Double Down

Accumulate the highest possible score over a fixed sequence of nine target rounds. Each round designates a specific target on the dartboard, and only darts that hit the current round's target contribute to your score. The core tension of Double Down lies in its punishing penalty: miss the target with all three darts in any round and your entire cumulative score is cut in half.

Double Down can be played by any number of players or teams. Each player or team begins with a starting score of 40 points. A standard bristle dartboard and a set of three darts per player are required.

The target sequence is fixed across all nine rounds and should be written clearly on the scoreboard in order: 15, 16, Any Double (D), 17, 18, Any Treble (T), 19, 20, Bull (B). List each player's name alongside the sequence so cumulative scores can be recorded after every round.

To determine throwing order, each player throws one dart at the bullseye; the closest to the bull throws first, with remaining players ordered by proximity. Alternatively, any mutually agreed method may be used.

Players proceed through the nine-round target sequence in strict order. In each round, every player throws three darts at the designated target for that round. Only darts that land in the current round's target segment score points; all other darts score zero.

The targets for each round are as follows:

• Round 1 – 15: Only darts landing in the 15 segment (single, double, or triple) count.
• Round 2 – 16: Only darts landing in the 16 segment (single, double, or triple) count.
• Round 3 – Any Double (D): Any dart landing in any double ring on the board counts. For example, double 20, double 5, or double 1 all qualify.
• Round 4 – 17: Only darts landing in the 17 segment (single, double, or triple) count.
• Round 5 – 18: Only darts landing in the 18 segment (single, double, or triple) count.
• Round 6 – Any Treble (T): Any dart landing in any treble ring on the board counts. For example, triple 20, triple 3, or triple 14 all qualify.
• Round 7 – 19: Only darts landing in the 19 segment (single, double, or triple) count.
• Round 8 – 20: Only darts landing in the 20 segment (single, double, or triple) count.
• Round 9 – Bull (B): Only darts landing in the outer bullseye (25) or the inner bullseye (50) count.

Scoring a round: If a player hits the designated target with at least one of their three darts, the total point value of all on-target darts is added to their cumulative score.

Halving penalty: If a player fails to hit the designated target with any of their three darts, their entire cumulative score is halved (rounded down). For example, if a player enters the round with 85 points and misses all three darts, their score drops to 42. This penalty makes every round high-stakes, especially as scores grow in the later rounds.

After all players have thrown in a round, play advances to the next round in the sequence. The game concludes once all nine rounds have been completed.

Every player begins the game with 40 points. On-target darts score their full face value, including double and triple multipliers when the dart lands in those rings:

• Single segment: Face value (e.g., single 15 = 15 points)
• Double ring: 2× face value (e.g., double 15 = 30 points)
• Triple ring: 3× face value (e.g., triple 15 = 45 points)
• Outer bullseye: 25 points (counts in the Bull round)
• Inner bullseye: 50 points (counts in the Bull round)

Off-target darts always score zero, regardless of where they land on the board.

Numerical examples: In Round 1 (target: 15), a player hits single 15, triple 15, and misses with the third dart. They score 15 + 45 = 60 points, added to their cumulative total. If they started the round at 40, they now have 100. In Round 3 (Any Double), hitting double 20 and double 5 with two darts scores 40 + 10 = 50 points added. In Round 6 (Any Treble), a single triple 20 scores 60 points. In the Bull round, hitting one outer bull and one inner bull scores 25 + 50 = 75 points added.

Conversely, if a player enters Round 8 (target: 20) with a cumulative score of 200 and misses all three darts, their score is halved to 100. Two consecutive total misses can be devastating — a score of 200 would drop to 100, then to 50.

After all nine rounds have been completed, the player or team with the highest cumulative score wins the game. There is no checkout requirement and no further play beyond the ninth round.

In the event of a tied score, players may agree to a tiebreak by replaying a single designated round (commonly the Bull round) as a sudden-death decider, or by sharing the victory. Settle tiebreak procedures before the game begins.

Zero Start: Instead of beginning with 40 points, all players start at 0. This version is more forgiving in the early rounds — a halving of zero is still zero — but shifts the pressure to the middle and late rounds where accumulated points are at greater risk.

Extended Sequence (10-Round): Some groups add a tenth round targeting the Double Bull (inner bullseye only) after the standard Bull round. This creates an extremely high-difficulty finale and can dramatically alter final standings.

Custom Target Sequences: Players may agree to rearrange the target order, add additional number rounds, or substitute targets to vary the difficulty. Common additions include lower numbers (e.g., starting at 10 instead of 15) to lengthen the game.

Team Play: In team formats, teammates alternate throws each round (Player A throws in Round 1, Player B in Round 2, and so on), sharing a single cumulative score. This variant emphasizes roster depth and adds a strategic element to the throwing order.

Double Down is closely related to Halve-It, which uses a similar halving penalty for missed targets. The key differences are Double Down's fixed target sequence (15–20 plus doubles, trebles, and bull), its starting score of 40, and its specific round structure. Players familiar with Halve-It will find Double Down's mechanics immediately recognizable.

Protect your score in the early rounds: Your starting score of 40 is fragile. A single total miss in Round 1 drops you to 20; two consecutive misses leave you at just 10. Treat the 15 and 16 rounds with the same focus as later, higher-value rounds — the penalty is proportionally just as severe.

Spread your doubles and trebles for safety: In the Any Double (Round 3) and Any Treble (Round 6) rounds, you are not locked to a single number. If your first dart misses, consider switching to a different double or treble segment rather than stubbornly targeting the same one. The priority is hitting at least one to avoid the halving penalty; maximizing points is secondary to not losing half your score.

Target the fat singles on number rounds: On the dedicated number rounds (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20), aim for the large single segment rather than the triple. A single 20 reliably scored is worth far more over the course of the game than a missed triple that risks a halving. Consistency trumps ambition in Double Down.

Plan your Bull round strategy: Round 9 (Bull) is the most difficult target and comes when your score is at its highest — meaning the halving penalty is most devastating. Focus on the outer bullseye, which is a significantly larger target than the inner bull. Landing even one outer bull (25 points) protects your entire accumulated score from being halved.

Track your opponents' scores actively: Because Double Down is a highest-score-wins game, knowing where you stand relative to your opponents informs your risk tolerance. If you hold a commanding lead entering the final rounds, prioritize safe scoring to avoid a catastrophic halving. If you trail, you may need to chase triples and inner bulls to close the gap.