by Lesley Hebert

Created on: October 06, 2010   Last Updated: October 09, 2010

Darts can be played socially or competitively, at home or in the pub, and individually or in teams of two.

The board is divided into twenty pies, each worth between 1 and 20.  There is an outer ring, the “double area”, an inner ring, the “triple area”, a central circle, the “bull”, and a small inner circle, the “double bull”. 

Throw three darts, calculate your score, and write it on a scoreboard.  For example, a dart in the “10” pie is worth 10.  If it hits the double 10 area, you score 2 x 10 = 20, and if it hits the triple area you score 3 x 10 = 30.  The outer bull is worth 25, and the inner bull 50.  The highest score possible with one dart is triple 20 (60), so the highest possible score on one turn is 180.

You do not score if your dart misses the board, falls out, or sticks into the tail end of another dart (known as a "Robin Hood").

You can find the specifications for setting up your home dart board here:

http://www.helium.com/items/950498-how-to-set-up-a-d art-board,

and a lighthearted overview of the general rules for pub darts here:

http://www.helium.com/items/943833-general-rules-for -the-game-of-darts

A simple game for beginners is “Round the Clock”.  Try to hit each of the numbers in order from 1 to 20.  The first player to reach 20 is the winner.

The most popular game is “501”.  Each player or team marks 501 on the scoreboard.   The winner is the first to reach zero.  Your first scoring throw must be a double.  Once you have doubled in, you deduct points earned on each throw, and also must end on a double.

For a shorter game, you can start at 301.  Longer versions are “701” and “1001”.

A more strategic game is “Cricket” or “Kill”.  Write the numbers 20 to 10, T (triple), D (double) and B (bull) down the centre of the scoreboard. Your team writes an “x” on your side of the board against each number, T, D, or B that you hit. When you have three x’s you start scoring on that number until your opponent(s) “kill” the number by getting three x’s on their side. Triples and doubles may be taken as thrown or as multiple single numbers.  The game ends when everything has been killed.  The winner is the one with the most points. 

Combine with good friends and your beverage of choice for an evening of great entertainment.

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