Shanghai

Score the most points across a series of rounds by hitting only the designated target number for each round — round 1 targets the 1 segment, round 2 targets the 2 segment, and so on through the final round. Alternatively, a player may win instantly at any point in the game by hitting a Shanghai: the single, double, and triple of the target number all within a single three-dart turn.

Players: Two or more. Shanghai is well suited to larger groups and is a popular choice for social and tournament warm-up play.

Equipment: A standard bristle dartboard and three darts per player. Prepare a scoreboard with a column for each player and a row for each round (1–20 for a full game). Determine throwing order by having each player throw one dart at the bullseye; the closest to the inner bull throws first, with the remaining order proceeding outward. In casual play, any agreed-upon method (coin toss, high score on a single dart) is acceptable.

Before play begins, agree on the number of rounds: a full game covers rounds 1–20, though shorter formats (rounds 1–7 or 1–10) are common. The chosen format should be recorded on the scoreboard and announced to all players.

The game proceeds through a fixed sequence of rounds corresponding to the numbers on the dartboard. In round 1, the target number is 1; in round 2, the target number is 2; and so on through the final agreed-upon round. Each player throws three darts per turn during each round.

Only darts that land in the target number's segments score points. Any dart landing in any other number — including the bullseye — scores zero for that throw. The single, double, and triple segments of the target number are all valid scoring areas. Once all players have thrown their three darts in a given round, play advances to the next round.

Shanghai (Instant Win): If a player hits the single, double, and triple of the current target number within a single three-dart turn — in any order — that player achieves a Shanghai and wins the game immediately, regardless of the current scores. For example, in round 14 a player who lands one dart in the single 14, one in the double 14, and one in the triple 14 has hit a Shanghai and the game ends at once. The order in which the three segments are hit does not matter.

There are no bust or penalty rules in standard Shanghai. A turn in which no darts hit the target number simply records a score of zero for that round.

Scoring follows standard dartboard values, but only darts landing in the current round's target number count. All other darts score zero.

• Single segment of the target number = face value
• Double segment (outer narrow ring) of the target number = 2× face value
• Triple segment (inner narrow ring) of the target number = 3× face value

Because the face value of the target number increases each round, later rounds are worth dramatically more. In round 1, the maximum possible score is 6 (single 1 + double 1 + triple 1 = 1 + 2 + 3). In round 20, the maximum possible score is 120 (single 20 + double 20 + triple 20 = 20 + 40 + 60). Three triples in a single round yield the highest pure-point score for that round — for example, three triple-18s in round 18 score 162 points (54 × 3).

Each round's score is recorded individually and added to the player's cumulative total. The running total should be clearly visible on the scoreboard so all players can track the standings throughout the game.

There are two ways to win a game of Shanghai:

• Shanghai (instant win): A player who hits the single, double, and triple of the target number in a single turn wins the game immediately. If two or more players achieve a Shanghai in the same round, the first player in the throwing order who accomplished the feat is the winner.
• Highest cumulative score: If no Shanghai is achieved during the game, the player with the highest total score after all rounds have been completed wins.

In the event that two or more players are tied on the highest cumulative score after the final round and no Shanghai has occurred, a tiebreak round may be played. The tiebreak round uses the final target number of the game (e.g., number 20 in a full game), and the tied players each throw three darts at that number. The highest score in the tiebreak round wins. Additional tiebreak rounds are repeated until the tie is broken.

Short Shanghai (Rounds 1–7): The game covers only rounds 1 through 7. This format plays quickly and is ideal for large groups or time-limited sessions. Because the target numbers are low, the Shanghai instant-win rule is particularly important, as cumulative score differences tend to be small.

Medium Shanghai (Rounds 1–10): A middle-ground format covering rounds 1 through 10, balancing game length with meaningful score differentiation in the later rounds.

Full Shanghai (Rounds 1–20): The complete format using all twenty numbers on the board. This is the standard competitive version and produces the widest range of scores, with the final rounds carrying enormous point value.

Elimination Shanghai: An additional rule is layered on top of any of the above formats: any player who fails to score any points in a round (i.e., all three darts miss the target number) is eliminated from the game. Play continues until only one player remains or until the final round is completed, at which point the surviving player with the highest score wins. This variant increases pressure significantly in the early, low-value rounds where the small segments of numbers like 1, 2, and 3 are difficult to hit consistently.

Prioritize the triple first: When throwing your three darts in a round, aim for the triple segment with your first dart. If you hit it, you can then pivot your focus to the double segment with your second dart — putting yourself one single away from a Shanghai instant win. This sequence maximizes both your scoring potential and your chance of achieving a Shanghai.

Hunt for Shanghai in early rounds: The single, double, and triple segments of lower numbers (1–5) are physically close together on the board, making a Shanghai more achievable than on higher numbers. Actively pursue the instant win in these rounds rather than settling for safe singles, because the point values are too low to build a meaningful lead through scoring alone.

Shift to consistent scoring in later rounds: From round 13 onward, each single hit is worth 13 or more points, and a triple can be worth 39–60 points. In these high-value rounds, a conservative strategy of landing reliable singles often outscores aggressive triple attempts that result in misses. Three single 18s (54 points) are far more valuable than one lucky triple 18 and two misses (also 54) — but three misses yield zero.

Track the scoreboard and adapt: If you are trailing entering the final few rounds, you must take risks — aim for triples and attempt a Shanghai. If you are leading, steady singles on the target number protect your advantage. Always know the gap between your score and your nearest rival before stepping to the oche.

Practice the awkward numbers: Numbers like 1, 2, 3, 5, and the segments positioned between the triple and double rings are rarely practiced in standard games like 501. Dedicate practice time to finding these small segments so that the early rounds of Shanghai do not become wasted turns.