Strategy

There are generally two types of games played in competition, Cricket and '01. The '01 games will be covered first and Cricket in another column.

'01 Games, Easy-In, Easy-Out

The most popular '01 games are '301 and '501. Easy-in, easy-out means you begin playing the game (with a score of 301 or 501 points) by throwing three darts and you do not have to double-in or double-out. This is also referred to as straight-in, straight-out. The strategy of the '01 games is to get in and out by bringing your score down to an even zero as quickly as possible, and quicker then your opponent.

When playing steel-tip darts, the largest number that may be hit with one dart is 60 points (triple-20) so that is the number shot at most often in the '01 games. When playing electronic darts, the largest area on the board is the bullseye, worth 50 points, and is popular (as well as the triple-20) to bring the score down to an out as soon as possible. The out is when your score is down to a low enough number to go "out" with one dart. If you have 57 left, then the out is to hit the triple-19 (57 points) to win the game.

Since '301 easy-in, easy-out is a relatively short game it is especially important to win the diddle so that you may begin the game first (whether '301 or not, you always want to win the didle for the advantage of going first). Every advantage helps and winning the diddle is a good start. Because '301 is such a short game, especially with easy-in, you must begin concentrating on your outs much sooner then in other games. Let's say you've begun the '301 game by scoring a hundred points. This leaves 201 points left. With '301 easy-in, easy-out, the largest out with 3 darts is 180 points (3 triple-20s). If you've got 201 points left, then the strategy for your next shot is to throw three darts that will set you up with an out for your next turn. With 201 left you may throw at the 20s again. If you hit 60 (3 20s), for example, this would leave you with a score of 141 (201 minus 60 equals 141). 141 is a 3 dart out. While there are no right and wrong outs, there are suggested outs. Understand the numbers on the board so that you're familiar with the outs before you step up to the line. With 141 left you might aim for triple-17 (51 points) which would leave you with 90 points. There are several ways to take 90 out with the most popular being triple-18 and double-18 OR double-bull (50 points) and double-20 (40 points). Again, any out combination that is hit works and though not preferred, even hitting a triple-15 (45 points) and anther triple-15 (45 points) would get take out the score of 90 (bring it down to zero) to win the game. With the easy-in, easy-out games, you do not have to hit a double to win the game, however, you may hit any double for points to bring your score down...you just are not required to hit the double-out. The passionate darter knows the outs and is prepared when it's time to take that game shot.

With '501 easy-in, easy-out, again it is important to win the diddle. However, '501 is a longer game with many rounds. It's easy to become frustrated if you've begun a game of '501 with a score of 26, leaving you with 475 points. Take a deep breath, step back, visualize your numbers, know that '501 is a longer game and you've got some time to get the score down to an out. With '501, relax, throw your darts and concentrate on the out.

As with '301, when playing easy-in, easy-out '501, as soon as you are close to an out (getting down to 180 points or lower) you must concentrate on the out that you're going to leave for yourself or your partner. Again, though the double-out is not required here to win the game, you may hit any combination of singles, doubles or triples to win the game.

'301 Double-In, Double-Out and '501 Easy-In, Double-Out

The main difference with these games is that in order to begin scoring in (the double-in double-out) '301, the darter must first hit a double in order for the score to count, and must also hit a double to win the game. With '501, the darter has easy-in, but must double-out.

In both '301 and '501 the darter must hit a double to get the score down to zero and win the game.

The strategy in the '01 games is to get down to an out, or a number that you can double-out with, as soon as possible. This is somewhat trickier when you must double-out as the highest number that can be taken "out" with three darts, while doubling out is 170 (triple-20, triple-20 and double-bull).

A perfect '301 game may be accomplished in 6 darts (double-in, double-out), and a perfect '501 game may be accomplished in 9 darts (single-in, double-out). The strategy here is the passionate darter must know the outs (or the double-outs) for the games, from 170 points and lower. There are out charts to assist in learning the outs and many dart pubs have an out poster on the wall for reference.

Part of knowing the outs, is also knowing what combinations may not be taken out with only 3 darts, such as 169. There is no combination of numbers on the dartboard that may be hit, while doubling out, that works with only 3 darts.

Another part of the strategy of the game is knowing what you will aim for if your dart misses its intended target and hits another number, therefore changing the out that must be hit. For example, if the darter has 170 left, he/she will most likely aim for the triple-20, triple-20 and Double-Bull combination. If the triple-20 is hit first, that leaves 110. If the darter then hits a single-20, that leaves 90 points. With only one dart left, the darter cannot double-out. The best thing the darter can do is to throw his darts in order to leave himself an out for his next round (and then the darter hopes his opponent doesn't win the game first).

With 90 points left, the darter might try to hit the triple-18 (54 points) to leave 36 points left or a double-18 for his next turn. Double-18 (36) is a common out number because if the darter misses the double-18, but hits a single-18, that leaves 18 points left. 18 is still even, and still an out. So in this case the darter missed his shot, but still had a dart left, and because his score was still even, the darter had another game shot at the double-9 (18 points).

As a passionate darter you want to become comfortable shooting at any and all numbers, but again some are more preferable then others. If you had 38 points left (double-19) you would obviously throw for the double-19 and do your best to hit it on your first dart. If you were trying to bring your score down to an out, you would not want to, if you could help it, leave your opponent with 38. The reason is that if your partner throws at the double-19 (38 points) and accidentally hits a single-19, then the darter has 19 points left which is an odd number. This means it will now take the darter 2 darts to take this shot out, 1 dart such as a 3 to even the score down to 16, and another dart at the double-eight to score the final 16 points.

See the "Tips & Tricks" section for additional strategy pointers...