Okay, let's be real. When I first picked up darts at my uncle's pub, I stared at that round thing covered in numbers like it was alien technology. How do you score on a dartboard without looking like a total newbie? Turns out, it's way less scary than it seems. Forget robotic instructions – we're doing this like regular people.
What That Dartboard Actually Means
First things first: that colored wheel isn't random. Each slice has a number (1-20) marking its scoring zone. But here's where beginners get tripped up:
The Magic Rings That Change Everything
Look closer and you'll see two thin rings:
- The outer ring (usually green/red) is the DOUBLE ring – hit this and you get double the segment's points
- The inner ring (usually red/green) is the TREBLE or triple ring – yep, triple points!
- The bullseye? Center red dot = 50 points. Green outer ring = 25 points. Simple.
| Where Your Dart Lands | Scoring Example (20 Segment) | Points Earned |
|---|---|---|
| Big single area | Just plain 20 section | 20 points |
| Outer thin ring | Double ring in 20 zone | 40 points (20×2) |
| Inner thin ring | Treble ring in 20 zone | 60 points (20×3) |
| Outer bull (green) | Between bull and wire | 25 points |
| Inner bull (red) | Dead center | 50 points |
Messy truth time: That beautiful 60-point treble 20 everyone obsesses over? It's barely wider than 8mm. My first month playing, I hit it twice. Total fluke.
How Scoring Really Works in 501 (The Game Everyone Plays)
So how do you score on a dartboard in a real game? 501 is your answer. You start with 501 points. Each player throws three darts per turn, subtracting their score from 501. Goal? Hit exactly zero. But there's a killer catch:
You MUST finish on a double. That means if you have 40 left, you need to hit double 20. If you have 32? Double 16. Miss the double? You're stuck with that number next turn.
🔥 Pro Tip: Memorize these key doubles – they'll save you:
20 (40), 16 (32), 10 (20), 8 (16), 4 (8). My pub team captain drilled this into me after I wasted three turns missing double 1.
| Remaining Score | Best Double Target | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Double 20 | Largest double section |
| 32 | Double 16 | High success rate area |
| 50 | Bullseye | Single bull (50) isn't a double! Use 25 or 50 |
| 1 | Impossible! | Why you avoid this (see mistakes below) |
Actual Scoring Walkthrough
Let's say your scores over three turns:
- Turn 1: Treble 20 (60), Single 20 (20), Miss (0) → 80 points. New total: 501-80=421
- Turn 2: Single 5 (5), Double 19 (38), Outer Bull (25) → 68 points. New total: 421-68=353
- Turn 3: Treble 17 (51), Single 3 (3), Double 12 (24) → 78 points. New total: 353-78=275
Notice something annoying? That killer double 12 at the end didn't help finish – we weren't on a checkout number yet. Happens more than you think.
Other Games People Actually Play Outside Tournaments
Look, 501's great but sometimes you want variety. Here are two actual pub favorites:
Cricket (The Strategic One)
Uses only numbers 15-20 + bullseye. Goal? "Close" each number by hitting it three times before your opponent. Scoring works like this:
- Each single hit = 1 mark
- Treble = 3 marks
- Double = 2 marks
Once you close a number (3+ marks), you score points on it until opponent closes it. Bull counts as 2 sections – outer (25) needs 3 hits, inner (50) needs 3 hits. My local league player Dave hates this game because "math ruins beer time."
Around the Clock (The Beginner Drill)
Exactly what it sounds like: hit numbers 1 through 20 in order. First to reach 20 wins. Brutal honesty? It's boring but fantastic practice. Variations:
- Single In: Any part of the number counts
- Double In: Must hit double to start (painful!)
Remember that time I got stuck on number 16 for four turns straight? Yeah. Neither do I. Blocked it out.
Why Your Score Keeps Messing Up (And How to Fix It)
Let's diagnose common scoring fails I've seen – and done:
Busting: When you overshoot your checkout number. Got 2 points left? If you hit single 1 (1 point), you're golden. Hit single 2 (2 points)? You just bust – score resets to what it was before that turn. Soul-crushing.
Darts That Don't Count: If it bounces out, falls out, or misses the board completely? Zero points. No do-overs. That cheap brass dart set from Amazon? Guaranteed bounce-outs.
Wrong Double Madness: Having 40 left and hitting single 20 twice? Doesn't help. You HAVE to hit that double ring. I once saw a guy smash his pint glass after missing double top eight times.
Scoring Pro Tips From My Local Pub Champ
- Use a Scoring App: "DartCounter" or "MyDartTraining" – lifesavers when beer math kicks in
- Master Checkout Charts: Print a sheet showing best finishes for 2-dart/3-dart combos (Google "dart checkout chart")
- Practice Doubles Relentlessly: Spend 10 minutes daily just hitting doubles. Boring? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.
Wildcard: Weird Scoring Situations You'll Actually Face
No rulebook covers these – but they happen:
The "Edge" Dilemma: Dart stuck between two numbers? Where the point is touching decides it. If it's ambiguous, honest players re-throw. Had this debate last Tuesday with Brian. We flipped a coin.
When Darts Collide: Second dart knocks first dart out? Only the dart in the board counts. Brutal when it was your 60-point treble. True story: Saw a tournament replay where this decided a £10,000 match.
Scoring with Bent Darts: Bent dart lands in board but slides down? If it entered legally, it counts. But seriously – replace bent darts. They ruin your game.
FAQs: Real Questions from New Dart Players
Q: How do you score on a dartboard if the dart bounces off?
A: Zero points. Doesn't matter how hard you threw it. Tip: Sharpen your points regularly – soft tips bounce way more.
Q: What's the highest score possible with three darts?
A: 180 points – three treble 20s. My personal best? 140. After six pints.
Q: Does the outer bullseye ring count as a double?
A: Nope. Only doubles/triples refer to the thin rings in the numbered sections. Bullseye is its own thing.
Q: How do you score on a dartboard in cricket vs 501?
A: Totally different! Cricket is about closing numbers, 501 is pure subtraction. Don't mix them up mid-game.
Q: Why do pros always aim for the 20?
A: Highest scoring segment (60 per dart!). But beginners should focus on consistent grouping first.
Final Reality Check
Learning how do you score on a dartboard takes a few games to click. Don't stress about complex strategies yet. Focus on:
- Knowing where doubles live
- Subtracting without a calculator
- Not busting on checkouts
Oh, and invest in decent darts. Those £5 sets warp faster than supermarket bread. Ask me how I know...
Seriously though? Nothing beats that first time you nail double 16 to win the game. The pub cheers, your mates groan, and suddenly you get why people obsess over this. Now go throw some tungsten.
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