Shoot Out

Score the highest cumulative point total by strategically hitting open segments on the board, using a multiplication system where your hit count each round is multiplied by the number of open areas remaining. The game rewards careful planning: hitting low-value segments early when the multiplier is low, and saving high-value segments for later rounds when the multiplier climbs — a dramatic inversion of conventional darts strategy.

Shoot Out is designed for use on a DARTSLIVE electronic dartboard and supports 1–4 players in singles (or 2–8 players in doubles). Each player requires three darts and access to the electronic scoring system.

At the start of the game, all numbered segments on the board are designated as open. The electronic display will track which areas remain open and each player's cumulative score. Determine throwing order by any agreed method — typically each player throws one dart at the bullseye, with the closest dart earning first throw.

Players take turns throwing three darts per visit. On each turn, the machine (or scorekeeper) counts how many open segments the player successfully hits. That hit count is then multiplied by the total number of open areas still remaining on the board at the time of the throw, producing the player's score for that round.

Closing segments: Each numbered segment may only be hit and scored once during the entire game. Once a player hits an open segment, that segment is closed for all players — it can no longer be scored on by anyone. As the game progresses, the pool of open areas shrinks, which changes the strategic landscape round by round.

Key mechanic — escalating multipliers: Because the multiplication factor is determined by the number of open areas, the value of each hit changes as the game unfolds. Early in the game, when many areas are open, each hit carries a high multiplier but the board is crowded with available targets. Later, fewer open areas remain, but the rarity of a successful hit on an open segment can still produce meaningful points — or dramatically lower ones, depending on timing and strategy.

If a dart lands in a segment that has already been closed, that dart scores nothing — it does not count as a hit for multiplication purposes. Only darts landing in segments still designated as open contribute to the round's hit count.

The scoring formula for each round is:

• Round Score = (Number of Hits on Open Segments) × (Number of Open Areas Remaining)

Each player's round scores are added to a running cumulative total. Consider the following examples:

• Early-game example: There are 20 open areas on the board. You throw three darts and successfully hit 2 open segments. Your round score is 2 × 20 = 40 points.
• Mid-game example: There are 10 open areas remaining. You hit 3 open segments. Your round score is 3 × 10 = 30 points.
• Late-game example: Only 3 open areas remain. You hit 1 open segment. Your round score is 1 × 3 = 3 points.

Note that the multiplier is determined by how many areas are open at the time of your throw. Segments you close during your own turn reduce the open count for subsequent players. The DARTSLIVE machine handles all calculations automatically; for manual scoring, carefully track which segments are still open and update the count after every turn.

The game continues until all open segments have been closed or no further scoring is possible. The player with the highest cumulative point total at the end of the game is declared the winner.

In the event of a tie, players should agree on a tiebreak method before play begins — a common approach is a single sudden-death round where each tied player throws three darts at any remaining open segments (if available) or at the bullseye for closest-to-center resolution.

Shootout (alternate spelling): The same game is frequently listed as "Shootout" or DartsLive Shoot Out on various electronic dartboard platforms. Rules are identical; only the display branding differs.

No other widely recognized rule variations of Shoot Out have been documented. The game is specific to the DARTSLIVE electronic platform and is played under a single standard rule set.

Hit low-value segments first: In the early rounds, when many areas are open and the multiplier is naturally high, aim for low-value or easy-to-hit segments. You receive the same multiplier regardless of which number you close, so there is no reason to waste premium targets like 20, 19, or 18 when the open count is large.

Save high-value targets for later — but not too late: The strategic heart of Shoot Out is timing. While the instinct is to save the best segments for a massive late-game payoff, remember that the multiplier decreases as areas close. The ideal window is the mid-game, when the open count is still meaningful but you have already cleared the easy, low-value segments.

Watch your opponents' targets: Because closed segments are closed for everyone, pay attention to which numbers your opponents are likely to target. If an opponent is about to close a segment you planned to hit, consider adjusting your strategy to hit it first — or pivot to a different open area entirely.

Maximize hits per round, not dart accuracy: Unlike most dart games where hitting a single high-scoring segment matters most, Shoot Out rewards volume. Landing all three darts in open segments is far more valuable than landing one dart in a difficult target. Prioritize segments you can hit reliably to ensure a high hit count each round.

Think in reverse: Shoot Out inverts standard darts logic. Train yourself to view the board from the bottom up — 1, 2, 3 become your early-round friends, while 20, 19, 18 are prizes to be claimed at the right moment. This mental shift is the single most important adjustment for players coming from 501 or Cricket.