Outdoor & pub games
Darts 501
Start from 501 points and come back down to exactly zero, finishing on a double.
- players
- 1–8
- minutes
- 20
- variants
- 5
You’ll need: dartboard + 3 darts. Marquoir gives you all the rules and keeps score.
Setup
- A regulation board with its centre 1.73 metres from the floor.
- The throwing line, the oche, is 2.37 metres from the board.
- Three darts per player per visit.
How to play
- Each player throws their three darts, then the visit's total is subtracted from their remaining score.
- Only darts stuck in the board count. A dart that bounces out or falls is lost.
- Players alternate, visit after visit, until one reaches zero.
Scoring
- Each segment is worth its number. The outer ring doubles the value, the inner ring triples it.
- The outer bull is worth 25 points; the inner bull is worth 50 points and counts as a double.
- The best possible visit is 180 points: three treble 20s.
End of the game
- You must reach exactly zero, and the last dart must be a double: this is double out.
- Going below zero, landing exactly on 1, or finishing without a double cancels the visit: the score goes back to what it was before the visit. This is a bust.
- Matches are often played over several legs, best of three or best of five.
House rules and pitfalls
- Checkouts to know: 40 finishes with double 20, 32 with double 16, 170 with treble 20, treble 20, bull.
- In straight out, a pub variant, any dart can finish the game.
Variants
Starting score
301
501 (standard)
701
Checkout
Double out
The last dart must be a double.
Straight out
Any dart can finish.
chosen when starting, the scorer follows
Frequently asked questions
What is a bust in darts?
Going below zero, landing exactly on 1, or reaching zero without a double: the whole visit is cancelled and the score goes back to its value before the visit. That is why you aim for 40 or 32 rather than 41.
Do you really have to finish on a double?
In double out, yes, and that is the official format. In straight out, a pub variant, any dart can finish the game — the scorer offers both.
What is the bull worth?
Twenty-five points for the outer ring, fifty for the bullseye. The bullseye counts as a double, so it can finish a game.
What is the best possible visit?
One hundred and eighty: three treble 20s. The highest three-dart checkouts go up to 170 — treble 20, treble 20, bullseye.
How high and how far do you stand?
The centre of the board is 1.73 metres from the floor, and the throwing line is 2.37 metres from the board, measured horizontally.
Does a fallen dart count?
No. Only darts still in the board at the time of counting count, and a fallen dart is not thrown again.