ALTERNATIVE DART GAMES & RULES
How to play other dartboard games
- X01
A standard game played in major tournaments around the world.
The more popular starting scores are 301and 501 but any number over 100 ending in 01 can be used. The decision on the starting score depends on the length of the game preferred. The shorter versions (101,201,301) generally start with the players requiring a double to ‘open’ their scoring and then trying to reduce their score as quickly as possible. As a player approaches zero, they must work towards finishing with a double also, or a bullseye.
For example; Player A has 79 points left before a throw. A suggested strategy would be- Shoot ‘20’, then ‘19’ (40 remaining) and then close out on double ‘20’. ‘Closing out’ on a double is preferred to the bullseye as any points scored while aiming for your close out target count off your score and there is no neutral area around the bull as there is outside of the doubles ring.
In the example above, while shooting for the double 20, the player missed to the outside of the ring then his target is still double 20 for his/her next turn. Say Player B also had 79 remaining and shot 19, 10 and then aimed to close out on the bullseye. If that player then hit ‘3’ for example, they would have to recalculate a finishing sequence as their score would then be 47 for their next turn. This means wasting throws trying to even up your score again in order to finish on a double. If a player ‘busts’ (i.e. while aiming for a double close out, scores more points than their current total) then their target remains the same for their next turn.
Starting with a double is generally dispensed with in the longer games. Additionally, slight changes can be made according to the level of competency of the players. The double closeout can be eliminated for those of a lesser standard (just finish with the exact number required) or changed to a triple ring close out for advanced players.
- ROUND THE BOARD
As the name implies, the object is to go ‘round the board’ starting at the ‘1’ wedge and going through to ‘20’ and finishing on the bullseye.
A player must hit each number before proceeding so obviously the winner is the first to hit the bullseye. Again there can be variations to suit: a player who hits three wedges with consecutive darts is rewarded with another throw but must continue to hit the ‘live’ wedge or their turn will cease, the finish can be outer bull or bullseye, outer bull and then bullseye or just the bullseye. Also it can be played that a double or triple on the number being targeted can propel the player further forward.
For example; Player A is aiming for ‘3’ and hits double ‘3’. They are then entitled to aim for ‘7’ on their next throw (double 3 is 6, the next number then is 7). Other examples: hitting triple ‘6’ will then take the player to ‘19’, double ‘10’ will take the player to the bull, triple ‘4’ to ‘13’ etc. Of course after the ‘6’ wedge is hit, a treble on any of the remaining numbers will only count as a single hit as triples will add up to over 20. Conversely, a double ‘10’ is the last double that will be an advantage.
- SHANGHAI
Shanghai is round the board but accumulating points as you go so the winner is the player with the highest total. Players advance together though, so all players shoot for ‘1’ and then all progress to ‘2’ etc. All triples and doubles count for the targeted number and no points are scored if a player misses the wedge with all three darts. The game finishes after all players have thrown at the ‘20’ wedge.
Cool Game Designs has devised an alternative to this format as well. We have called it ‘Three,Six,Nine’ where a single hit on a wedge scores three times that wedge value, a double hit six times and a treble hit will score nine times! This creates opportunities for a player or players who might be well behind, to make up ground with some well aimed throws particularly towards the end of the game when the larger numbers are being targeted.
- KILLER
This name has been applied to a few different games but this one is based on Kelly Pool, as played on a billiard table and is a very quick game.
For the dartboard version, write the numbers 1 to 20 on identically sized pieces of paper or on ping pong balls etc. and place in a container. Also list the numbers on a pad or the dartboard cabinet scoring columns. All players are then to draw a number which must not be shown to any of the other players.
Decide on a throwing order and the object for each player is to hit all the other numbers apart from their own. A player must drop out of the game if their number is hit and tick off the numbers as this occurs including numbers which have not been drawn by anyone. The strategy is trying to determine the number that your opponent/s is avoiding which is most likely their own. Of course the brave can ‘bluff’ by aiming close to their own number but just missing it.
The winner is the player with their ‘wedge’ still intact.
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