Irish Black

Irish Black is a traditional Irish darts game played on a distinctive all-black board that follows the Yorkshire dartboard layout. The objective is to reduce a starting score to exactly zero, with the final dart landing in a double segment. Because the board lacks a treble ring and outer bull, scoring is more deliberate and accuracy on doubles is paramount.

Note: The exact original rules of Irish Black have not been definitively documented and are considered lost to history. The rules presented here are inferred from the board's design, which is identical to the Yorkshire dartboard, and from the broader traditions of regional British and Irish darts. Players should agree on house rules before beginning play.

Irish Black is played on the Black Irish dartboard (also known as the Irish Dartboard), an entirely black-surfaced board traditionally crafted from elm or poplar wood. The board follows the standard 1–20 number layout arranged in the conventional dartboard sequence. Its playing surface diameter is 13.25 inches, matching the Yorkshire board specification.

The board features only single segments, a double ring (the outer narrow band), and a centre bullseye. Crucially, there is no treble ring and no outer bull. The all-black face — with no contrasting colours between segments — is the defining visual characteristic that distinguishes the Irish Black board from other regional boards.

Players agree on a starting score before play begins — common totals include 301, 501, or 701. Each player's starting score is recorded on the scoreboard. To determine throwing order, each player throws a single dart at the bullseye; the dart closest to the centre earns the right to throw first.

Players take turns throwing three darts per visit. After each visit, the total of the three darts is subtracted from the player's remaining score. Play continues in alternating turns until one player reaches exactly zero.

The dartboard segments score as follows:

• Single segment: face value (1–20)
• Double ring (outer narrow band): 2× face value (2–40)
• Centre bullseye: 50 points
• There is no treble ring — the area where a treble would normally sit scores as a single.
• There is no outer bull — the centre of the board has only the single bullseye worth 50.

Bust rule: If a player's remaining score goes below zero, reaches exactly 1 (since no double can reduce 1 to zero), or reaches zero without the final dart being a double, the entire turn is void. The player's score reverts to what it was at the start of that turn. For example, if a player has 36 remaining and throws a single 20 (leaving 16), then a double 8 — that is a valid finish. However, if that same player with 36 remaining throws a single 20 and then a single 18 (totalling 38), the turn is bust and the score returns to 36.

Because the board's surface is entirely black with no colour differentiation between adjacent segments, identifying precise segment boundaries requires familiarity with the board. The wire framework (spider) separating segments is the sole visual guide. This characteristic makes accurate throwing more challenging than on a standard coloured board.

Scoring on the Irish Black board is based on the Yorkshire-style layout:

• Single: 1–20 points (face value of the segment)
• Double: 2–40 points (2× the segment number)
• Bullseye: 50 points (the only bull on the board; counts as a double for checkout purposes)

The maximum score per dart is 50 (the bullseye), and the maximum score per visit (three darts) is 150 — three bullseyes. This is significantly lower than the 180 maximum on a standard board with trebles. For example, hitting three single 20s in a visit scores 60, while hitting double 20, single 20, and the bullseye scores 40 + 20 + 50 = 110.

Because there are no treble segments, players rely more heavily on consistent singles scoring and strategic use of the double ring and bullseye to accumulate points efficiently.

The first player to reduce their score to exactly zero wins the leg. The final dart must land in a double segment or the centre bullseye. The highest possible checkout is 150 (bullseye, bullseye, bullseye — where the final bullseye serves as a double), though this requires a remaining score of exactly 150 and three perfect darts.

In match play, players may compete over multiple legs (e.g., best of 3 or best of 5 legs). Specific match formats would have been determined by local Irish league rules. Players should agree on the match format before play begins.

Irish Black is itself a regional variant of the broader Yorkshire dartboard tradition. The board's design is functionally identical to the Yorkshire board; its distinguishing feature is the entirely black playing surface, as opposed to the coloured segments found on standard Yorkshire boards.

Variable starting totals: The game may be played with different starting scores — 301, 501, or 701 — depending on the desired length of play and local custom. Shorter games such as 301 are more common in casual settings, while 501 is standard for competitive play.

Around the Clock: The Irish Black board may also have been used for simpler games such as Around the Clock, where players must hit each number from 1 to 20 in sequence. The all-black surface adds considerable difficulty to this otherwise straightforward game.

Double-in variant: Some regional traditions may have required a double to begin scoring (double-in), in addition to the double required to finish. Players should clarify this rule before the match.

Master the wire framework: With no colour contrast between segments, the wire spider is your only guide to segment boundaries. Spend time familiarising yourself with the board's layout before competitive play — knowing exactly where one segment ends and another begins is essential on an all-black surface.

Prioritise the bullseye: At 50 points, the centre bullseye is the highest-value target on the board — equivalent to what treble 17 would score on a standard board. On a treble-less board, the bull becomes disproportionately important for efficient scoring. Three bulls (150) is the maximum visit, so practise hitting the centre consistently.

Plan your doubles early: Without trebles to accelerate your scoring, you will spend more turns approaching checkout range. Begin planning your double finish earlier than you would on a standard board. Favour leaving yourself on even numbers that provide a clean double — for instance, double 16 (32 remaining) is forgiving because a miss into single 16 leaves double 8, and a further miss leaves double 4.

Consistent singles over risky doubles during scoring: While the double ring offers higher per-dart scores (e.g., double 20 = 40), missing a double into the outer board scores nothing. During the scoring phase, steady single 20s (60 per visit) will outperform erratic attempts at doubles. Save your double precision for the checkout.

Adjust your expectations on pace: Games on the Irish Black board take longer than on a standard board due to the absence of trebles. A strong three-dart visit on this board is 100+, not 140+. Patience and consistency win matches — avoid forcing high-risk shots out of frustration with the slower pace.