How Do You Play Darts? Complete Beginner's Guide

What Is a Dartboard? (A Quick Tour)

A dartboard looks intimidating at first — a circle of numbers, wires, and colors. Ignore the complexity. Here is all you need to see. The board is split into twenty slices, like a pizza cut into twenty pieces. Each slice has a number at the top. That number is your base score for that slice. The colors alternate (usually red and green, or black and white) just to help your eyes tell the slices apart.

Now look at the rings. The widest area (where most of your darts will land at first) is the single — you get the number on the slice. The thin outer ring near the edge is double points. The thin inner ring closer to the middle is triple points. In the center you will see two circles. The outer bullseye (green or red ring) is worth 25 points. The inner bullseye (the tiny red circle in the middle of everything) is worth 50.

Here is that rule in action. Imagine you hit the slice marked 20. If your dart lands in the big wedge, you scored 20. If it lands in the thin outer ring of that slice, double — you scored 40. If it lands in the thin inner ring, triple — you scored 60. The famous "180" you hear about on TV is three darts in the triple 20 ring — three times 60.

Setting Up Your Dartboard

If you are hanging a board right now, here is where it goes. The bullseye should be 1.73 meters (5 feet 8 inches) above the floor. That is roughly eye level for most people. The throwing line (often called the oche, pronounced "ocky") must be 2.37 meters (7 feet 9.25 inches) from the face of the board. If you have a tile floor, you can mark the line with tape. If you are playing in a basement or garage, just find a spot where you have enough room to stand and swing your arm freely.

All you need to start is a board, three darts, and a place to stand. Most boards come with a set of darts included. They will be cheap and basic, and that is perfectly fine for learning. As you get better you can buy nicer darts, but do not worry about equipment yet. Just put the board up, mark the distance, and start throwing.

How to Throw a Dart (Your First Throw)

Your first throw will probably feel awkward. That is normal. Everyone's does. Here is a simple way to think about it.

Stand sideways to the board with your throwing-side foot slightly forward. Both feet stay flat on the floor. Lean your upper body forward just a little — pretend you are looking over a fence. Keep your head still and your shoulder locked. The only thing that should move is your arm.

Hold the dart with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger — like you are holding a pencil. Keep your other two fingers out of the way. Do not squeeze hard. Imagine you are holding a potato chip you do not want to break. A light grip gives you a clean release. A tight grip makes the dart wobble.

Bring the dart back toward your face (near your cheek or ear depending on what feels natural), then push it forward in one smooth motion. Let go of the dart when your arm is almost straight. Keep your hand moving toward the board after you release — this is called a follow-through, and it stops you from jerking the dart off course at the last second. The whole motion should feel like you are reaching out to tap the board with your fingertip, not like you are throwing a baseball.

Do not worry about accuracy on your first day. Just focus on getting the dart to stick in the board at all. Once you can reliably hit the board, aim for the big wedge of 20. Once you can consistently land in that wedge, start practicing smaller targets. That is progress.

How Scoring Works

Every dart game follows the same basic pattern. You and your opponent take turns. Each turn you throw three darts, one at a time. After your three throws, you add up your points. Then the other player goes.

A dart that misses the board entirely scores zero. A dart that bounces off the board (it happens) scores zero. A dart that sticks into the back of another dart already on the board — this is called a "robin hood" — also scores zero. Otherwise, wherever the dart lands is what you score. Add the points from all three darts together for your turn total.

Example: Your first dart hits single 20 (20 points). Your second hits single 5 (5 points). Your third hits the outer ring of 20 — double 20 (40 points). Your turn total is 20 + 5 + 40 = 65 points. Simple.

Three Easy Games to Play Tonight

You now know how to throw and how to count. Here are three games you can play with a friend right now, starting with the easiest.

1. Around the Clock (Best for Beginners)

This is the simplest darts game, and it is perfect for your first time. Here is the only rule: hit every number from 1 to 20 in order. Start at 1. If you hit it (any part of the wedge counts), move to 2. Then 3. All the way up to 20. Whoever reaches 20 first wins.

That is it. No scoring math, no doubles, no busting. Just throw at the number you need. This game teaches you to aim at every part of the board, not just the big numbers. You will discover which numbers are easy for you and which ones give you trouble. Try it below — click "Throw" to attempt each segment in order.

For a deeper look at why this game works, read our guide to why Around the Clock beats aimless throwing.

2. 501 (The Standard Game)

Once you have thrown a few rounds of Around the Clock, try 501. This is the game you see on TV. Both players start with 501 points. After each turn, subtract your score from your total. The first person to reach exactly zero wins.

There is one tricky rule: you must finish on a double. That means your very last dart needs to land in the thin outer ring (or the bullseye). If you have 40 points left, you need to hit double 20. If you score 32, you need double 16. If you score more than you have left, you bust — your turn ends and your score goes back to what it was before you started the turn. This is what makes the end of a darts game so exciting. One miss can cost you the leg.

If double out feels too hard at first, do not worry. Beginners can play straight out instead — any scoring hit (including a single) counts as a finish. It makes the game much easier to learn. The Dartsva demo below lets you pick your out rule when you start a game.

If 501 feels too long, start with 301 instead. Same rules, fewer points to count down. Try it in our free multiplayer demo — no sign-up needed.

3. Cricket (The Pub Favorite)

Cricket is a bit more strategic. You only use the numbers 15 through 20 and the bullseye. The goal is to close each number by hitting it three times, then score more points than your opponent before they close those numbers too.

Each hit on a number counts as one mark. A double counts as two marks. A triple counts as three. Once you have three marks on a number, it is closed for you — but not for your opponent. Any extra hits on that number score points for you, until your opponent also gets three marks on it. Whoever closes all numbers first and has the most points wins. Try it below — select a target and click "Throw" to see the marks add up.

Cricket forces you to make decisions. Do you close 20 first? Or do you start scoring on 18 while your opponent is still trying to close it? It is a great game once you are comfortable throwing at specific targets.

What to Expect Your First Time

You will miss. A lot. That is normal. The board is smaller than it looks on TV. Most of your early darts will land low or left because you are aiming with your eyes but releasing with un-trained muscles. Do not get frustrated. Everyone throws badly at first. The goal is not to be good — it is to be slightly better than last time.

You will grip too hard. Almost every beginner squeezes the dart like it owes them money. This makes the dart fly high and left. If your darts keep going high, loosen your grip. Pretend you are holding a pen that writes only when you relax your fingers.

You will move your body. Beginners naturally sway, step forward, or drop their shoulder as they throw. Keep your feet planted. Imagine you are a statue from the waist down. Only your throwing arm moves.

You will rush. Take your time. You have three darts per turn. Breathe between each throw. Line up your aim. If you rush, you reinforce bad habits. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Your Next Steps

You now know enough to play your first game. Here is a simple plan for your first week.

Day 1: Hang the board, measure the distance, and throw fifty darts at the board. Do not keep score. Just get used to the feel. Focus on getting the dart to stick and finding a grip that feels natural.

Day 2: Play Around the Clock with a friend. Do not worry about who wins. Notice which numbers give you trouble. Those are the ones you will want to practice.

Day 3: Try 301. Play one leg. If you bust, laugh it off and try again. You are learning the scoring system as much as the throwing.

Day 4 onwards: Keep playing. Try Dartsva's free multiplayer demo to track your scores — it handles all the math so you can focus on throwing. No account needed, just open the page and play. Once you feel ready for structured training, try the Gauntlet assessment to see your skill level and get a practice plan built for you.

Quick Answers

How Far Do I Stand From the Dartboard?

Stand 2.37 meters (7 feet 9 inches) from the board, measured from the face of the board (not the wall). The bullseye should be 1.73 meters (5 feet 8 inches) above the floor. If you do not have a tape measure, just count seven long steps from the board. Close enough is good enough for your first game.

What If My Dart Bounces Off or Falls Out?

It happens to everyone. A dart that bounces off, falls out, or misses the board scores zero points. It still counts as one of your three throws. Do not pick it up and re-throw it — move on to your next dart.

How Do You Actually Win a Game of 501?

You need to reach exactly zero points. And your final dart must land on a double (the thin outer ring) or the bullseye. For example, if you have 40 points left, you need to hit double 20 (the outer ring of the 20 slice). If you score more than you have left, you "bust" — your score resets and the turn passes to your opponent. This is why the end of a darts game is so tense.

How Many Darts Do I Throw Per Turn?

Three. Each player throws three darts per turn, one at a time. Add up the score from all three. Then it is the next player's turn. Professional players can finish a game of 501 in as few as nine darts (three perfect turns), but do not worry about that. Just focus on getting all three darts on the board.

Is Darts Hard to Learn?

Not at all. The rules take about five minutes to learn. The skill takes years to master, but that is what makes it fun. You will see improvement every time you play. The goal for your first session is simple: have fun, learn the scoring, and hit the board more often than the wall.

That is everything you need to start playing darts. You learned what the board numbers mean, how to stand and throw, how scoring works, and three games you can play tonight. The rest is just practice. Your first dart will probably miss. Your tenth will still miss. But somewhere around throw number fifty, one will land exactly where you aimed, and you will understand why people love this game. Go set up your board, grab a friend, and throw some darts. It is that simple.