Rules Of Dart
More Information On The Rules Of Dart
Popular Dart Games - We'll take a look at some of the more popular dart games and the dart rules that accompany them. The two most popular dart games are 301 and Cricket. There are actually a number of '01 games (pronounced Oh-one), 101, 201, 301, and so on, but 301 is the most popular of these, so we'll look at the dart rules for that one first.
301 - This game is played starting at 301 points, with the objective of being the first player to reduce that number to zero. Each player throws three darts in turn, and at the end of that turn, subtracts the number made from his score. The strategy obviously would be to try to get doubles and triples of the larger numbers and get the greatest possible score for each turn, therefore reducing the score as rapidly as possible. The largest score possible in one turn (3 darts) would be to hit 3 triple 20's, allowing 180 points to be subtracted.
The game can get quite tricky at the end. Finishing or "going out" as it is called, requires that the player finish exactly with zero points. Hitting the bull's eye is worth 25 points, but won't count for anything if you are within 24 points or less of winning. If you are within 2 points of winning, you could hit zero by scoring a double 1, but if you hit a 3 or higher, it won't count. So, as a game is winding down, there are some very specific throws or needed number combinations that start to come into play.
CRICKET - In Cricket, we come across dart rules associated with "closing". In cricket the numbers 20 down through 15, plus the bull's eye come into play. To close a number means to hit it three times, which can be any combination of a single (hitting anywhere in the wedge), a double, hitting in the outside ring, or a triple, hitting in the inside ring. So, you're going to try to close each of the numbers 20 down through 15, plus hit the bullseye. Also you can close in any order you choose.
There is also scoring in Cricket. Once you have closed a number, if your opponent hasn't closed it already, any dart that lands on that number is added to your score, if a double or triple is hit, so much the better. A bull's eye by the way is worth 25 points.
Briefly, here are some other popular versions of darts, each with its own set of dart rules, although the rules don't differ terribly from those found in '01 or Cricket.
GOLF - Golf is quick game. The play is from numbers 1 through 9 in that order, or if you wish from 1 through 18. Each player gets three throws at each number. A triple on the number counts as a hole in one, while double counts as two strokes, and a single as three strokes. If you hit the number's wedge on the outside circle of the board, it counts as 4 strokes and if you miss the number completely it's 5 strokes for that hole. As in real golf, at the end of either 9 or 18 holes, low score wins.
MULLIGAN - The rules are simple but the game is difficult. To win a player must close six numbers, usually selected at random, plus hit three bull's eyes. What makes the game difficult is you can only close a number by hitting inside the triple ring. Needless to say, this is a game for the more advanced dart throwers unless you have plenty of time on your hands. To make it even a little more difficult the dart rules for Mulligan state that the numbers must be closed in a specific order.
X-OUT - The goal in X-Out is also to close numbers, but the dart rules here allow a double or triple associated with that number to count towards closing. So hitting a triple for the designated number will close that number. In X-Out, the numbers 20 down through 10 that are the ones to be closed, in any order.
SHANGHAI - There are two ways you can win this game. The first way is to score as many points as possible in 20 rounds or innings. You throw at the number corresponding to the number of the round, called the target number. For example, in round 5 only a dart hitting number 5 would count. After 20 rounds, the player with the highest score wins. The other way to win is to "Shanghai" your opponents which is done by hitting a single, double, and triple (in any order) of the target number.
STEEPLECHASE - In this game you work your way around the course, starting at 20 and working backwards to 5. Here the dart rules state that only darts hitting in the wedge between the bullseye and the triples ring count. Along the way you'll hit 3 "fences", (usually numbers 6, 3 and 11). When you hit a fence, you must triple that number, that is, hit inside the triples ring corresponding to that number. While you can use any number of darts to hit the other numbers, you must jump a fence using 9 darts or less or you're out of the game.
NINE LIVES - You actually get only three lives in this one before being eliminated. You want to be the first one to go “around the clock”, so the dart rules here involve hitting the numbers from 1-20 in order. If you miss a number in three consecutive tries you lose a "life". The winner is the first one to reach 20 or is the sole remaining survivor.
Whichever version of darts you may try, and do try as many as possible, the associated dart rules thankfully remain relatively the same for all.