Darts is a popular game enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gamer, understanding how to count points on a dart board is essential to keep track of your progress and determine the winner in a game. We will explore the rules and scoring system of darts, providing you with a comprehensive guide on counting points accurately.
1. The Segments on a Dart Board
Before we dive into the complexity of scoring, let's take a look at the dart board. A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered segments, each representing a different score. The outermost circle is called the double ring, followed by the triple ring, and finally, the bullseye at the center, which consists of an inner and an outer bull.
2. Scoring System Scoring Zones
To count points on a dart board, you need to understand the scoring zones. The outermost ring, known as the double ring, awards double the value of the segment it borders. The next ring, called the triple ring, awards triple the value. The inner bullseye is worth 50 points, while the outer bullseye is worth 25 points.
Segment Values Each segment on the dartboard has a specific point value ranging from 1 to 20. The segments are numbered sequentially, starting from the 1 segment at the top and moving clockwise. The numbering on a standard dart board is as follows: 20,1, 18, 4, 13, 5, 12, 9, 14, 11, 17, 8, 16, 7, 19, 3, 6, 10, 15, 2, 25 (Bullseye)
3. Scoring Examples To illustrate how to count points effectively, let's explore a few scoring examples. Example 1: Single Segment Suppose you hit the segment numbered 17. Since there are no multipliers involved, you score 17 points. It's as simple as that!
Example 2: Double and Triple Rings
Let's say your dart lands in the double ring of the 15 segment. In this case, you multiply the value of the segment by 2, resulting in 30 points. If your dart lands in the triple ring of the 10 segment, you multiply the value by 3, yielding 30 points as well.
Example 3: Bullseye If you manage to hit the inner bullseye, you earn 50 points. Hitting the outer bullseye grants you 25 points.
4. Subtracting Points In addition to adding points, darts also involve subtracting scores.
When playing a game like 501 or 301, players start with a specific score and aim to reach zero. With each throw, the score is deducted from the starting value.
Suppose you start with a score of 301. On your first throw, you hit a triple 20 (60 points). You subtract 60 from 301, leaving you with 241. If your next throw lands in the double 16 (32 points), you subtract 32 from 241, resulting in a score of 209.
5. Winning a Leg or Game In most games, players strive to reach zero by subtracting their scores. However, the game isn't over until certain conditions are met.
Example: Winning a Leg To win a leg, players generally need to reach exactly zero. If a player surpasses
Each player will throw three darts in an attempt to score as many points as possible.
Little Tips:
Single Zone
If your dart hits this area, the points' value equals x1. (if your dart hits 5, you score 5 points)
This zone is the easiest to achieve as it has the biggest area.
Double Zone
If your dart hits this area, the points' value equals x2. (if your dart hits 5, you score 10 points)
Triple Zone
If your dart hits this area, the points' value equals x3. (if your dart hits 5, you score 15 points)
The Bullseye
The center of the target is divided into 2 areas
The inner Bullseye is the smaller, central area of the bullseye. This area typically carries the highest point value, such as 50 points.
The outer Bullseye is the larger, round area surrounding the inner bullseye. This area has a lower point value, such as 25 points.
Maximum Points
Now we know how to count scores on a dartboard and you may find that hitting a triple bullseye (50*3=150) is not the way to score the most!
The area you can get the maximum points is the triple 20 (20*3=60).
In a throw of 3 darts, you could get a maximum of 180 points (60*3=180).