The throwing line, the scoring, the game. If you've never played, you can be in a game inside ten minutes. We've taught hundreds of first-timers, this is the version that sticks.
Darts is a game of nerves, not strength. Get the setup right and the rest looks after itself.
A regulation board hangs with the centre of the bullseye 1.73m (5ft 8in) from the floor. The throwing line, the oche (pronounced “ockey”), sits 2.37m (7ft 9.25in)back from the face of the board. Diagonally, the bullseye is exactly 2.93m from the oche, a useful sanity check when you're hanging a board at home.
Each player needs three darts. A typical dart weighs between 18g and 26g. Heavier feels more stable; lighter rewards a quicker release. There's no right answer, beginners usually settle somewhere around 22g to 24g and adjust later. If you're playing at The Boardroom we have a range of house darts at every oche, swap them around until something feels natural.
The classic pub and pro game is 501. Every player starts on 501 points. Each turn you throw three darts and subtract the score from your running total. First to exactly zero wins, with one important catch, the final dart has to land in a double, the thin outer ring of any number, or in the bullseye (which counts as double 25). Miss the double, bust the total, your turn ends and the score reverts.
That last rule is what makes the game. Anyone can hammer in three trebles. Closing the door on a double under pressure is a different sport.
The numbered segments score their face value. The thin outer ring (the double) scores twice the segment. The thinner inner ring (the treble) scores three times. The green outer bull scores 25. The red centre, the bullseye, scores 50 (and counts as a double for finishing).
The highest possible three-dart score is 180, three darts in the treble 20. The highest single-dart score is the bullseye at 50, which is actually less than the treble 20 at 60, a quirk beginners always raise on their first visit.
Most modern boards at venues use automated scoring or a chalk board. You don't have to do the maths in your head; at The Boardroom every oche has scoring available on tap.
The art of 501 is in the finish, the “out”. From any score of 170 or less, there's a route home in three darts. The two finishes worth memorising:
The mythical nine-darter, a perfect leg of 501 in nine darts, requires a specific sequence (most commonly two 180s and a 141 finish, or 180-180-160-141 / 167 variants). It's rare enough that pros get a standing ovation every time. Don't worry about it on your first visit.
301: same as 501 but shorter, often used as a quick warm-up or for groups with mixed abilities. Some variants require a double to start as well as to finish, which adds spice early.
Cricket (Tactics):a US-favourite played on numbers 15 through 20 plus the bullseye. You “close” a number by hitting it three times, then score points on it until your opponent closes it too. Tactical, fast and great for beginners because the scores stay small.
Around the Clock: hit every number in sequence, 1 to 20, then the bullseye. Brilliant practice, tedious as a serious match. Most kids learn on this one.
Killer:a pub favourite for groups of three or more. Each player picks a number, becomes a “killer” by hitting their own double, then scores on others to knock them out. Loud, chaotic, perfect for stag and birthday nights.
Reading the rules only gets you so far. The fastest way to get good is to throw, lots, against people who are a bit better than you. We have eight regulation oches on Crouch Street in Colchester, pro boards, proper lighting and a relaxed atmosphere for every level.