How to Play Darts

Games of darts are played between two players or two teams. The teams can consist of two or more people on each side. Variations that allow for more than two sides are available, but they're typically not popular. Most leagues use two teams per game.

Nine throws are allowed for each person as a warm-up to prepare before each game. To determine which team goes first one dart is thrown by a person from each team. The team with the dart closest to the center (the bull's eye) may take the first turn.

Each player throws three darts during their turn. Then the darts are retrieved from the dartboard. Each player must stand behind a line called the oche that is 7 feet 9 1/4" from the board. If a foot crosses over the toe line or a person happens to trip over the oche and releases their dart, the throw is disqualified.

Thrown darts must stay on the board for at least five seconds after a player's final throw to count. A throw does not score if it sticks into another dart or if it falls off the board.

Darts making it on the board score in the following manner:

• In the wedge: the amount posted on the outer ring.
• The double ring (the outer, narrow ring): twice the number hit.
• The triple ring (the inner, narrow ring): three times the number hit.
• Bull's eye (outer bull): twenty-five points.
• Double bull's eye (inner bull): fifty points.

The two most popular games played by dart players around the world are "301" and "Cricket". "301" is the most obvious. Each side begins with 301 points and throws their darts in an effort to reduce their score to zero.

Before points may count a player must first hit a double. The score is then quickly reduced toward zero. The real skill comes in at the end of the game when a player must throw a double or bull's eye that reduces the final score exactly to zero. Any series of three throws (one turn) that would reduce the score beyond zero do not count.

Each game is considered one leg. The match is won when two out of three games are won.

Cricket is a more intricate game requiring more throwing skill and strategy. It is played using primarily the numbers fifteen through twenty and the bull's eyes.

At the beginning fifteen through twenty and the bull's eye are eligible to be opened. To open a number, a player or team must score three of that number (any combination of singles doubles and triples).

Once a team opens a number every subsequent score on that number increases the score for the team. The opposing team may not score on that number. But may attempt to close it by getting three scores on that number.

The game ends when all of the numbers are closed off. However, it may be declared over sooner if the player in the lead closes all possibility of the other side scoring.