Bob's 27

Navigate through every double on the dartboard — from Double 1 through Double 20, then the Bullseye — while maintaining a positive score. Beginning with 27 points, your aim is to survive all 21 rounds and finish with the highest score possible. Hitting your target double adds points; missing it with all three darts subtracts points. If your score drops to zero or below at any point, you are eliminated.

Widely regarded as the gold standard of doubles practice games, Bob's 27 transforms routine training into a high-pressure test of accuracy, composure, and consistency — the very skills required to check out in competitive match play.

Bob's 27 is played on a standard dartboard with standard darts. The game is primarily a solo practice exercise, though multiple players may compete simultaneously by comparing final scores. No special equipment beyond a standard dartboard, three darts, and a scoreboard is required.

Write 27 at the top of the scoreboard as the starting score. Below it, list the 21 target rounds in order: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, Bull. Leave space beside each round to record hits and the running score.

When multiple players participate, throwing order may be determined by a closest-to-bull throw, by mutual agreement, or by any other fair method. Each player maintains their own running score independently.

The game consists of 21 rounds, played in strict sequence. In each round, the player throws three darts at the designated target double. The first round targets Double 1, the second round targets Double 2, and so on through Double 20. The 21st and final round targets the Bullseye.

Hitting the target: If one or more of your three darts lands in the target double during a round, you add the value of the double to your running score for each dart that hits. For example, if you are throwing at Double 8 and land two of your three darts in Double 8, you add 16 + 16 = 32 points to your score. All three darts are always thrown, even if you hit the target with your first or second dart.

Missing the target: If none of your three darts lands in the target double during a round, you subtract the value of that double from your running score. For example, if you miss Double 12 with all three darts, you subtract 24 points from your score.

Elimination rule: If your running score reaches zero or below at the end of any round, the game is immediately over. You are eliminated and do not continue to the remaining rounds. This is the central survival mechanic of the game — as the target doubles increase in value, the penalties for missing become progressively more severe.

Final round — Bullseye: The 21st round targets the Bullseye. For each dart that lands in the inner bullseye (50) or outer bullseye (25), the corresponding value is added to the running score. If all three darts miss the bullseye entirely, the bullseye value is subtracted. The specific value used for the penalty on a complete miss may vary by local convention (see Variations).

• Only the designated target double scores or penalises in each round. Hitting any other segment — even another double — has no effect on the score.
• All three darts are thrown every round, regardless of whether the target is hit with the first or second dart.
• Darts that bounce out or fall from the board do not score and cannot be rethrown.

The running score begins at 27 and is adjusted after each of the 21 rounds according to the following principles:

• Hit(s): Add the double's value once for each dart that lands in the target. Double 1 = 2 points per hit, Double 2 = 4 points per hit, Double 10 = 20 points per hit, Double 20 = 40 points per hit.
• Miss (all three darts): Subtract the double's value once. Double 1 = −2, Double 5 = −10, Double 15 = −30, Double 20 = −40.

Worked example — early rounds: Starting at 27, suppose you hit one dart on D1 (+2, score becomes 29), miss all three on D2 (−4, score becomes 25), then hit two darts on D3 (+6 +6 = +12, score becomes 37). Your running score after three rounds is 37.

Penalty escalation: The increasing value of each target double means penalties grow more punishing as the game progresses. Missing D1 costs only 2 points, but missing D20 costs 40 points. This escalation makes early-round accuracy crucial for building a buffer to survive the later rounds.

Perfect score: Hitting all three darts on every target double from D1 through D20, plus all three darts on the inner bullseye (50), yields a theoretical perfect score of 1,437. This is an exceptionally rare achievement even for professional-level players.

A player wins — or more precisely, survives — by completing all 21 rounds (D1 through D20 plus the Bullseye) without the running score dropping to zero or below. Any final score above 27 (the starting value) is generally considered a solid result, indicating that the player gained more from hits than was lost to misses. The theoretical maximum score is 1,437.

When multiple players compete, the player with the highest final score wins. A player who is eliminated (score drops to zero or below) is ranked below any player who survives all 21 rounds, regardless of the round in which elimination occurred. If two or more players are eliminated, the player who survived the most rounds is ranked higher; if they were eliminated in the same round, the player with the higher score immediately before that round is ranked higher. Players are encouraged to track personal bests over time as a measure of improvement in doubles accuracy.

Treble 27: The same structure and scoring mechanic is applied using treble segments instead of doubles. Players cycle through Treble 1 to Treble 20, adding or subtracting the treble value (3× the segment number) based on hits and misses. The final round may target the bullseye or be omitted entirely. This variation develops treble accuracy for scoring phases in 501 and other countdown games.

Outer Bull finish: Some players use only the outer bullseye (25) as the final-round target, meaning a hit adds 25 per dart and a miss subtracts 25. This is a slightly more forgiving version of the final round and is common in casual play.

Inner Bull finish: A stricter interpretation requires the inner bullseye (50) as the final target, with a hit adding 50 per dart and a miss subtracting 50. This version carries the highest risk in the final round and is favoured by advanced players seeking maximum challenge.

Benchmark tracking: While not a rule variation per se, many players use Bob's 27 as a long-term tracking tool by recording their score after each session. Common benchmark tiers — such as breaking 100, 200, or 400 — serve as personal milestones that chart doubles improvement over weeks and months.

Build your buffer early: The penalties for missing D1 through D5 are relatively small (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 points respectively). Concentrate intensely on these early rounds to accumulate bonus points. A strong start — say, hitting at least one dart on each of the first five doubles — can give you the cushion you need to absorb the inevitable misses later.

Respect the danger zone (D16–D20): Missing D16 costs 32 points, D17 costs 34, D18 costs 36, D19 costs 38, and D20 costs a brutal 40 points. A string of misses in this range can erase an entire game's worth of careful accumulation in just a few rounds. As you approach these rounds, take an extra moment to settle your stance, control your breathing, and commit to your line.

Treat it as match-pressure practice: The elimination mechanic is the game's greatest training feature. When your score is low and you're facing a high-value double, the pressure closely mirrors a real match checkout situation. Embrace the tension rather than rushing your throw — this is precisely the mental skill that Bob's 27 is designed to develop.

Track your scores over time: A single session of Bob's 27 is a snapshot; a logbook of 50 sessions is a reliable performance trend. Record your final score (or the round in which you were eliminated) after every attempt. Over time, you will see your survival rate increase and your average final score climb — concrete evidence that your doubles accuracy is improving.

Use the game to identify weak doubles: Pay attention to which doubles consistently cause misses and score drops. If you routinely lose points on D7 or D14, for example, you have identified a specific weakness to address in focused practice. Bob's 27 is as much a diagnostic tool as it is a game.