Most pub and league darts come down to two games: X01 (usually 501) and Cricket. Here are the basics in plain language. House and league rules vary, so agree on them before you start.
Scoring the board
Each segment scores its number. The thin outer ring is a double (2x) and the thin inner ring is a treble, or triple (3x). The outer bull is worth 25 and the inner bull (the bullseye) is worth 50, which also counts as a double. A dart outside the double ring scores nothing. A turn is three darts.
501
- Each player or team starts at 501.
- Subtract your three-dart total each turn.
- You must finish on exactly zero, and the last dart must hit a double, including the bullseye. This is called "double out."
- Bust: if you go below zero, land on exactly 1, or reach zero without a double, your turn ends and your score goes back to what it was at the start of that turn.
Example: you're on 40. Double 20 wins. If you hit a single 20 instead, you're on 20, and double 10 wins.
301
301 works like 501 but starts at 301, so games are quicker. Many players also use double in, where your score doesn't start counting down until you hit a double. Agree on it before you play.
Cricket
Cricket uses only the 15 through 20 segments and the bull.
- Marks: a single is 1 mark, a double is 2 and a treble is 3. The outer bull is 1 mark and the inner bull is 2.
- Close a number by getting 3 marks on it. Scoreboards usually show this as a slash, then an X, then a circled X.
- Score points: once you've closed a number and your opponent hasn't, extra hits on it score that number's value. The bull scores 25 per mark.
- Once both sides close a number, it's dead for everyone.
- Win by closing all seven targets with a score equal to or higher than your opponent's.
Strategy tip: close the numbers your opponent is scoring on, and score on the ones they haven't closed.
Keeping score
Electronic boards track all of this for you. For a bristle board, a chalk or dry-erase scoreboard with X01 and Cricket layouts makes it easy.
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