The stink hole is hole 90, one point short of avoiding a skunk; the dead hole is hole 120, one point short of the game hole, hole 121, where the game is won (Rule 1.6).
The board's fourth street runs from hole 91 to hole 120 (Rule 1.6).
One in four qualifying entrants advances to playoffs, with approved bracket charts and byes awarded to the highest qualifiers when the bracket is not full (Rule 13.2.a–d).

Section 5: Scoring & Winning

Every combination and its value is listed in a single chart, which is the authority for counting both during the play and in the hands (Rule 1.7).

A Jack turned by the dealer as the starter card scores 2 points, during the play only (Rule 1.7; Rule 6.3).

A Jack held in hand or crib of the same suit as the starter card — "nobs" — scores 1 point, in the hand or crib only (Rule 1.7; Rule 1.6).

A pair scores 2 points, a triple 6 points, and a quadruple 12 points, in both the play and the hand or crib (Rule 1.7).

A straight (or run) is a sequence of three or more consecutive cards, worth 1 point per card in both the play and the hand or crib; during the play it may be completed in any order (Rule 1.6; Rule 1.7).

Reaching a 15-count scores 2 points during the play, and any 15-combination in the hand or crib scores 2 points; a four-card flush scores 4 points and a five-card flush 5 points, both counted only in the hand or crib, never during the play (Rule 1.7).

Reaching a count of exactly 31 scores 2 points during the play; the final card played without reaching 31 scores 1 point (Rule 1.7).

Counting order and pegging of each score are governed by the counting rules: the pone counts and pegs first, then the dealer counts the hand, then the dealer counts the crib (Rule 9.2.a–d).

Muggins, Winning, Skunks and the Stink Hole

Muggins is the only optional rule in ACC play: tournament officials must announce in the flyer, and prior to play, whether it is in effect, and when it is, it applies to all players and pegging out becomes mandatory (Rule 10.1). It permits a player to claim points their opponent failed to peg for the underpegging of a hand, crib, or play score (Rule 10.2), subject to timing requirements for when a muggins call must be made (Rule 10.4).

To win by 31 or more points is a skunk (Rule 1.6).

The stink hole is hole 90, one point short of avoiding a skunk; the dead hole is hole 120, one point short of the game hole, hole 121, where the game is won (Rule 1.6).

The board's fourth street runs from hole 91 to hole 120 (Rule 1.6).

One in four qualifying entrants advances to playoffs, with approved bracket charts and byes awarded to the highest qualifiers when the bracket is not full (Rule 13.2.a–d).

Muggins, Winning, Skunks and the Stink Hole