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Darts expert Mary Lucas explains three of the more popular darts games.
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Darts is not just a singular game. In fact, there are numerous variations to add variety and match various skill levels. Mary Lucas explains some of the more common games. High Score is a fairly simple game. Each turn consists of three dart-throws. The accumulated total for all three darts constitutes the score for that turn. Players alternate turns, and after each has had eight turns, the one who has accumulated the highest point-total is the winner. High Score is a game well suited to beginners and serves as a good warm-up game for more advanced players. 501 is an internationally sanctioned darts game often used in tournament competition. The game begins with each player having a score of 501 points. The objective is to reach exactly zero by throwing rounds of three darts and subtracting the accumulated points of each round from the total score. Initially you simply try to accumulate the greatest amount of points to quickly approach zero. Once the score approaches zero, however, the strategy becomes how to reach exactly zero without going below it. To make the game even more challenging, playing "double out" requires the winning player to hit a double score in order to reach exactly zero. For example, if you're down to 30 points, you must hit a double 15 with the first scoring dart in order to win the game. If you miss the double 15 and hit an eight, then eight points are added to your score, bringing it to 38. There are other variations that complicate the possibility of winning even further -- such as in a variation called 301 that also requires the player to "double in" before point-accumulation can begin. Clearly, 501 is a game for more advanced players. Cricket is a game that has become popular during recent years and is now sanctioned for competition. The objective is to "close" each number -- from 20 down to 15, and the bull's-eye -- and simultaneously end up with more accumulated points than your opponent. In order to close a number, you must hit three of that number. The scoreboard for cricket is drawn with the numbers 20 to 15, and bull's-eye, written in descending order. Marks are made to indicate that a number has been hit once, twice or three times by a player. Once you hit a number three times (at any point in the game) that number is closed for you. (Your opponent may still be trying to close that number.) Hitting the thin outer ring that corresponds with a number is equivalent to hitting two of that number. Hitting the thin inner ring is equivalent to hitting three of that number. While trying to close out numbers, you may also accumulate points under certain circumstances. You can only score points on a given number if you have already closed that number and your opponent has not. For example, if you have closed 20 (but your opponent has not yet closed 20), and you then throw a triple 20 on one of your turns, you score 60 points on that throw. Once both players have closed a number, that number is no longer available for scoring points by either player. A simpler variation on cricket can be played without points; there the objective is simply to be the first to close all of the designated numbers.
RESOURCES :
The Most Complete Collection Of Dart Games On The Web
Web site: http://dartgames.homepage.com/
Cyber/Darts
Online resource for Darts
Web site: www.cyberdarts.com
Darts World magazine
Web site: www.dartsworld.com
The American Darts Organization Book of Darts
Model: 1558212477
Author: Chris Carey
1993
The Lyon's Press
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-620-9580
Fax: 212-929-1836
Website: www.lyonspress.com
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