Halve-It

Score the highest cumulative total by hitting designated targets across a predetermined sequence of rounds. Each round assigns a specific target on the dartboard; hit it to add points to your running total, but fail to hit the target with any of your three darts and your entire accumulated score is halved. The player with the highest score after all rounds have been completed wins the game.

Halve-It requires 2 or more players, a standard dartboard, and a scoreboard. Before play begins, all participants must agree on a target sequence — an ordered list of specific targets that will be played round by round. A widely used sequence is: 20, 16, Doubles (any double), 17, 18, Trebles (any treble), 19, 20, Bull. Groups may shorten, lengthen, or modify this sequence to suit the skill level of the players.

Write the agreed target sequence down the left-hand side of the scoreboard, with one row per round. Write each player's name across the top, creating a column for every competitor. All players begin with a score of 0.

Determine throwing order by any agreed method — commonly each player throws a single dart at the bullseye, with the closest dart earning the right to throw first. Play then proceeds in that order for every round.

The game is played over a fixed number of rounds, one for each target in the agreed sequence. 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 count toward scoring; darts that land anywhere else on the board score nothing for that round.

Hitting the target: If at least one of a player's three darts hits the designated target, the player adds the total point value of all darts that hit the target to their cumulative score. Darts that miss the target in the same turn are simply ignored — they neither score nor trigger a penalty.

Halving penalty: If none of a player's three darts hit the designated target in a round, the player's entire cumulative score is halved. When halving produces a fractional result, the score is rounded down to the nearest whole number. For example, if a player has accumulated 95 points and fails to hit the target, their score is halved to 47 (95 ÷ 2 = 47.5, rounded down).

The following rules apply to special target rounds:

• Doubles round (D): The target is any double segment on the board. Any double hit scores its full value (2× the segment number). A player may spread their three darts across different doubles to increase the chance of hitting at least one.
• Trebles round (T): The target is any treble segment on the board. Any treble hit scores its full value (3× the segment number).
• Bull round: The target is the bullseye — either the outer bull (25 points) or the inner bull (50 points). Both count as valid hits.
• Numbered rounds (e.g., 20, 16, 17, 18, 19): Only the specified number's segments count. Singles, doubles, and trebles of that number all score at their respective values.

Play proceeds through every round in the agreed sequence. A round is not skipped even if all players have low scores. After the final round, the game ends and scores are compared.

Standard dartboard point values apply, but only darts landing in the current round's target contribute to a player's score:

• Single segment: Face value (1–20)
• Double segment (outer narrow ring): 2× the segment number (2–40)
• Triple segment (inner narrow ring): 3× the segment number (3–60)
• Outer bull: 25 points
• Inner bull: 50 points

Numerical examples: In a round targeting 20, a player who throws single 20, treble 20, and a stray single 5 scores 80 for the round (20 + 60 + 0), because only the 20-segment hits count. In a Doubles round, a player who hits double 18 and double 12 (with the third dart missing all doubles) scores 60 (36 + 24). In a Bull round, a player who lands one dart in the outer bull and one in the inner bull scores 75 (25 + 50).

Halving example: A player enters the Trebles round with a cumulative score of 142. All three darts miss every treble segment. The player's score is halved: 142 ÷ 2 = 71. Had that player entered with 143, the halved result would be 143 ÷ 2 = 71.5, rounded down to 71. Note that in the early rounds, when a player's cumulative score is 0, a halving penalty has no effect — half of zero is still zero.

Once all rounds in the target sequence have been completed, the player with the highest cumulative score wins the game. There is no checkout requirement and no further play after the final round.

In the event of a tie, players may agree before the game begins on a tiebreaker method — commonly a single sudden-death round targeting the inner bullseye, with the highest score from three darts determining the winner. If no tiebreaker was agreed upon, the tied players share the victory. For extended sessions, multiple games of Halve-It may be played, with overall results decided by total aggregate score or by counting individual game wins.

Custom Target Sequences: The target sequence is highly configurable and varies widely by region, venue, and player preference. Common additions to the standard sequence include specific doubles (e.g., double 16), specific trebles (e.g., treble 19), colour-based targets (hit any segment in a designated colour, such as black or white), and separate inner-bull or outer-bull rounds. Groups with beginners may use easier targets (large single segments), while advanced players may include narrower targets such as specific treble-double combinations.

Set Starting Score: Some groups begin each player at a predetermined score — commonly 40 — rather than zero. This means the halving penalty carries real consequences from the very first round, adding pressure from the outset.

Harsh Halve-It: In this punishing variant, a missed round does not halve the player's score but instead resets it to zero. This dramatically increases the stakes of every round and makes late-game misses catastrophic.

Bermuda Triangle / Half-It / Split: Halve-It is also known by the names Bermuda Triangle, Half-It, and Split in various regions. The core rules remain the same; differences are typically limited to the choice of target sequence.

Survive first, score second: The single most important principle in Halve-It is avoiding the halving penalty. Hitting at least one dart on target — even for a modest score — is far more valuable than gambling for maximum points and risking a total miss. A halved score in the later rounds, when totals are high, is devastating and nearly impossible to recover from.

Spread your risk on open rounds: During Doubles and Trebles rounds, where any double or treble qualifies, do not throw all three darts at the same segment. Spread your attempts across different doubles or trebles — for example, aim at double 16, then double 8, then double 20. This diversification significantly increases your probability of landing at least one valid hit.

Build aggressively in early numbered rounds: The first few rounds (e.g., 20 and 16) target large single segments that are relatively easy to hit. Maximize your scoring here — aim for the treble of the target number to build a substantial lead. A strong early total magnifies the value of every subsequent round and provides a cushion against a later halving.

Respect the Bull round: The Bull round is typically the final and most difficult target in the standard sequence. Practise bullseye throwing before playing competitively. Missing the Bull round when you have a high score is the most common way to lose a game you were otherwise winning — halving a score of 200 to 100 in the final round hands the game to a steadier opponent.

Watch the scoreboard and adjust your aggression: If you are trailing heading into a later round, you may need to throw for maximum value (e.g., treble 20 in a 20-round) to close the gap. Conversely, if you hold a comfortable lead, prioritise safe hits over high-risk targets. Situational awareness — knowing when to be aggressive and when to play conservatively — separates winning players from losing ones.