Darts is a traditional and popular game that which is people have enjoyed for many years. It is very famous for playing easily and bringing each other closer. Whether you want to have a good time with friends or practice to get better for serious games, this guide for beginners will teach you the essentials of darts. By the time when you finish reading this guide, you’ll know the basic rules, how to play, and some advice to help you get better at the game.
What is Darts?
Darts is a well-liked game of accuracy where people throw small, sharp objects called darts at a round target called a dartboard. The board has sections with numbers that give different scores. Players try to get the most points by hitting certain sections, especially the center, called the bullseye. Darts can be played by one person or in groups, and it’s a typical game in bars, mixing skill, strategy, and precision.
Understanding the Basics of Darts
The game is renowned for its simplicity yet requires considerable skill to master. Here’s a look at the basics of darts, including its history, equipment’s, and layout.
History of Darts
Darts has a long history that goes back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to have started with people throwing short, pointed sticks at the bottoms of barrels or wooden logs. The modern form of the game started to develop in the early 1900s in England. It quickly became popular with the creation of organized leagues and standardized rules, making it a major game in pubs and a professional sport.
The Equipment
Before you start, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the equipment and the basic setup:
Dartboard
There are two main types of dartboards:
Bristle Dartboards: These dartboards are made from tightly packed sisal strands and are very strong and can fix themselves after being hit. They are popular among experts because they last a long time and work well all the time. It’s perfect for dedicated or professional players. These dartboards give a solid, top-notch playing surface for serious games. Usually, this board is played with steel tip darts.
Electronic Dartboards: Electronic dartboards come with digital scorekeeping, pre-set game choices, and automatic math. They’re made for ease, often having ways for many people to play and fun extras. Perfect for laid-back games and family enjoyment, they let you have a good time with darts without much preparation. Basically, this board is usually played with soft tip darts.
Darts
A dart contains of four main parts:
Tip: In darts, the pointy end that touches the dartboard is called the tip. It can be made of steel for regular boards or soft plastic for electronic ones. The kind of tip you choose affects how well it works with the dartboard and how you play the game.
Barrel: The main part of a dart that players hold is called the barrel. It’s usually made from tungsten or brass and its shape and weight help with how well you can aim and throw. A good barrel helps keep your throws steady and consistent.
Shaft: The shaft in darts connects the barrel to the flight. Made from materials like aluminum or plastic, it impacts the dart’s balance and aerodynamics. The shaft’s length and rigidity influence stability and accuracy during throws.
Flight: The flight on a dart is the triangular or kite-shaped part that helps keep the dart steady while it’s in the air. It’s usually made of plastic or nylon and plays a role in how the dart flies and balances. The shape and size of the flight can affect how accurately and consistently you can throw the dart.
Dartboard Scoring System and Layout
A typical dartboard has 20 sections with numbers, each worth points from 1 to 20. The board also has different scoring zones like single area, double ring, treble ring and bullseye.
Every player begins with a score, often 501 or 301 points, based on the specific rules of the game. The goal is to lower this score to exactly zero. Here’s how points are earned:
Single: Landing a dart on any numbered section gives you the points of that number. For example, landing on the 18 section gives you 18 points.
Double: Landing on the narrow outer ring doubles the points of that section. So, a dart in the double 10 section gives you 20 points.
Triple: Landing on the narrow inner ring triples the points of that section. For instance, a dart in the triple 15 section gives you 45 points.
Bullseye: The outer center area gives you 25 points, and the inner center area gives you 50 points.
Players throw three darts each round, and their points are subtracted from their total score. The first player to reach zero points, with their last dart landing in a double section or the bullseye, wins the game.
Dartboard Placement
Where you put the dartboard is important for both fun and serious games. Here are some tips:
Height: The bullseye middle point should be exactly 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) above the floor.
Throwing Distance: The distance from the dartboard front end to the throwing line (called the oche) should be 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters) for steel-tipped darts. For soft-tipped darts, the distance is usually 8 feet (2.44 meters).
Throwing Techniques
In darts, how you throw the dart is very important for being accurate and consistent. Stand with one foot in front, balanced and facing the target. Hold the dart in a way that feels good, making sure you have a strong but not tight grip on it. The throw should be smooth and controlled; use the strength of your main arm while keeping your wrist still.
Move your arm straight, using your elbow as a point to turn around. It’s important to keep going after you throw, making sure the dart flies straight and exactly where you want it. Try different ways of throwing, like; the ‘throw and flick’ or ‘straight arms throw’ to see what works best for you. Regular practice and especially proper methods will help you get better scores and improve your overall game.
How to play Darts Games
As the game has been played for ages, various variations of the game have been created. Many prefer to play different variations of the game instead of playing one variety. So, I tried to explain the different variations of the game.
My goal with this collection of darts games is to cover as many as I can, so you always discover fresh and thrilling games to enjoy. The darts games featured here can be played with various numbers of participants and might have different rules based on your location. A list of some games is given below, step by step. You can see each game in detail and learn how to play darts easily.
List of the Darts Games
- 01 Darts Games (Best Ever)
- Around the Clock/Round the Board Darts
- American Cricket Darts
- English Cricket Darts
- Killer Darts
- Hare and Hound Darts
- Halve-It Darts
- Mulligan Darts
- Nine Lives Darts
- Shanghai Darts
- 51 by 5’s Darts
- Football Darts
- Baseball Darts
- Tic Tac Toe Darts etc.
01 Darts Games (Best Ever)
Required Player – 1 player or more players
This game is very traditional. People have been playing this traditional game for ages. Many people are familiar with the dart game called 501. In this game, both players begin with 501 points, and the player who reaches exactly 501 points first (ending with a double) wins.
You can make this game simpler or harder by changing the starting number of points. For beginners, you might start with 201 or 301 points. You might want to start with higher scores like 701, 901, or even 1001 when you’re playing with a large group split into teams.
Players can also compete alone and try to improve their personal best score. For example, if you finish 501 in 20 darts, aim to do it in 19 darts or fewer next times to beat your previous record.
Around the Clock /Round the Board Darts
Required Player – 1 player or more players
One of the most common dart games is called Around The Clock. This game can be enjoyed by either two people or a large group, and it’s enjoyable for all, regardless of your skill level in darts. As the name says, players need to hit the numbers in order, starting from 1 and going up to 20.
The person who finishes hitting all the numbers from 1 to 20 first wins the game. To make the game more challenging, you can place the bullseye at the end. This way, the winner needs to hit the outer bullseye first and then the center bullseye to complete the game.
To simplify the game, if you throw a dart and it lands on twice the number you need, you can skip the following number. If it lands on three times the number you need, you can skip the next two numbers. For example, if you land on two ones, you move to three, and if you land on three ones, you move to four. If you manage to hit all the correct targets with all three of your darts, you earn an extra turn and can move forward as a bonus!
American Cricket Darts
Required Player – 2 players or 2 team
American Cricket is a well-liked dart game that is different from the usual 501 game. It can be played by two or more individuals or by dividing a group of players into two teams. The goal of the game is to earn more points than your opponent or the opposing team.
The game begins on the 20 segment, where each team takes turns to hit that segment. The first player or team to hit the 20 segment three times can then start earning points. A single 20 counts as one hit, a double 20 counts as two hits, and a treble 20 counts as the needed three hits.
Once a player or team reaches three hits, they can start adding points to their score, with each 20 segment adding its value to their score. The opposing team can then prevent the other team from scoring points once they have also hit the segment three times.
The game continues through segments 19, 18, 17, 16, and 15, finishing with the bullseye. The outer center circle is worth one point, and the inner center circle is worth two points. The game ends when the second team scores three points on the bullseye and prevents the other team from scoring further. The team that scores the highest at the end wins.
English Cricket Darts
Required Player – 2 players or 2 team
All numbers can be used, but since each score must be above 40, the number 20 is quite common. There are ten lines on the scoreboard to represent wickets. One player hits the ball (bats) and the other throws it (bowls). The batter starts first.
The bowler’s goal is to remove these wickets by hitting the center of the target (bullseyes). Each bullseye removes one wicket, and each double bullseye takes out two. The batter tries to earn as many points (runs) as they can while their wickets are still there. The challenge is that only scores above 40 counts. For example, scoring 37 means no runs. Scoring 45 means 5 runs, and so on.
When all 10 wickets are taken by the bowler, the scoring ends. The batter notes their final score, and then they switch roles. The player with the highest number of points, or runs, from their turn as batter is the winner.
Killer Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more players
The killer darts game is a fun activity for a big group of people. To begin, each person throws one dart at the board one by one. The spot where the dart land gives you a number, and everyone must have a different number. If someone hits a spot that’s already been chosen, they keep throwing until they get a new number.
Decide how many lives each player starts with, and then players will take turns trying to take away the lives of others. Before you can take away someone else’s life, you need to hit your own number three times. Hitting a single spot counts as one point, a double spot is two points, and a triple spot is three points. So, if your number is 20 and you hit a triple 20, you can then start taking away the lives of the other players.
If you lose any of your lives, you need to get them back by hitting your segment again until you have the same number of lives you had when you started the game. You can also lose lives if you accidentally hit your own number while trying to hit someone else’s number. The person who still has one or more lives when everyone else is out is the winner.
Hare and Hound Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more players
Hare and Hounds is a simple game meant for beginners in darts and can be a great way to get kids interested in the sport. Two players participate, and they choose who will be the hare and who will be the hound.
The hare begins at 20, and the hound starts at 5. Both players throw darts in a circular direction, hitting each section in sequence. The hare’s goal is to loop back to 20 to win, while the hound wins by reaching the hare’s score.
Halve-It Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more players
A well-known darts game is called Halve-It, and it’s great for playing with a big group of people. Choose six different spots on the dartboard, and each player will take turns trying to hit these spots.
Every time you hit a spot, add the points from that spot to your total score. For example, if the first spot is worth 20 points and you hit it twice, you add 40 points to your score. But if you miss a spot three times in a row, you have to “halve it” and cut your total score in half. The person with the highest score after the last round is the winner.
You can adjust the difficulty of this game based on the skill level of the players. For a simpler game, you can aim for single numbers or complete sections. For a more challenging game, you can aim for the bullseye, trebles, and doubles.
Mulligan Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more players
Mulligan is a game that combines elements of American Cricket and Mickey Mouse. In this game, you select six random numbers to aim for and then the bullseye. You need to hit each selected number three times (a single hit counts as one, a double hit counts as two, and a treble hit counts as three) in sequence and then hit the bullseye before your opponents to win the game.
Nine Lives Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more players
A different version of Around The Clock, called Nine Lives, gives each player nine chances to stay in the game. The goal is to hit the numbers from 1 to 20 in order without running out of chances. If you miss the target number for three throws in a row, you lose one chance.
The person who finishes the game with the most chances left, or the last one still in the game, is the winner.
Shanghai Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more players
The goal in Shanghai darts is to have the most points when all the rounds are finished, or to “Shanghai” your opponent.
A regular game of Shanghai involves hitting the numbers 1 through 20, in that order. In the first round, players try to hit the number 1. In the second round, they aim for the number 2, and this continues up to 20. Only darts that hit the correct number for that round will count for points. Suppose, if a player hits the number 18 in round 1, that dart doesn’t score any points.
A Shanghai occurs when a player hits a single, double, and triple of the same number in one round. For instance, if a player scores a single 4, double 4, and triple 4 in the fourth round of a typical game, they win immediately.
51 by 5’s Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more players
The dart game called 51 By 5’s, or sometimes All 5’s, can be played with just two people or a large group. After deciding who goes first, either by trying to hit the bullseye with a dart or by picking randomly, players will take turns trying to get as many points as they can.
But to get points, the total score from your three darts must be a number that can be divided by five. For instance, if you score 60, you get 12 points for that round. If your score from three darts can’t be divided by five, you won’t get any points for that round. The person who reaches 51 points first wins the game.
Football Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more
Players take turns aiming for the bullseye. After hitting the bullseye, they can aim for any double on the board, including the bullseye itself. Each double they hit is worth one point. The first player to reach 10 points by hitting doubles wins the game.
Baseball Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more
Like cricket, the goal of Baseball is to score more points than the other team. This game can be played with a big group of people, with each person having their own score, or you can divide into two teams.
Players take turns throwing, with the first round aiming to get as many darts in one section as possible, then the two-section, and so on until they finish throwing at the nine-section. A single dart in the right section is one point, a double is two points, and a treble is three points. The highest score you can get at the end of the game is 81. The player or team with the most points after the ninth round wins.
Tic-Tac-Toe Darts
Required Player – 2 players or more
Think of putting a Tic-Tac-Toe board over the playing area. Each spot on this grid would be mostly covered by a specific number from the board. These numbers (12, 20, 18, 11, B, 6, 7, 3, and 2) correspond to different sections on the grid, and these are the only numbers used in the game.
The players take turns throwing darts at specific numbers to try to mark them off. Each player gets three darts for each turn to aim at a suitable target. If they hit the target, they put a point on the small grid in that area.
A player or team needs to get three points on any number before it can be marked as finished. After getting three points in any area, the player or team gets a mark on the main game grid. The single area counts as one point, the double area counts as two points, and the triple area counts as three points.
Darts Tic-T-Toe is a bit tricky to set up at first, but once it’s ready, it’s just like playing regular tic-tac-toe. Players, or teams of players, throw darts at the numbers on the dartboard that match the squares on the tic-tac-toe grid. Just like in the paper version of tic-tac-toe, the person who first gets three in a row on the main grid wins the game.
Etiquette and Sportsmanship
When you play, you should follow the etiquette in this game, which is given below.
- Always respect your opponents and the game itself. Follow the rules and regulations, and always try to play fair.
- If you’re playing with beginners, then you should be patient and offer encouragement. Keep in mind that everyone started as a beginner.
- Celebrate your victories graciously and accept losses with dignity. Learn from your mistakes and strive to improve in future games.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the basic rules of darts?
To play the game, you’ll need a dartboard, darts, and the specific rules for darts (the game mode). These rules determine how you win or lose individual games and the overall match. Here is the key for darts rules:
- Every player gets three darts and three chances to throw them.
- Players need to stand 2.37 meters away from the dartboard and must not step over a line.
- Each player starts with either 501 or 301 points.
- The aim is to bring the score reduced to 0 as quickly.
- To earn points, the dart just needs to touch the scoring area.
- The first player to reach 0 points wins a round, called a “Leg” in darts.
- Typically, a “double out” is used. This means the player needs to hit a double (a scoring area on the outer part of the dartboard) to win a round.
The darts game is usually played to see who can win a certain number of rounds first. The person who reaches that number first wins the match. In most professional tournaments, players need to win six rounds in the early stages to win the match. This format works well for casual darts nights too. Later in the tournament, the pros need to win more rounds to win the match for the semi-finals or finals.
Can you play darts online?
Absolutely, there are different websites and phone apps that let you play darts online with people from all over the world. Some well-known choices are Darts of Fury, Dart Connect, and Pro Darts. Simply look up “online dart games” and you’ll see many choices to pick from.
How many sets of dart rules?
In a typical darts game, players usually play a series of rounds called sets. The number of sets can change based on the rules or the way the game is set up, but it’s often played in a format where the first to win a certain number of sets wins, like first to win 3, 5, or 7 sets. This means the player who wins more sets than the other is the final winner of the game.
What are the benefits of playing darts?
Playing darts is a fun and enjoyable activity that can offer a range of benefits, here are some of the key benefits of playing darts:
- Playing darts requires a high level of hand-eye coordination, which can help improve your reflexes and overall coordination skills.
- The game of darts is typically played in the pub or any other playing area that is a social place, and so a person can socialize with friends or families.
- Something that one can really engage in as a way of relieving himself or herself after a tiring day at work is participating in a game of darts.
- Darts require concentration and focus, as you need to aim accurately and strategically plan your shots. This can help improve your mental focus and concentration skills.
- Although it is not as physically demanding as more traditional forms of sporting activities, darts does require a certain amount of walking and therefore can be considered light exercise.
In general, I can conclude that playing of darts is an interesting and entertaining game and has positive impact on the human body and mind.