Darts is a popular game enjoyed around the world, often seen in pubs, tournaments, and even at home. While you might be familiar with standard games like 301 or 501 from watching professional dart competitions, there’s a whole world of dart games to explore that can add variety and excitement to your play. This guide will walk you through five easy-to-learn dart games, perfect for beginners and seasoned players alike, starting with the classic 301. Get ready to gather your friends, learn these rules, and maybe even place a friendly wager to spice up the competition!
Before we dive into specific games, let’s cover some fundamental rules that apply to most dart games:
- Turns: Each player takes a turn consisting of throwing three darts.
- Starting Order: To determine who goes first, each player throws one dart at the bullseye. The player whose dart lands closest to the bullseye starts the game. Alternatively, you can simply flip a coin.
- Scoring: During your turn, throw one dart at a time. Each dart’s score contributes to your turn’s total. However, if a dart misses the board, bounces out, or falls off, it scores nothing. If a dart sticks into another dart already on the board, it’s still counted as a throw but scores zero points.
Dartboard Scoring Chart
In many dart games, including some we’ll discuss, players start with a score of 501. The score you achieve in each turn is subtracted from your current total. Understanding dartboard scoring is crucial: the bullseye scores 50 points, the outer bull ring scores 25, and landing a dart in the double or treble rings multiplies the segment score by two or three, respectively. The goal in many games is to be the first player to reduce your score to exactly zero, but often, the final dart must land in a double or the bullseye to win.
With these basics in mind, let’s explore some popular and fun dart games.
301
Players: Best for two players or two teams, but can accommodate more.
Numbers in Play: All numbers on the dartboard are in play. However, aiming for the 19 and 20 segments can quickly help you reach zero.
Rules: In 301, each player or team starts with 301 points. The objective is to be the first to reach exactly zero by subtracting your turn scores from your remaining total.
However, there’s a catch! Before you can start reducing your score, you must first “double in.” This means you need to hit any of the 21 double segments on the board, including the double bullseye, to begin scoring. Similarly, to win the game, you must “double out.” For example, if you have 28 points left, you need to hit a double 14 to reach exactly zero and win. If you hit a single 14 instead, you’ll have 14 points remaining, and your next target will be double 7.
Be careful not to score more points than you need to reach zero. If you “bust” by going below zero, your turn ends, and you revert to your score from the beginning of that turn in your next round.
Round the World (aka Round the Board or Round the Clock)
Players: Typically two players.
Rules: The aim of Round the World is to be the first player to hit every number on the dartboard in sequence, from 1 to 20. You must hit the numbers in order. Hitting any part of the target number – single, double, or triple – counts as hitting that number and allows you to progress to the next. Players alternate turns after throwing three darts. The first player to successfully hit the 20 segment wins the game.
Cricket
Players: Two players or two teams.
Numbers in Play: Specific numbers are used in Cricket: bullseye, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, and 15.
Rules: The goal in Cricket is to “close” all the designated numbers and achieve the highest score. The first player or team to close all numbers and have a higher or equal score wins.
Each player or team takes turns throwing three darts (an “inning”). To “close” a number, you need to score three hits on that number. These hits can be any combination of singles, doubles, or triples that add up to three hits on that specific number. For instance, three single 20s, a single 20 and a double 20, or a triple 20 all count as closing the 20s.
Once a player or team has “closed” a number, they “own” it. After owning a number, they can score points on that number until their opponent also closes the same number. All scores on owned, unclosed numbers are accumulated for points.
When both players or teams have closed a number, it is considered “closed” for everyone, and no more points can be scored on it by either side.
To close the bullseye, the outer bull counts as a single hit, and the inner bullseye counts as two hits. Numbers can be closed in any order; there’s no need to call your shots.
The player or team who closes all the required numbers first and has the most points wins. If scores are tied when all numbers are closed, the player or team who closed first wins. If a player or team closes all numbers first but is behind in points, they must continue scoring on any open numbers until they either overtake their opponent in points or their opponent closes all numbers and wins.
Killer
Players: Best with three or more players, but can be played with any number.
Numbers in Play: Numbers are randomly assigned to each player.
Rules: In Killer, each player first needs to claim a number. To do this, each player throws a dart with their non-dominant hand to randomly select their number. If you miss the board or hit a number already claimed by another player, you must throw again until you get an unclaimed number on the board.
Once everyone has a number, the game begins. Using three darts per turn, each player first tries to hit the double of their assigned number. Once a player successfully hits their double, they become a “killer,” and a “K” is typically marked next to their name on the scoreboard.
As a “killer,” your objective changes to targeting the double segments of your opponents’ numbers. Each player starts with three lives. When a killer hits an opponent’s double number, that opponent loses a life. If a killer accidentally hits their own double, they lose one of their own lives. It’s possible for a killer to eliminate an opponent completely in a single turn by hitting three doubles of their number. The last player remaining with lives wins the game.
English Cricket
Players: Two players or two teams.
Numbers in Play: All numbers are in play, but scores only count if they are above 40 in a turn, making the 20 segment a popular target for high scores.
Rules: English Cricket uses a scoreboard marked with ten stripes, representing wickets, similar to cricket batting. One player is designated as the “batter,” and the other as the “bowler.” The batter goes first.
The bowler’s role is to eliminate the batter’s wickets by hitting bullseyes. Each single bullseye removes one wicket, and a double bullseye removes two wickets. The batter’s objective is to score as many points (runs) as possible while they still have wickets remaining.
The crucial rule for scoring runs is that only scores above 40 in a turn count. For example, a turn score of 37 points results in zero runs, while a score of 45 points earns 5 runs (the amount over 40).
The batter’s turn ends when the bowler removes all ten wickets. The batter’s total score (runs) is recorded. Then, players switch roles, and the new batter attempts to beat the previous score. The player with the higher score from their batting round wins the game.
Darts offers a fantastic variety of games for all skill levels. Learning these five games – 301, Round the World, Cricket, Killer, and English Cricket – will equip you to enjoy countless hours of fun and competitive play with friends and family. So, grab some darts, gather your mates, and start exploring the exciting world of dart games!
