How does scoring work in darts?
How a turn is scored
Each turn has three darts, and the points from those darts are added together and subtracted from the remaining total. The board is split into numbered wedges, and the ring a dart lands in changes its value. Singles count the wedge number, doubles count twice that number, and triples count three times.
The bullseye sits at the center. The inner bull is usually worth more than the outer ring. A dart that lands outside the wires scores nothing for that throw, which is why accuracy matters so much in close games.
- Three darts make up one turn
- Doubles and triples multiply the wedge number
- Outside the wires scores zero
- Every turn is subtracted from the remaining total
Finishing a leg
To win a leg, a player must reach exactly zero. The last dart must usually land in a double or the bullseye, depending on the house rules. This is why many players spend extra practice time on doubles.
If a turn would take a player below zero, or leave exactly one point, the turn is called a bust. The score returns to what it was before that turn, and the next player throws. Matches are then built from several legs, often best of three or five.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the game ends as soon as the total gets close to zero; the score must land on exactly zero.
- Counting a bust turn as points scored, when the total actually returns to its earlier number.
