Fifty-One by Fives

Be the first player to accumulate exactly 51 points by throwing three-dart totals that are divisible by five. Each qualifying turn's raw total is divided by five to produce a round score, and these round scores are added together over successive turns. The player who reaches the target of exactly 51 without overshooting wins the game.

Two or more players may compete. A standard bristle dartboard with all numbered segments, doubles, trebles, outer bullseye, and inner bullseye in play is required. Each player needs three darts.

Write all player names on the scoreboard and set each starting score to 0. Determine throwing order by having each player throw a single dart at the bullseye — the dart closest to the inner bull throws first, with remaining players ordered by proximity. The scoreboard should have columns to record each player's round score and running cumulative total.

Players take turns throwing three darts per visit. After all three darts have been thrown, their point values are summed using standard dartboard scoring:

• Single segment = face value (1–20)
• Double ring (outer narrow) = 2× face value
• Triple ring (inner narrow) = 3× face value
• Outer bullseye = 25
• Inner bullseye = 50

If the three-dart total is divisible by 5, the player scores that total divided by 5 for the round, and the result is added to their cumulative score. If the three-dart total is not divisible by 5, the player scores 0 for that round and their cumulative total remains unchanged.

Miss rule: If any of the three darts misses the scoring area of the board entirely (bounces out or lands off the board), all three darts are void and the player scores 0 for that round, regardless of what the other darts hit.

Bust rule: If a player's cumulative score would exceed 51 after adding the round score, the turn is a bust. The player's score reverts to whatever it was before that turn began, and play passes to the next player. For example, if a player has 48 points and throws a three-dart total of 20 (which would yield 4 round points, pushing the total to 52), the turn is void and the player remains at 48.

Winning-turn requirement: On the turn that brings a player to exactly 51, all three darts must score — that is, all three darts must land on a valid scoring segment of the board. A player cannot win if any dart on the final turn misses the board.

The round score for each turn equals the raw three-dart sum divided by 5 (when that sum is evenly divisible). Cumulative scores are tracked by adding each round score to the player's running total. Turns that do not produce a sum divisible by 5, or in which any dart misses the board, score 0.

Numerical examples:

• Single 20 + Single 20 + Single 5 = 45 raw → 45 ÷ 5 = 9 round points
• Triple 20 + Triple 20 + Triple 20 = 180 raw → 180 ÷ 5 = 36 round points
• Single 5 + Single 10 + Single 10 = 25 raw → 25 ÷ 5 = 5 round points
• Single 7 + Single 8 + Single 3 = 18 raw → 18 is not divisible by 5 → 0 round points
• Single 20 + Single 5 + Single 5 = 30 raw → 30 ÷ 5 = 6 round points
• Triple 5 + Single 10 + Single 15 = 40 raw → 40 ÷ 5 = 8 round points

The maximum possible round score in a single visit is 36 (three triple-20s totaling 180). The minimum non-zero round score is 1 (a three-dart total of 5, such as single 1 + single 1 + single 3).

The first player to reach a cumulative score of exactly 51 wins the game. The winning turn must satisfy two conditions: the three-dart total must be divisible by 5 and produce the exact round score needed to reach 51, and all three darts must land on a valid scoring segment of the board. Overshooting 51 is a bust, and the player's score reverts to its pre-turn value.

In casual play, if all players agree, the game may be played as a best-of series (e.g., best of 3 or best of 5 legs) for extended match formats. In multi-leg matches, the loser of the previous leg typically throws first in the next leg.

Extended Targets (61 by Fives, 71 by Fives, 101 by Fives): The same rules apply, but the target cumulative score is increased to 61, 71, or 101 for a longer game. These variants are common in league settings where players want a more drawn-out contest that rewards consistency.

No-Revert Bust: In some pub rules, a bust simply means the player's round score is discarded and their total stays the same — but the score does not revert to the pre-turn value. This distinction only matters in formats where partial-turn scoring is tracked, and should be clarified before play begins.

Speed Fifty-One: Each player is given a set time limit per turn (e.g., 30 seconds). If the player does not release all three darts within the allotted time, the entire turn is void. This variant adds pressure and is popular in informal tournament settings.

Team Play: In the team variant, partners alternate throwing turns on behalf of their team. The team shares a single cumulative score, and the same bust and divisibility rules apply. Teams of two are most common.

Target the 5-friendly segments: Focus on segments whose values are already divisible by 5 or easily combine to multiples of 5. Treble 5 (15), treble 10 (30), treble 15 (45), treble 20 (60), single 5, single 10, single 15, single 20, the outer bull (25), and the inner bull (50) are your most reliable targets. Three darts in the 20/5 corridor or the 10/15 corridor will frequently produce qualifying totals.

Use segment adjacency to your advantage: The 20 and 5 segments sit next to each other on the board, as do 10 and 15. Aiming at the boundary between 20 and 5 means that even stray darts are likely to contribute to a sum divisible by 5. Similarly, the 10/15 boundary offers a forgiving cluster for building qualifying totals.

Plan your finish early: As you approach 51, calculate the exact round score you need and work backward to identify three-dart totals that produce it. For example, if you need 6 more points, you must throw a total of 30 — achievable with single 10 + single 15 + single 5, or single 20 + single 5 + single 5, among other combinations. Knowing these paths before you step to the oche prevents costly busts.

Avoid high-risk power scoring near the finish: When your cumulative score is in the mid-40s, resist the temptation to aim for treble 20 clusters that could yield 36 round points and blow well past 51. Scale your ambition to match the points you actually need. A controlled 15-total (3 round points) is far more valuable than a busted 180.

Track your opponents' scores closely: Because all players are racing to exactly 51, knowing where your opponents stand lets you decide whether to play aggressively for a big qualifying total or conservatively to avoid a bust. If an opponent is one turn away from winning, take calculated risks — a 0-point round costs you nothing, but a bust when you were close to 51 could cost you the game.