Darts becomes easier to enjoy when the board is set up correctly and everyone agrees on the scoring. Start with the steel-tip board, learn how 501 finishes, then try Cricket for a game built around closing targets and choosing when to score.
Set up a steel-tip board
Mount the bull’s center 1.73 metres above the floor, with the throwing position on the same level. Measure 2.37 metres horizontally from the board’s front face to the back of the raised oche—the edge behind which the thrower stands. The board’s thickness matters: measuring from the wall makes the throwing distance too short.
Place the black 20 segment at the top and fix the board securely. The Darts Regulation Authority rulebook, in force from March 31, 2026 when checked for this guide, defines the competition arrangement. At home, use the same playing measurements with a clearly marked throwing line and follow the mounting hardware’s instructions.
Allow a clear throwing lane and protect the surrounding wall and floor. Keep everyone behind the active thrower until the turn is finished, and retrieve darts only after throwing has stopped. Steel-tip darts require a compatible board. For an electronic soft-tip setup, check that machine’s target size, distance, permitted dart weight and scoring options; settings vary.
Read the scoring areas
The large single areas score the printed number. The narrow outer ring doubles it; the narrow inner ring triples it. The outer bull scores 25 and the central bull scores 50. A triple 20 is therefore 60, while a double 20 is 40. The maximum with three darts is 180: three triple 20s.
PDC Europe’s rules introduction explains these areas and the distinction between legs and sets. A leg is one game down to zero; a match may be decided by a number of legs or by sets containing several legs. Agree on the match format before the first throw.
Play straight-in, double-out 501
Each player begins on 501 and takes a turn of up to three darts. Subtract the turn’s valid score from the remaining total. In the format used here, any scoring segment starts the count, and the winning dart must reduce the score to exactly zero on a double. The inner bull counts as double 25 for a finish.
A dart that bounces out or falls out before retrieval does not score and is not thrown again under DRA rules. Confirm the score before removing the darts. Once a winning double lands, the leg has ended and remaining darts are unnecessary.
“Double-in” is a different start condition; “master-out” and electronic-bull settings can also change a game. Check the selected mode, especially when moving between a home app, a soft-tip machine and a steel-tip league.
Checkouts and busts, one dart at a time
A bust occurs when you score more than remains, reach zero without a finishing double, or leave one point. The whole turn is cancelled and your total returns to what it was at the start of that turn. This is why the final segment matters as much as the arithmetic.
On a narrow screen, scroll the table sideways. Keyboard users can focus it and use the arrow keys.
| Starting remainder | Darts thrown | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Double 20 | 40 − 40 = 0: leg won. |
| 40 | Single 20, double 10 | 40 − 20 − 20 = 0: leg won. |
| 40 | Single 20, single 20 | Zero on a single: bust; return to 40. |
| 32 | Single 16, single 15 | One remains: bust; return to 32. |
| 50 | Inner bull | 50 − 50 = 0: leg won. |
| 61 | Single 11, single 18, double 16 | 61 − 11 − 18 − 32 = 0: leg won. |
The 61 route is an arithmetic example, not a universal tactical recommendation. Choose a route that you understand, considering the darts left and what a likely miss would leave. Recalculate after each dart. A checkout chart can offer options, while the actual board determines the next decision.
Cricket: close targets, then manage points
In the common scoring version described here, the targets are 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15 and bull. Three marks close a target for you. A single gives one mark, a double two and a triple three; outer bull gives one and inner bull two.
Once you have closed a target, further hits score its value while the opponent still has it open. When both players have closed it, further hits there add nothing. Win by closing every target with a points total at least equal to your opponent’s. Agree on round limits and tie handling beforehand: electronic tournaments can impose additional conditions. The DARTSLIVE game guide distinguishes Standard Cricket from its practice and alternative game modes.
Before aiming at your favorite number again, inspect the opponent’s marks. You may have a chance to score on an open target, or a reason to close a number where the opponent is collecting points. That decision gives Cricket a different feel from subtracting a remainder in 501.
Practice a small, repeatable task
Choose one session goal: scoring accurately, keeping three darts grouped, or recognizing a finish. Count a fixed number of turns and record what happened. Keep the same setup when comparing sessions. A clear record helps separate a memorable good throw from a consistent pattern.
Open the printable 501 and Cricket score sheet. It includes blank scoring space and the same scoring conventions used here. Use your browser’s print command for a paper copy.
For organized competition, follow its published format and the current DRA rules where applicable. House rules are easiest to enjoy when everyone has agreed to them before play.