JUST taking up darts, or perhaps have only played within your own home? You may not be aware of the world outside 501. Across the UK and even the globe there are a whole host of games that, to locals, are the standard format.
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Most are just as difficult to master to the elite level but as good if not better to play in pairs, or teams and for the sheer enjoyment of social darts:
Cricket
Players: Two players or two teams
Numbers in Play: bullseye, 20,19,18,17,16,15
Rules: The aim is to ‘close’ these numbers on the board, and get the highest point score. The player/team to do so first, wins.
Each player/team takes turns throwing three darts in a row (an ‘inning’). To close an inning, the player/team needs to score three of a number – with three singles, a single and a double, or a triple.
Once a player/team scores three of a number, they ‘own’ it. Once a player/team closes an inning, he/they may score points on that number until the opponent also closes that inning. All numerical scores are added together.
Once both players/teams have scored three of a number, it’s ‘closed’, and it can’t be scored on by either player/team.
To close the bullseye, the outer bull counts as a single, and the inner bull counts as a double. Numbers can be ‘owned’ or ‘closed’ in any order. No need to call your shot.
The player/team that closes all the innings first and has the most points, wins. If both sides are tied on points, the first player/team to close all innings is the winner. If a player/team closes all innings first, but is behind on points, they need to keep scoring on any innings that aren’t closed until they make up the points or their opponent wins the game.
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Killer
Players: Any, but three or more players is more fun
Numbers in Play: The numbers used are determined by the players. Each player throws a dart with their opposite hand to randomly choose their number. If you miss the board or hit a number that’s already claimed, you’ll need to throw again.
Rules: Using three throws in a turn, each player first tries to hit the double of his or her own number – they’re then called a ‘killer’ and a K is placed next to their name on the scoreboard.
Once a player is a killer, they aim for doubles of opponents’ numbers. Each player has three lives and when a killer hits an opponent’s double the opponent loses a life. If a killer hits their own double by mistake, they lose one life. It’s possible to completely kill an opponent in one turn by throwing three doubles. The last player standing is the winner.
English Cricket
Players: Two players or two teams
Numbers in Play: All numbers, but as each score must be higher than 40, the 20 is pretty popular.
Rules: Ten stripes are marked on the scoreboard as wickets. One player bats and the other bowls. The batter goes first.
The bowler’s job is to erase these wickets by hitting bullseyes. Each single bullseye erases one wicket, and each double bullseye wipes out two. The batter needs to score as many points (runs) as possible while their wickets remain. The tricky bit is that only scores over 40 count. E.g. scoring 37 = no runs. Scoring 45 = 5 runs etc.
Scoring stops when all 10 wickets are taken out by the bowler. The batter records their final score, and then they swap roles. The winner is the player with the most points, or runs, from their round as batter.
?01
301 or 401
Players: Any, but usually two players or two pairs
Numbers in Play: All the numbers are in play, but 19 and 20 will quickly get you to zero like a hero.
Rules: Each player/team starts with *301 or 401 points. The goal is to reach zero, exactly, by subtracting the amount you score in a turn from the number you have left.
Before you start subtracting though, each player/team has to ‘double in’ (hit any one of 21 possible doubles including the double bull). To end the game, players also need to double out (eg. if you’re on 28, you’ll need to throw a double 14 to reach zero, and if you hit a single 14, your next target is a double 7). Hitting more pints than you have left to get to zero will get you ‘busted’ (this is not what you want). That means the turn is over and next time it’s your turn you’ll start again from your previous score.
*201– 2022 Lakeside Champion Neil Duff recommends 201 double in double out (DIDO) as a practice/sharpening drill.
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—–ENDS—-
Images: DartsWorld
