Darts and Dartboards

Darting probably originated in the Middle Ages when off-duty archers and soldiers would practice throwing broken arrows into the side of an ale keg marked with three circles. Three points were awarded if the arrow landed in the inner circle, two for the middle circle and one for the outer circle.   Eventually, both the board and the darts became more elaborate, and national and international tournaments... Read more >

Rules of Standard Play

  Players: Two players, or two teams of 8-9 players   Darts: Three for each player   Play: The object of Standard Play is to be the first team or player to reach zero from a starting score of 501. During his turn, a player throws three darts and subtracts his total from his previous score until he reaches zero.   This game is simple, but it becomes tricky as the players near the zero... Read more >

Other Dart Games

  Click on a link below to learn the rules of each dart game. Wimbledon Hound and Hare Flat Earth Relief of Mafeking Round the Clock Baseball Shanghai Cricket Standard Play: Learn the rules of standard play.   House Rules: Read the general rules that apply to most dart games.   Handicapping: Learn the general... Read more >

House Rules

  Depending on the game, league, and whether it is a tournament or casual play, dart rules vary widely. The following are standard rules, and should apply in most dart games, no matter where they occur: Beginning Play To determine who plays first, each player throws one dart. The player who hits closest to the bullseye decides the throwing order of all players. Thrown and Dropped Darts If a player... Read more >

Shanghai

  Players: Two or more   Darts: Three each   Play: Players toss a coin to see who begins play with the winning player going first. Players start by throwing at the number 1 on the board. The object is to hit a single, treble and double (in any order). This first player to hit a single, treble and double wins. If no player achieves this on number 1, the play moves to number 2 and so on until... Read more >

Hound and Hare

  Players: Two or more   Darts: Three each   Play: Players toss a coin to begin the game. The player that wins the toss is the "hare," and his opponent is the hound in pursuit. The hare must travel clockwise around the board starting at 20.   The hare wins by returning to 20 before the hound catches up with him. The hound usually starts from either 12 or 5, depending on the preference... Read more >

Round the Clock

(Also called "Round the Board" or "Once Round the Island.")     Players: Two players   Darts: Three each   Play: The object of this popular game is to be the first player to hit every number on the board from 1-20. The numbers must be hit in order, and players alternate after three throws. If a player cannot pass a certain number, he must hit it in order to advance to the next number... Read more >

Cricket

  Players: Two   Darts: Three   Play: The objective shall be to 'own'/'close' certain numbers on the board, and to achieve the highest point score. The player/team to do so first, shall be the winner.   Cricket shall be played using the numbers 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15 and both the inner and outer bull (cork).   Each player/team shall take turns in throwing. (Three darts in... Read more >