HORSE

Avoid spelling out the word H-O-R-S-E by successfully matching the target shots set by other players. Each time you fail to replicate a target, you receive the next letter in the sequence. The last player who has not fully spelled HORSE wins the game.

HORSE in darts borrows its core mechanic from the classic basketball schoolyard game of the same name: one player sets a challenge, and everyone else must match it or suffer a penalty. It is a test of versatility, precision, and tactical shot selection.

HORSE requires 2 or more players, a standard dartboard, and a set of three darts per player. On the scoreboard, write each player's name with space for 5 letter slots beside it, corresponding to the letters H-O-R-S-E.

To determine throwing order, each player throws one dart at the bullseye. The player whose dart lands closest to the inner bull throws first; remaining players are ordered by proximity. In the event of a tie, the tied players re-throw until the order is resolved.

No starting score is required. The scoreboard serves solely to track letters accumulated by each player. A clean board with no letters indicates a player who has successfully matched every target so far.

HORSE is played in a continuous rotation. On each turn, one player is either setting a target or matching a target, depending on the current state of play.

Setting a target: The first player of the game (or any player who has earned the right to set) throws up to three darts. The exact segment where a dart lands becomes the target that subsequent players must match. Targets are defined precisely by segment type:

• Small single – the thin inner wedge (e.g., S5 for small single 5)
• Large single – the wide outer wedge (e.g., S20 for large single 20)
• Double ring – the outer narrow ring (e.g., D16 for double 16)
• Triple ring – the inner narrow ring (e.g., T19 for triple 19)
• Outer bullseye – the 25 ring
• Inner bullseye – the 50 bull

Matching a target: The next player in rotation must hit the specified target segment using up to three darts. If the player fails to hit the target with any of their three darts, they receive the next letter in the sequence H-O-R-S-E. Play then passes to the following player, who must also attempt to match the same target.

If the player successfully matches the target, two outcomes are possible:

• If the target was matched with the first or second dart, the player may use their remaining dart(s) to set a new target. Only the last dart thrown counts as the new target for subsequent players.
• If the target was matched with the third dart, the player pulls all darts from the board and receives a fresh set of three darts to establish a new target.

This chain continues around the group. Whenever all players in rotation have attempted a target (or a new target has been set), play proceeds to the next challenger or setter accordingly.

Example of play: Player A throws and lands a dart in the triple 17 (T17). Player B must now hit T17. Player B misses with all three darts and receives the letter H. Player C also attempts T17, hits it with the second dart, and uses the third dart to set a new target — landing in double 8 (D8). Player D must now match D8.

HORSE does not use numerical point totals. The only tracked metric is the number of letters each player has accumulated. Each failed attempt to match a target results in the next letter being added in fixed order:

• 1st miss – H
• 2nd miss – O
• 3rd miss – R
• 4th miss – S
• 5th miss – E (elimination)

Successfully matching a target incurs no penalty. There is no bonus or reward for matching with fewer darts — the only advantage is having remaining darts available to set the next target on your own terms.

When a player accumulates all five letters and fully spells H-O-R-S-E, that player is immediately eliminated from the game. Eliminated players no longer throw and are skipped in the rotation.

The game continues until only one player remains. That last surviving player — the one who has not spelled HORSE — is declared the winner. In a two-player contest, the game ends the moment one player is eliminated. In larger groups, the rotation narrows as players are knocked out, and the final two players duel until one is eliminated.

PIG / CAT (3-letter variants): For a faster game, use a three-letter word instead of HORSE. Players are eliminated after only three failed matches, making each miss far more consequential. Ideal for large groups or time-limited sessions.

DART (4-letter variant): A thematic middle ground — four letters provide a slightly quicker game than HORSE while retaining more room for error than PIG or CAT.

Called Shot HORSE: In this stricter format, the target-setter must call out the specific segment they are aiming for before throwing. If they fail to hit the called segment, no target is set, and the turn passes without penalty to anyone. This variant rewards intentional accuracy over lucky landings.

Burma Road: An alternate name for HORSE used in some regions, particularly in British pub-darts tradition. The rules are functionally identical. Some Burma Road formats use lives (e.g., 5 lives) instead of spelling a word, making it closely related to the game Follow the Leader, which is considered the parent game of HORSE. The key distinction is that Follow the Leader traditionally uses a numeric life system, while HORSE uses the letter-spelling elimination mechanic borrowed from basketball.

Set targets in your comfort zone: When you earn the right to set a target, choose a segment you can hit reliably — such as triple 20 if that is your strongest treble — rather than a random difficult shot. The goal is to set something you practise often but your opponents may not.

Exploit the triple ring and inner bull: The most punishing targets to set are triple segments and the inner bullseye. These are the smallest areas on the board. A target of T19 or T17, for example, is far harder to replicate than S20 or the outer bull. Use these when you want to pressure opponents into earning letters.

Use all three darts wisely when matching: Even if you match the target with your first dart, think carefully about your next throw. You now control the new target — consider setting something easy (to maintain control) or something brutally difficult (to punish opponents on HORS who are one letter from elimination).

Apply pressure at four letters: A player sitting on H-O-R-S is one miss away from elimination. This is the ideal moment to set your most difficult target. The psychological weight of being on the brink often degrades accuracy, and a well-chosen triple or inner-bull target can close them out.

Diversify your practice: Unlike most dart games that reward mastery of the 20 segment and doubles, HORSE rewards versatility across the entire board. Practise hitting specific triples and doubles in all 20 segments — you never know what target your opponent will set, and the ability to match unusual segments like T3 or D17 can be the difference between survival and elimination.