Rules

501 (with its shorter 301 and longer 701 variants) is the classic darts game where each player scores down from a starting total and races to reach exactly 0. Here is how a game plays out.

• Every player starts from the starting score (501, 301 or 701).
• Players take turns throwing up to 3 darts; the total is subtracted from their remaining score.
• The first player to bring their score to exactly 0 wins.
• A turn that takes the score below 0 (or to 1 with Double Out) is a bust: the score returns to what it was before the turn.
• With Double Out on, the dart that finishes the game must be a double (or the bullseye).
• With Double In on, a player must hit a double before any points count; darts thrown before that opening double score nothing.
• Single: the number itself. Double: ×2. Triple: ×3. Outer bull 25, bullseye 50.

Cricket

The classic game of closing targets and scoring points — the most played darts game after x01.

• Targets: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and the bull.
• Closing a target takes 3 marks: a single counts 1, a double 2, a triple 3. On the bull the outer ring counts 1 and the bullseye 2.
• Keep hitting a target you have closed and every extra mark scores its value (bull 25) until your opponents close it too.
• Once every opponent has closed a target, it no longer scores for anyone.
• The player who closes every target with the highest (or equal) score wins.

Mickey Mouse

A target-closing game without points, known as a simplified form of Cricket.

• Targets: the numbers 20 down to 12, and the bull.
• Closing a target takes 3 marks: a single counts 1, a double 2, a triple 3.
• On the bull the outer ring counts 1 mark and the bullseye 2 (there is no triple).
• Darts outside the target list earn no marks; no points are kept.
• The first player to close every target wins.

Around the Clock

A practice favourite: race each other around the board, one number at a time.

• Targets: 1, 2, 3 … up to 20, in order — optionally finishing on the bull.
• Any hit on your current number moves you on by one: single, double and triple all count the same.
• Several targets can fall in one turn (1, 2, 3 with three darts).
• The first player to hit the last target wins.

Count Up

The simplest scoring game: no checkout to worry about, just score as much as you can.

• Every player throws 8 rounds of 3 darts.
• Every dart adds its full value to your total — there are no busts and no targets.
• After the last round, the highest total wins; a shared top total is a draw.