Dart Game Encyclopedia
Showing 135 of 157 dart game variants with rules, scoring, and strategy
301
Players start at 301 and subtract scores each turn, finishing on a double. Fast format ideal for beginners or quick multi-leg matches.
501
The standard competition game used in PDC World Championship and all major tournaments. Players count down from 501, finishing on a double.
701
Longer X01 format traditionally used for doubles (pairs) play in leagues and team competitions.
901
Marathon X01 format where endurance and scoring consistency are critical. Popular in team events.
1001
Extended X01 format favored by advanced players for training or team competitions.
1101
Rare X01 variant found primarily on electronic dartboard systems.
1501
Longest standard X01 variant, reserved for expert-level team formats and marathon events.
Standard Cricket
Close numbers 20-15 and bullseye by hitting each three times. Score points on closed numbers opponents haven't closed. The most popular game in North American bars.
No-Score Cricket
Race to close all seven cricket targets without any point scoring. Pure speed variant.
Cut-Throat Cricket
Points scored on open numbers are added to opponents' totals. Lowest score wins. Best cricket variant for 3+ players.
English Cricket
One player bats (scores runs above 40), the other bowls (takes wickets via bullseye). Roles reverse after all wickets fall.
Tactics
UK version of cricket adding doubles and trebles as separate closing objectives alongside 20-15 and bullseye.
Slop Tactics
Relaxed Tactics where all doubles and trebles count toward closing, not just those from the target numbers.
Scram Cricket
One player scores on cricket numbers while the other tries to close them. Roles reverse after one round.
Random Cricket
Six randomly selected numbers plus bullseye replace the standard 20-15 targets.
Hidden Cricket
Target numbers are hidden at start. Players discover which numbers are in play by hitting them. Popular on electronic boards.
Select-A-Cricket
Players choose their own target numbers before the game begins, adding a strategic draft element.
All Numbers Cricket
Every number 1-20 plus bullseye must be closed. Marathon cricket variant requiring full board proficiency.
Wild Cricket
Standard cricket plus an additional random wild number from 1-14 that any player can score on.
Killer Cricket
Additional hits on already-closed numbers remove marks from opponents. More aggressive than standard cricket.
Low-Pitch Cricket
Uses numbers 1-6 and bullseye instead of standard 20-15, testing accuracy on the lower board.
Spanish Cricket
Targets include numbers 11-20 plus bullseye (11 numbers to close), requiring broader board coverage.
Minnesota Cricket
Standard cricket plus doubles, trebles, and three-in-a-bed as separate closing categories.
Double-Only Cricket
Only darts in the double ring count as marks. Extreme doubles accuracy test.
Single-Only Cricket
Every dart in the target number counts as exactly one mark regardless of segment. Great for beginners.
Reverse Cricket
Start at 15 and work up to 20, then bullseye. Reverses the standard cricket order.
Mickey Mouse
Close numbers 20-12 plus any three doubles, trebles, and bullseye. No points scored — pure race to close.
Cricket Count-Up
Practice variant — accumulate points on cricket numbers (15-20 + bull) over set rounds.
Shanghai
Progress through numbers 1-20, scoring only on that round's number. Instant win by hitting single, double, and treble in one turn (a Shanghai).
Around the Clock
Hit each number 1-20 in sequential order then bullseye. The most fundamental dartboard game.
180 Around the Clock
Three darts at each number 1-20. Singles count as 1, doubles as 2, trebles as 3. Named after the maximum 180 score.
Chase the Dragon
Hit trebles 10-20 in sequence, then outer bull and inner bullseye. 13 targets of increasing difficulty.
Killer
Throw with non-dominant hand to pick your number. Hit your own double to become a Killer, then target opponents' doubles to eliminate them.
Blind Killer
Secret number assignment — nobody knows who owns which number. Social deduction meets darts.
Gotcha
Count up to 301. Match an opponent's exact score to reset them to zero. Strategic targeting meets scoring.
Knockout
Beat the previous player's score or get a mark. Accumulate three marks and you're out. Last player standing wins.
Sudden Death
Lowest scorer each round is immediately eliminated. Brutal and fast group elimination.
Nine Lives
Progress through numbers 1-20. Miss the target number with all three darts and lose a life. Three lives total.
Follow the Leader
First player sets a target segment, all others must match it or lose a life. Leader rotates each round.
Halve-It
Hit predetermined targets each round. Miss all three darts and your entire score is halved. High-stakes accumulation game.
Count-Up
Accumulate the highest score over 8 rounds. Perfect game = 1,440. The simplest scoring benchmark.
Hare and Hounds
Asymmetric chase game around the board. Hare starts on 20, Hound on 5. Hare wins by completing a lap, Hound wins by catching up.
Fives
Three-dart total must be divisible by 5 to score. Score equals the total divided by 5. First to 50 wins.
Fifty-One by Fives
First to exactly 51 'fives.' Three-dart total must be divisible by 5. All three darts must score on the final turn.
Legs
Beat the previous player's score or lose a leg. Last player standing wins.
Ho No!
Race to target score. Matching an opponent's exact total resets you to zero.
Overs
Must score higher than your own previous turn each round. Fail to beat your score and lose a life.
Unders
Must score lower than your own previous turn each round. Fail and lose a life.
Loop
Follow-the-leader using wire numbering system loops. Target the loops in printed numbers like 0, 4, 6, 8, 9.
Double Down
Targets in fixed sequence: 15, 16, any double, 17, 18, any treble, 19, 20, bull. Miss all three in a round and score is halved.
Poker Darts
Build poker hands from dartboard hits. Pairs, straights, flushes, and full houses all count. Best hand wins.
HORSE
Like basketball HORSE. First player sets a target shot, next must match it exactly or earn a letter. Spell HORSE and you're out.
Three in a Bed
Only score when all three darts land in the same numbered segment. Tests grouping accuracy.
Shove Ha'penny
Based on the traditional British pub game. Hit beds 1-9 three times each. Excess hits are gifted to your opponent.
Scram
One player closes numbers (Stopper), the other accumulates points on open numbers (Scorer). Roles swap for round two.
Blackjack Darts
Score exactly 21 without going over. Blackjack (21 in two darts) beats a plain 21.
Survivor
Low scorers pushed toward the edge each round. Fall off the virtual platform and you're eliminated.
High and Low
Must beat or undercut the previous score depending on the current phase. Simple but engaging.
Big 6
Match the target set by the previous player or lose a life. Miss all three darts and you're penalized.
Forty-One
Score exactly 41 each round using only your assigned number. Strategic number selection is key.
Brag
Wagering variant of Shanghai with bluffing and prediction elements. Part darts, part card game.
Baseball Darts
Nine innings targeting the corresponding number each inning. Singles = 1 run, doubles = 2, trebles = 3.
Bullseye Baseball
Baseball variant where you must hit bullseye each inning before runs count.
Football Darts
Hit bullseye for possession, score goals via doubles. First to 10 goals wins.
Snooker Darts
Follows snooker rules. Numbers 1-15 are reds, 16-20 and bull are colors. Alternate potting reds and colors.
Tennis Darts
Full tennis scoring with service games, sets, and tiebreaks on the dartboard.
Bowls Darts
Modeled on lawn bowls. Set a target (jack), then throw to get closest. Nearest to jack scores.
Bowling Darts
Simulates ten-pin bowling on a dartboard. Strikes and spares scored like real bowling. Max 300.
Noughts and Crosses
3x3 grid on scoreboard mapped to dartboard segments. Claim squares by hitting their target. Three in a row wins.
Battleship Darts
Secretly place fleet on dartboard segments. Throw darts to locate and sink opponent's ships. Strategic guessing game.
Warfare
Board split into two armies. Hit opponent's numbers to eliminate their soldiers. Last army standing wins.
Grand National
Horse race themed. Race anticlockwise twice around the board with hurdles at certain numbers. Handicaps can be applied.
Prisoner
Go around the clock but missed darts stay as prisoners. Opponents can capture your prisoner darts for extra throws.
Castle
Build a 15-block castle on your number while knocking down opponents' castles. Defense and offense combined.
Mulligan
Six random numbers drawn. Each must be hit three times in order, finishing with bullseye. Only trebles count for scoring.
Indy 500
Car racing themed game with laps around the board and pit stops. Complete required laps to win.
Steeplechase
Race clockwise around the board. Certain segments are fences requiring treble hits to clear.
Bingo Darts
Complete lines on a bingo-style grid by hitting mapped dartboard segments. First to complete a line wins.
Roulette Darts
Dartboard used as a roulette wheel. Place bets on segments, throw to determine payouts.
Aces
Tennis-style service game. Bullseye counts as an ace. Complex scoring system mirrors tennis matches.
Bob's 27
The gold standard doubles practice game. Start at 27, cycle through D1-D20 then bullseye. Hits add double value, misses subtract it.
JDC Challenge
Official Junior Darts Corporation grading routine. Shanghai 10-15, doubles 1-20 + bull, Shanghai 15-20. Scores earn grades A-F.
100 Darts at a Target
Throw 100 darts at a chosen target and track hits and total score. The fundamental accuracy benchmark.
A1 Routine
Hit numbers 20-13 plus bull, five times each. Track hit/miss ratio for comprehensive board coverage assessment.
Doubles Around the World
Hit D1-D20 then double bull in sequence with 3 darts per turn. Essential doubles proficiency drill.
Priestley Trebles
3 darts at each treble T10-T20. Maximum score of 33. Named after two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley.
167
1 dart at T20, T19, Bull per round over 10 rounds. Trains the critical target-switching skill used in match play.
Frustration
Score 80+ with first two darts, then hit the target double D1-D20 and bull with the third. One of the hardest routines in darts.
420
Start at 420 and count down by hitting doubles D1-D20. All twenty doubles sum exactly to 420.
Catch 40
Check out scores 61-100 in maximum 6 darts each. 2-dart finish = 3 pts, 3-dart = 2 pts, 4-6 = 1 pt. Target: 40 points.
Hubbe
Practice checkouts from 101-130 with 3 darts each. Trains the critical high-finish range.
Levels
Progressive difficulty system. Success advances you to harder targets, failure drops you back. Self-adjusting difficulty.
PAW
3 darts at each number 1-20. Singles = 1, doubles = 2, trebles = 3. Maximum 9 per number, 180 total.
Checkouts Practice
Practice the key checkout doubles: 40, 36, 32, 28, 24, 20, 16, 12, 8, 4, 2. Essential match-play finishing.
201 Challenge
Finish 201 in the fewest darts possible with double-out. Quick scoring efficiency benchmark.
Crown Judgement
Monthly assessment covering 5 parts: doubles, trebles, checkouts, power scoring, and Shanghai. Comprehensive skills audit.
121
Take out scores from 121 upward in max 9 darts. Popular professional training game for high checkouts.
Mikko's Megatrain
The ultimate multi-skill training routine covering scoring, doubles, and checkouts. Beginner to advanced difficulty modes.
Speed 501
501 against a timer. Target benchmarks: 24 darts for beginners, 16 darts for advanced players.
T20 Drill
Throw 30-100 darts at T20 and track hit percentage. The most fundamental scoring drill in darts.
Bullseye Drill
Throw 30 darts at bullseye and track hit percentage. Essential for checkout finishing skills.
Finishing Pyramid
Checkouts from 60 to 170 in 10-point increments, 3 darts each. Progressive checkout difficulty.
170 Practice
Practice the maximum checkout: T20, T20, Bull (170) within limited darts. The ultimate finishing challenge.
Shanghai Masters
Score a full Shanghai (single + double + treble) for each number 20-15. Tests complete segment mastery.
Bull 500
Must hit bull first dart before scoring on 20 (or 19) with remaining darts. First to 500 points.
1001 Battle
Full leg of 1001 finishing on a double. An endurance test for scoring consistency and mental stamina.
Doubles Lock
D20 to D1. Hit double to advance. Bonus: 2 hits = 50 extra, 3 hits = 100 extra. Doubles mastery drill.
Checkout Challenge
Start at 21. Finish in 3 darts to increase by 10, miss to decrease by 1. Adaptive checkout training.
SwitchBlade
Short daily practice routine with one dart at rotating targets. Quick 5-minute daily maintenance drill.
Streak
Build consecutive hit streaks on target. Longer streak = higher score. Trains mental consistency under pressure.
Doubles Snakes and Ladders
Doubles D1 to bull ascending. Miss all 3 darts at a double and drop back one level. Progressive doubles challenge.
Scoring Challenge
Set scoring thresholds (60+ or 100+ per visit) and track hit rate. Simple power scoring benchmark.
Master 501
10 legs determine starting level. Advance by winning best-of legs versus a virtual opponent based on your average.
DOLF
Golf-like dart game using all 20 segments as holes. Invented September 1, 1999 by Keith and Mike Meyer. Regulated by the World Dolf Federation (WDFF).
Golf Darts
Generic golf-darts format with 9 or 18 holes. Double ring = 1 stroke, treble = 2, miss = 5. Lowest total wins.
Sevens Heaven
DartsLive game. Score only counts if your three-dart total contains the digit 7. Misses go to a shared pool.
Big Bull
Everything inside the treble ring counts as bullseye (50 pts). Inner bull = Super Bull worth 70. Simplified scoring.
Under the Hat
DartsLive game. Pile hats via high scores. Miss your target and lose all stacked hats. Risk-reward mechanic.
Multiple Count-Up
DartsLive game where your 2nd dart scores double and 3rd dart scores triple. Rewards accuracy on later darts.
Castle Bomber
DartsLive3 game. Destroy opponent's castle walls and king. Strategic target selection combined with accuracy.
Lucky Balloon
Points inflate your balloon. Pop it and you're eliminated. Strategic — sometimes you want to miss.
Yum Yum
DartsLive party game featuring multiple mini-games with penalties for poor performance.
Shoot Out
Scores multiplied by open segment areas each round. Dramatic comebacks possible with escalating multipliers.
Shoot Force
8 rounds where each number scores only once. Double multiplier for consecutive segment hits.
Eagle's Eye
Bullseye-only game. Outer bull = 25, inner bull = 50. Pure bull accuracy competition.
Beer Darts
Drinking/party game where hitting certain zones means opponents drink. The classic bar dart game.
Light Connection
DartsLive3 2026 game. Connect dart spots to extend a line across the board. Visual and strategic.
Up Down Count-Up
Alternating plus/minus rounds. Sometimes you want high scores, sometimes you want to miss. Mind-bending strategy.
Nine Dart Century
Score exactly 100 using 9 darts. A puzzle-like challenge requiring precise shot planning.
Lawn Darts (Indoor)
Indoor adaptation of lawn darts using ring-shaped targets on the board. Ringers = 3 pts. Play to 21.
Rapid Fire
Quick succession throws at rapidly changing targets. Tests reaction time and speed alongside accuracy.
Ace
Random target each turn. Singles = 1, doubles = 2, trebles = 3, outer bull = 4, inner bull = 6. Electronic game.
Gold Hunt
Reach exactly 181 for 3 gold points. Popular on Phoenix electronic dartboard machines.
Car Rally
Auto racing themed game. Race around the board with obstacles at certain segments requiring two hits to pass.
Random Checkout
Random score between 40-170, must check it out within 3 darts. Great for checkout path memorization.