Norfolk Board Game

Be the first player to score exactly 31 points by throwing darts at a small concentric target board. The Norfolk Board Game is a simple accumulation race in which players add to a running total, aiming to land precisely on the target score without exceeding it.

The Norfolk Board Game is played on the Norfolk dartboard (also called the Norfolk Target), a distinctive concentric-ring board only 10 inches in diameter — far smaller than a standard dartboard. Historically crafted from elm wood, the board required regular soaking in water to prevent the wood from drying out, splitting, and to allow dart holes to heal closed between sessions.

The board consists of three concentric scoring zones:

• Inner bullseye (centre): 1 inch in diameter
• Outer bullseye ring: 2 inches in diameter
• Third (outer) ring: 6 inches in diameter

Each player begins with a score of 0. Determine throwing order by agreement or by each player throwing a single dart at the board — closest to the centre throws first. A scoreboard should list each player's running total, starting at zero and building toward 31. Note that this board is no longer manufactured; it was used in parts of Norfolk, England, until the 1940s and was documented by Arthur Taylor in his book Pub Games.

Players take turns throwing darts at the concentric target. On each visit, a player throws their allotted darts and the combined score is added to their running total.

Scoring zones are as follows — note the counterintuitive values, which are a hallmark of this game:

• Inner bullseye (centre, 1-inch circle) = 2 points
• Outer bullseye ring (2-inch ring surrounding the centre) = 3 points
• Third/outer ring (6-inch outermost ring) = 1 point
• Any dart landing outside all three rings = 0 points

A player's running total accumulates from visit to visit. The target is to reach exactly 31. If a player's darts during a turn would cause their total to exceed 31, it is treated as a bust: the entire turn is void and the player's score reverts to what it was at the start of that turn. For example, if a player stands on 30 and hits the outer bullseye ring (3 points), that would bring the total to 33 — a bust. The score returns to 30, and the player must wait until their next turn to attempt to finish.

Because only three point values are in play (1, 2, and 3), a player on 30 must hit the outer ring (1 point) to finish. A player on 29 must hit the inner bullseye (2 points), and a player on 28 must hit the outer bullseye ring (3 points). Managing this final approach is the key tactical element of the game.

Points are tallied as a simple running total, starting at zero and building toward 31. The scoring zones on the Norfolk board award the following values:

• Outer bullseye ring (3 points): The highest-scoring zone despite not being the centre. If a player hits this ring three times in a single visit, that scores 9 points.
• Inner bullseye (2 points): The smallest and most difficult target, yet it awards fewer points than the ring surrounding it.
• Outer ring (1 point): The largest target area on the board, but the lowest-scoring zone.
• Off the board (0 points): Darts that miss all three rings score nothing.

For example, if a player hits the outer bullseye ring twice (6 points) and the outer ring once (1 point) in a single visit, that turn scores 7 points. If their running total was 18, it advances to 25.

The first player to reach a running total of exactly 31 points wins the game. A player whose turn would push their total beyond 31 has busted; their score for that turn is wiped and reverts to its pre-turn value. There is no requirement for the winning dart to land in a specific ring — any scoring zone is valid provided it brings the total to precisely 31.

Because the Norfolk Board Game was a pub pastime rather than a formally governed competition, no standardised match or tiebreak format has been documented. Games were typically played as single-leg contests, with the loser yielding the board to the next challenger.

Variable target score: While 31 is the documented standard, the target score is believed to have varied from pub to pub across Norfolk. Some establishments may have played to a higher or lower total, adjusting the length of the game to suit the preferences of their regulars.

The Norfolk Board Game itself is a regional variant unique to Norfolk, England. Its concentric-ring design resembles an archery target more than any standard numbered dartboard, placing it in a distinct family of regional dart games that once flourished across the British Isles before the London "clock" board became dominant in the twentieth century.

Target the 3-point ring relentlessly: The outer bullseye ring awards 3 points per dart — the highest value on the board. Consistently hitting this zone is the fastest path to 31. Three successful darts per visit at 3 points each yields 9 points, meaning a player could theoretically reach 27 in just three visits and then close out the game.

Understand the counterintuitive scoring: Unlike virtually every other dartboard, the dead centre is not the highest-scoring zone. The inner bullseye scores only 2 points while the ring surrounding it scores 3. Resist the instinct to aim for the very centre; doing so is both harder and less rewarding.

Plan your approach to 31: As your total climbs into the high 20s, consider which zone you need to finish. From 28, you need the 3-point ring. From 29, you need the 2-point inner bull. From 30, you need the 1-point outer ring. Aim to leave yourself on 28 (needing the ring you have been targeting all game) rather than 30 (needing the outer ring, which is a different aiming point).

Respect the small board: At only 10 inches across, the Norfolk target is roughly one-third the diameter of a standard dartboard. Missing the board entirely — and scoring nothing — is far more common. Develop a smooth, controlled throw to cope with the reduced target area; power and speed are less important than precision at this scale.