Forty-One

Score exactly 41 points over the course of the game. In the most widely played pub version, each player is randomly assigned a personal number at the start, and only darts landing in the double of that assigned number count toward their score. The goal is to accumulate points round by round until a player reaches exactly 41 — no more, no less.

Two or more players may participate. Each player throws one dart at the board; the number that dart lands in becomes that player's assigned number for the entire game. If two players land in the same number, the second player re-throws until a unique number is obtained.

All players begin with a score of 0. Prepare a scoreboard listing each player's name, their assigned number, and a running total column starting at zero. Throwing order is typically determined by a closest-to-bull throw or by mutual agreement before assigned numbers are selected.

Players take turns throwing three darts per round. Only darts that land in the double segment of your assigned number add to your score — all other hits (singles, triples, other numbers, bullseye) score nothing for that player.

• A dart in your assigned double scores its full face value. For example, if your assigned number is 20, each dart landing in double 20 scores 40 points.
• If your assigned number is 10, each dart in double 10 scores 20 points.
• Darts that land in any other segment — including the single, triple, or outer bull — score 0.

Exact-finish rule: A player must reach exactly 41. If a dart or combination of darts in a round would push a player's cumulative total beyond 41, the entire round is void and the player's score reverts to what it was at the start of that round.

For example, if a player with assigned number 15 has a running total of 11 and hits double 15 (30 points) with the first dart, that brings the total to 41 exactly — a winning finish. However, if that same player already has 31 and lands a double 15, the resulting 61 exceeds 41, so the turn is bust and the score resets to 31.

Points are accumulated across rounds using a simple running total. Only one segment on the entire board matters for each player:

• Double of assigned number: scores 2× the assigned number per dart
• All other segments: score 0

Because only doubles count, the point value added per scoring dart is always a fixed amount — twice the assigned number. A player assigned 7 scores 14 per hit on double 7; a player assigned 20 scores 40 per hit on double 20. This means the assigned number has a dramatic effect on how quickly a player can approach 41 and on how precisely they can land on the exact target.

For example, a player assigned 5 scores 10 per double-5 hit. After four scoring darts across several rounds the total is 40 — just one point short, with no way to score exactly 1 more using double 5. This illustrates the strategic tension inherent in the game.

The first player to reach a cumulative score of exactly 41 wins the game. Because 41 is an odd number and all scoring doubles yield even values, reaching exactly 41 can be impossible with certain assigned numbers — which is part of the game's challenge and what makes the initial number assignment so consequential.

If no player is able to reach exactly 41 after an agreed-upon number of rounds (or after a reasonable period of play), the player with the highest total without exceeding 41 is declared the winner. Ties are broken by an additional sudden-death round in which tied players each throw three darts, with the highest-scoring round (using the same assigned-number rules) determining the winner.

Electronic / Arachnid Forty-One: On Arachnid electronic dartboards (such as the CricketPro 800), Forty-One is played as a variant of Double Down. The sequence is reversed — players work from 20 down to the bullseye — and an additional bonus round is appended in which the player must score exactly 41 points with three darts using any segments on the board. This electronic format tracks scores automatically and enforces the exact-41 requirement in the final round.

Half-It Crossover: In some versions of Half-It, a dedicated round requires each player to score exactly 41 with three darts. Any combination of segments is permitted (e.g., single 20 + single 20 + single 1 = 41, or single 19 + single 20 + single 2 = 41). Failure to reach exactly 41 results in the player's cumulative Half-It score being halved, per standard Half-It penalty rules.

Understand your number's arithmetic: Before your first scoring throw, calculate how many doubles of your assigned number it takes to reach or approach 41. If you are assigned 20 (double = 40), you need just one double-20 hit plus a way to score exactly 1 more — which is impossible via double 20 alone. If you are assigned 3 (double = 6), you can reach 36 with six hits but cannot reach 41 with sevens of 6. Knowing whether 41 is even reachable with your number is the first strategic insight.

Hope for (or negotiate) a favourable number: Assigned numbers whose doubles divide neatly into sums totalling 41 give you a real path to victory. Lower doubles provide more granularity — double 1 (scoring 2 per hit) lets you reach any even number up to and beyond 41, though you still face the odd-number problem. Recognise which numbers are advantageous and, in casual play, consider a re-draw if all players agree.

Manage your total carefully near 41: As your running total climbs, keep precise track of how much room you have left. Busting wastes an entire turn and lets opponents catch up. If you are at 30 with an assigned double of 10, one more hit puts you at 50 — a bust. Play cautiously or accept that you may need to rely on a tiebreak.

Practise doubles relentlessly: Since only one double segment on the entire board earns you points, accuracy on that specific target is everything. During warm-ups, throw exclusively at the double you have been assigned until you can group darts consistently in that narrow band.