Lawn Darts (Indoor)

Be the first player or team to score exactly 21 points by throwing darts at ring-shaped targets on a standard dartboard. This indoor adaptation of the classic lawn dart (Jarts) game translates the outdoor ring-toss concept into a pub-friendly format, awarding points for landing darts inside designated target rings and using cancellation scoring between opponents.

Lawn Darts (Indoor) is played on a standard dartboard using standard darts. The game accommodates 1v1 (singles) or 2v2 (doubles) formats. Each player (or each side in doubles) throws 2 darts per round rather than the usual three.

Designate the bullseye area (inner bull and outer bull) as the primary target ring — this serves as the indoor equivalent of the ground ring used in outdoor lawn darts. To determine throwing order, each player throws one dart at the bullseye; the closest dart earns first throw. The scoreboard should list each player or team starting at 0, with the target score of 21 clearly noted.

Players alternate rounds, each throwing 2 darts per turn at the bullseye ring on the dartboard. After both sides have thrown their darts in a round, points are tallied using cancellation scoring — opposing points offset each other, and only the net difference is awarded to the leading side for that round.

• Ringer: A dart that lands in the inner bullseye (the centre circle) counts as a ringer and scores 3 points.
• Closest dart: Under Handly Cup rules, if no ringer is scored, the dart closest to the bullseye (e.g., landing in the outer bull or nearest single segment) scores 1 point — provided it is closer than any of the opponent's darts.

Cancellation scoring explained: Points scored by one side cancel out equal points scored by the other. For example, if Player A lands one ringer (3 points) and Player B also lands one ringer (3 points), the points cancel and neither player scores that round. If Player A scores 3 points (one ringer) and Player B scores 1 point (closest dart, no ringer), the net result is 2 points awarded to Player A.

Bust rule: A player or team must reach exactly 21. If a round's net score would push a player's total beyond 21, that round's points are void and the score reverts to what it was before the round began. For example, if you are sitting on 20 points and score a net ringer (3 points), that would bring you to 23 — a bust. Your score remains at 20.

Points are calculated at the end of each round after both sides have thrown, using cancellation scoring:

• Ringer (inner bullseye): 3 points
• Closest dart to the bullseye (no ringer): 1 point (Handly Cup rules)

Only the side with the higher raw score in a given round receives points, and only the net difference is added. For example, if Team A scores two ringers (6 points) and Team B scores one ringer (3 points), Team A is awarded 3 net points (6 – 3 = 3). If both teams score identically, no points are awarded that round.

Under Standard rules (ringers only), only darts landing in the inner bullseye score. Under Handly Cup rules, the closest-dart bonus of 1 point is also available when neither side records a ringer, adding an additional layer of scoring opportunity.

The first player or team to reach exactly 21 points wins the game. Because cancellation scoring is used, both sides cannot gain points in the same round — only the net leader scores. If a round's net points would cause a player's total to exceed 21, the round is void (bust) and that player's score does not change.

In casual or tournament settings, matches may be played as a single game to 21 or as a best-of series (e.g., best of 3 games). Agree on format before play begins.

Standard (Ringers Only): Only darts that land in the inner bullseye (ringers) count for points. No proximity bonus is awarded. This produces a slower-paced game with fewer scoring rounds.

Handly Cup: In addition to ringers, the closest dart to the bullseye earns 1 point when no ringer is scored that round. This is the more common competitive format and keeps rounds from going scoreless as often.

Outdoor Lawn Darts (Jarts): The original parent game, played outdoors with large, weighted darts tossed underhand in a high arc toward plastic ground rings placed approximately 35 feet apart. The original oversized metal-tipped Jarts were banned in several countries due to safety concerns. Modern outdoor versions use soft-tipped designs. The indoor dartboard adaptation described here preserves the cancellation-scoring and ringer-based mechanics of the outdoor game in a safe, compact format.

Prioritize the inner bull: A ringer is worth 3 points — three times the value of a closest-dart point. Consistent bullseye practice is the single most valuable skill in this game. Two ringers in one round can yield up to 6 raw points before cancellation.

Play defensively near 21: Because you must hit exactly 21, be mindful of your current total before each round. If you sit on 19, you need exactly 2 net points — plan accordingly. Scoring a ringer (3 net) from 19 would bust, so aiming for the outer bull (closest-dart territory) may be the smarter play.

Use cancellation to your advantage: If your opponent has landed a ringer, your priority shifts to matching it so the points cancel out. A defensive ringer that zeroes out the round can be just as valuable as a scoring one.

Practice the two-dart rhythm: Unlike standard darts games that use three darts per visit, Lawn Darts (Indoor) uses only two. Adjust your warm-up routine to focus on two-dart groupings at the bullseye rather than three-dart visits.

Know the math at every score: With a maximum realistic net gain of 6 points per round (two ringers vs. zero), games can swing quickly. Keep a mental map of how many rounds you need to close out — from 15 points, for instance, you need at minimum two strong rounds to reach 21.