4 Ways to Play Darts
Introduction:
Darts is a popular game that provides hours of fun and friendly competition. While many people are familiar with the standard version of the game, there are actually numerous ways to play darts. Let’s explore four alternative games that you can introduce to your friends and family at your next get-together.
1. Cricket
Cricket is a popular darts game that requires strategy, skill, and a little bit of luck. The objective of Cricket is to “close” all the numbers from 15 to 20 and the bullseye by hitting them three times before your opponent does.
Each player takes turns throwing their darts, aiming for one of the numbered sections or bullseye. Hitting a single section counts as one hit, while hitting a double or triple counts as two or three hits, respectively. Once you have “closed” a number by accumulating three hits on it, you can score points on that number if you hit it again before your opponent closes it themselves.
2. Around the World
Around the World, also known as Around the Clock or A-Z, is a great darts game for beginners that helps improve targeting accuracy. The objective is to hit every number on the dartboard in sequential order from 1 to 20.
Players take turns throwing their darts, starting at the number 1 and working their way around the board until they reach 20. Hitting doubles or triples doesn’t offer any additional advantage in this game – only hitting the correct number in sequence matters. The first player to successfully hit all numbers from 1 to 20 wins.
3. Killer
Killer is an exciting darts elimination game that can be played with three or more players. Each player selects an unused number on the dartboard between 1 and 20 as their “life” number. Players then take turns trying to “kill” one another by hitting their opponent’s life number.
To begin, the first player must hit their own life number twice. This can be done by hitting two single sections or one double. Once they’ve achieved this, they become a “killer” and may target other players’ life numbers. Each time a player’s life number is hit, they lose a life (usually starting with 5 lives per player). When a player has lost all of their lives, they are eliminated from the game. The last player standing wins!
4. Shanghai
Shanghai is a challenging darts game that tests your consistency and precision. Each round focuses on a specific number on the dartboard (1 for the first round, 2 for the second round, and so on), and players must try to hit their rounds-number section as many times as possible during their turn.
Players take turns throwing three darts per round, aiming for each round’s specific number. The scoring system awards points equal to the section number (e.g., 3 points for hitting a single 3, or 9 points for a triple 3 in the third round). If any player manages to hit a single, double, and triple of the same number in one turn, they immediately win by achieving Shanghai. Otherwise, after completing 20 rounds (one for each number), the player with the highest score wins.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking to shake things up at your next darts night or simply want to improve your skills, these four games will provide variety and excitement. Remember that practice makes perfect – give them all a try and find out which game best suits your style!