Do you feel bored playing darts in the same way?
Are you looking for a dart variation to have a friendly competition with your friends? Well, then, dart cricket is the perfect choice for you!
Dart cricket is an easy game that anyone from a beginner to an expert can play. Furthermore, it can be played with two people or teams, one against another. It’s different in rules and methods but engaging enough to keep you hooked on the dartboard.
Along with making your time exciting, dart cricket can improve your throws. And if you are good at throwing darts accurately, playing dart cricket will surely make you feel like a pro.
Now if you’re curious about mastering the game of dart cricket, we got your back. This article will teach you how to play this exhilarating game, focusing on its rules and scoring methods.
So let’s get started!
How to Play Dart Cricket
The rules of cricket dart may seem complex, but once you start playing, you’ll find it relatively easy and engaging. In this section, we’ll help you to learn dart cricket in 5 simple steps. Keep reading!
Step 1: Deciding the First Player: Start the game by deciding who will throw the dart first. Each player, or one player from each team, will aim for the ‘Bulls-eye.’ The player hitting closest to the Bulls-eye will take the first turn.
Step 2: Starting the Game: Begin your turn to close the numbers 15 through 20 and the Bulls-eye. You have 3 turns to do this. You can close a number by hitting three singles, a single and a double (outer ring), or one triple (inner ring).
Step 3: Scoring Points: If you close a number before anyone else, you own that number and will earn points each time you hit the same number until it is closed by your opponent. If you don’t manage to close a number within your 3 turns, you won’t score, and the turn moves to the next player. You can, however, try to close it again in your next turn.
Step 4: Blocking Opponents: Once you and your opponent have closed the same number, no more points can be scored. If your scoring chances are reducing, focus on closing the numbers that your opponent owns to void the areas. This way, your competitor will stop gaining points from those numbers.
Step 5: Earning Additional Points: Even after closing all your numbers, if you find yourself trailing in points, aim to hit the numbers your opponents haven’t closed. This way, you can rack up as many points as possible.
Step 6: Declaring the Winner: The game ends when someone has the highest points and has successfully closed all the numbers (15 through 20 and the Bulls-eye). Having the highest points is not enough; all numbers must be closed. Similarly, closing all the numbers isn’t enough if you have a lower score. If the game ends in a tie, the first player or team that closed all the numbers will be declared the winner.
To help you understand the playing method, here is a video on How to play Cricket Darts you can watch.
Rules of Dart Cricket
Number of players: Two individuals or two team
Game Objective: The goal is to close numbers 15 – 20 and the bullseye by hitting and earning more points than the opponent
Targets: The targets are 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the Bull.
Opening a Number: A player must score a number three times to open it.
Turns: Each player gets three turns to throw the dart.
Scoring: A player can score points by hitting a number they’ve closed until the opponent closes it.
End of Scoring: If both teams or players own a number, it’s no longer in the game and has no points.
Winning the game: The first player or team to close all numbers and the bullseye with the most points wins. In a tie, the fastest to close all wins.
- This dart game can be played separately or as a team with multiple people.
- To play, you’ll need a dartboard, a minimum of 3 darts, and more if you want all the players to have separate darts. To keep score, you can use pen and paper. Or there are many premium dartboard cabinets that include a scoreboard, so you can record the score there if you use a similar one.
- The aim of dart cricket is to close numbers 15 through 20 and the bullseye by hitting them and earning more points than the opponent. So The targets are 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the Bull.
- The numbers are open at the start of the game. When a number is open in dart cricket, everyone can score it until someone owns it. To open a number, a player needs to score it three times, like once, twice, and thrice.
- In dart cricket, ‘Close-out’ or ‘Closing a number’ means owning the number by hitting it three times before the game ends.
- To decide who gets to throw the first dart, you can either toss a coin or follow the bulls-eye method, where everyone takes a shot at the bulls, and whoever goes closest gets the first turn.
- There will be three turns to throw the dart for each player. If you are playing in teams, you can alternate turns with other members of the opposite team.
- If you close a number before anyone else, it doesn’t mean you can’t target it anymore. You can earn points by hitting that number every time until the opposing player or team closes it out. For example, if you hit a 17, which you’ve already closed, you get 17 points for hitting the number again until any other player owns it.
- If both teams or players own a number, it’s no longer in the game, and you’ll get no score. Suppose you have closed the number 15 and your opponent have done the same, so the next time when you or any players hit this numbered zone, they will get no point.
- The player or the team that closes out all the required numbered area of the dartboard, 15 through 20, and the bullseye, with higher points or equal score, wins the game. If it’s a tie, the winner is the team that closes all innings before the opposite competitor.
Scoring of Dart Cricket
Scoring in dart cricket is much more fun and challenging at the same time. If you have basic knowledge of how scoring in darts works, it will be easy to plan your game to get the highest points.
But if you are a beginner in darts, here is what you need to know to understand the scoring process in dart cricket.
How Scoring is Done in Dart Cricket
If you hit a number on the spacious area once, it’s the 1 mark. If you hit it twice, it’s 2; hitting the number thrice will earn 3 marks. Hitting the numbers in the middle and earning 1 point each time is called hitting single.
Now, if you hit the outer ring of the number (marked in the picture), it’s called the double as it will double the value of the number. For example, if you hit the outer ring 20, your score is 20 x 2= 40! The outer ring is equal to hitting 2 singles.
Hitting The inner ring ( marked in the picture) counts the triple of that number. Suppose you hit the inner ring of 20; your score will be 20×3=60—Triple the value. Hitting a triple is equivalent to hitting a double and single or 2 singles.
But for the bulls-eye, the outer ring counts for one, and the inner circle counts for two. Bulls-eye have a value of 25. So if you hit the outer ring, the score remains 25, but hitting the inner ring will get you double the main value, which is 50.
Scoring Tips and Tricks
Since you have to score the highest within three chances, it’s better to target the bigger numbers first. So we’d suggest you aim number 20 first and try to hit the triple in the first throw. Thus you can earn the maximum points. For example, suppose you have hit a triple 20 in the first throw, thus, you close out a number in a single shot and earn the maximum value of that number which is 20×3= 60.
Though hitting a triple may not always happen, aiming it can increase your chances to hit a single at least and earn points. So don’t let your concentration break!
Another scoring tip is to go first in the game. It lets you close out the targets before anyone else and keeps you ahead in the race. We suggest you target the numbers first and then go for the bulls-eye. If you are a newbie, hitting the bulls-eye is challenging even for an expert, so your scores can be at risk.
If you’re still confused about the scoring of dart cricket, you can watch this video, understand the scoring better and turn heads winning the game with a higher score!
Recording the scores in cricket dart
It’s a must to record the scores of dart cricket to be aware of the game’s progress and decide a clear winner.
To make a scoreboard for dart cricket, you must know 3 signs indicating your game points.
For example, we’ll show you how to keep score for two teams or two people in dart cricket.
So make a chart divided into three parts in the scoreboard. The middle one is for the numbers 15 through 20 and the bulls-eye. The other two on the left and right are for the two teams or two players.
When a team scores a number, mark it with a
When a team or a player closes a number, mark it with a
If the exact number is closed by the opposite team later, you have to mark it with an
Here’s an example of a completed dart cricket scoreboard.
Master Your Dart Skills
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player looking to perfect your game, we have resources tailored just for you. Our detailed guides will help you improve every aspect of your dart-playing technique:
- Learn the game’s basics with our how to play darts guide.
- Master your grip with our how to hold a dart guide.
- Improve your aim with tips from our how to aim darts guide.
- Fine-tune your throws with our how to throw darts guide.
Invest time in mastering these skills, and you’ll soon notice an improvement in your performance in Darts 301 and other dart games.
Conclusion
Dart cricket is a popular way to enjoy darts without getting bored. It can be played anywhere at home or in clubs to escape the monotonous dart routine. Once you understand the rules and scoring system, we bet this exciting game will keep you hooked to the board for a long time.
So are you all set to win this game and get unlimited claps from your mates?
