Dartboard Games, 501 and other '01 Games'
'01, 101, 301, 501, 701, 1001, 1,000,001
501Dart Game
Probably the most played dart game in the world '01 and its variations.
The modern game played in TV tournaments and many leagues matches worldwide is 501.
The object of the games is to reduce your score from 501 points to zero, with the last dart hitting a double or centre bullseye. Variations of this game have existed for around one hundred years. However, the 501 started life and a shorter 301 game, which is also played with some regularity between players.
The 301 version typically has a double or centre bullseye start and a double or centre bullseye finish.
Why 301?
This was based on the scoring device used, a card cribbage board. The pegs of the cribbage board made it easy to score the game without using a chalkboard which became the norm when league matches became a regularity. A standard cribbage board has 60 holes per player and a home. For 301, it meant the pegs travelled five times around the board and one to 'peg out' or for the dart 'game shot'. Today the most common game is 501.
'01 Dart Games Variation
501 has two main variations; straight start, double finish or double start and double finish.
Most TV games and league matches use the straight start and double finish version. This makes for quicker games/legs and sets.
One TV tournament still uses the double start and double finish. 'The Professional Darts Organisation – World Grand Prix'.
Rules are easy, but mastering the game is challenging.
The game is suitable for any age and any ability.
With equal ability, the thrower throwing first has the advantage as they should have a shot of completing the game/leg first. Hence, determining who throws first is usually obtained by 'BULLING – OFF' (see below). The players then alternate who throws first from that point forward. There for a best of 9 legs (first to 5) and the legs going to each who through first at 4-4, the advantage will be with the person throwing first in the final leg.
'01, 101, 301, 501, 701, 1001, 1,000,001
The thrower's score is taken of the total or remaining total. If the player throws a score higher than the total, they have to score; this is known as a 'busted score', and the player returns to their previous score on their next turn as the game/leg must be finished on a double or centre Bullseye, their score is shown as zero and returns to their previous but the darts counted for statistics purposes.
701/1,001
These games tend to be played as team games or at exhibition matches
1,000,001
The Million and One has always been a target for charity-based games. The least darts taken to achieve the feat, the quickest time, or just hitting the goal to raise money.
The Guinness Book of Records holds current world records. If you or your team want to take on the challenge, you must contact the Guinness World Records BEFORE attempting a NEW record; otherwise, your attempt won't be counted as there will be rules based on teams, individuals, breaks, etc. including hold the attempt should be recorded to make it valid.
Variations and exceptions!
Soft-tip Darts
The inner and outer bullseye counts as 50 points, and a game can be won but hitting either an inner or outer bullseye on a Soft-tip Dartboard.
Straight Start – Straight Finish
These games don't require a double to finish a game.
A good game for beginners. The variation requires the exact number must be hit to win the game. i.e. if you require 12, a single 12 will win the game or a double six.
The NO BUST rule!
Some players don't like this rule, while others do!
New players that struggle to hit the required double tend to end up on double-one, which can be frustrating. Some players may avoid this double, if possible, by deliberately busting their score to return to a more favourable double they may have been on at the start of their throw.
The NO BUST rule means you don't necessarily return to the score you had before you started your throw but the number before the score before the last dart was thrown. e.g., if you have one dart left and you find yourself on three, you can't checkout, but you can hit one to leave double one on the next throw, but most players may look to bust the score so they can return to the previous score which may have been twenty. The NO BUST rule means should you hit a higher score with your last dart, that would typically take you back to your previous score; it doesn't. You return to the score prior to the busting dart, in this case, three.
It can become a little more confusing when a play may need forty. They throw for a double twenty to win the game, and they hit a single twenty to leave twenty. They then throw for double ten to win; they hit the adjacent double fifteen (they busted their score), and their turn has finished, but they return to twenty (double ten) instead of forty! Hmmm!
I have played with these rules. They can be a little bit hard to grasp at first, yet some UK pub leagues still use them, so make sure you know your local rules before you play.
Thankfully, most leagues use a straight start and double finish that doesn't contain these rulings.
Bulling - Off – Termination of who throws first.
Usually, who throws first is determined by 'Bulling-off'/ Bull-Off. However, there are exceptions in some league matches where home or away advantage is sometimes used. This balances things out with return matches played at the opponent's venue. (See your local league rules for confirmation).
The Bulling-Off process is used in some leagues and professional dart matches.
The standard rule is each player throws one dart at the bullseye, the nearest wins and can throw first in the match. If the first dart lands and covers the direct path for the second player, the dart remains in the dartboard but can be straightened by the referee so that player two can have a clear shot.
Player one hitting an outer bullseye can give an advantage to player two as in this scenario, player two can use the dart to 'kiss off' and hit the centre bullseye and claim the throw!
Some league rules will say hitting an outer bullseye, like hitting a centre bullseye, the dart is removed before Player Two throws.
PDC Rule change to Bulling-Off (PDC Rules Only)
In the PDC 2007 World Championship, Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld arguably had the best darts final seen in darts to date. Poised at six sets all and five legs all, a sudden death leg came into play. The players had to bull-off again to see who would throw first in the final leg. Phil threw and hit the outer bullseye. Raymond had the option of having Phil's dart removed as it was in the outer bullseye or leaving it in situ. He left it and used it by clipping Phil's with his, which hit the bullseye like using a pool ball over a pocket to help another to enter the pocket. Raymond went on to win.
The magnitude of this final leg called into question the bulling-off process. Hence the PDC reviewed how the bulling-off procedure could be changed so it favoured neither player.
The PDC ruling is now a player MUST hit a bullseye or outer bullseye to win the throw. All darts are retrieved after each throw and are not left on the board. Regardless of distance, players missing the bullseye or outer bullseye will not count. This seems a much fairer way. However, new players may find this feat challenging, and you may wish not to adopt these rules in a friendly game as long as both players agree.
© Darts-Oche TM
More Dart Games...
THE MOST PLAYED GAME IN DARTS ’01
The rules are simple, but mastering the game is hard, as any dart player will tell you. The most common version is 501.
Around the Clock / Around the World
Various names are given to this game. Easy to play and great for beginners to help hone their skills.
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180 Around the Clock
Unlike the basic Around the Clock game, this game is entirely different. Design by David King, this game may look straightforward, but you will soon become addicted as you try to better your score. The game can be used as a practice game or against others. It will improve your throw for other games like 501!
Baseball Darts
Has any American or Japanese darts fan may tell you, you can buy dartboards designed for this game. However, here are some rules to play on a standard dartboard. This game is not to be confused with the famous ‘Dartball Dart’ game.
Battleship Darts
David King's version of Battleship Darts. This game is based on the pen-n-paper grid game, but the dartboard segments replace the grid. Use the bullseye as a radar vessel identifier. The first to destroy their opponent's fleet is the winner.
Chase the Dragon
Designed by David King for the more experienced dart player, this game can be fast, or if you feel you are that good, try the three-headed dragon variation!
Cricket
Cricket is a popular game played in pubs and clubs and is probably played as much in the USA as 501. Soft-tip dartboards will have this game built into their electric scoring boards, and the game form part of the Soft-tip championships.
Cricket - Wickets and Runs
As the name suggests, this is a version of crickets where wickets and runs are required. I tend o call this ‘English Cricket’ so it isn’t confused with the general darts game ‘Cricket’ where segments are closed before scoring.
Fives
Something different, 5’s might make your last throw crucial because if your total score isn’t divisible by 5 to a whole round number, you don’t score!
Follow On / Follow the Leader
How good are you at replicating your opponent's score? Not just the big scores but the doubles, trebles and bullseye. Follow On or Follow the Leader will test any player's skill as you have to hit in order what your opponent has just achieved.
Football
Darts has its version of the most played sport in the world, 'Football'. Easy rules and fun to play if you are a Football fan or Soccer, as some like to call it!
Golf
Are you the Tiger Wood of the Dartboad? Establish your handicap, and you are good to go. The handicap can level the playing field for all levels to play and enjoy.
Grand National
Designed by David King, this game is similar to other horse racing with steeple jumps. However, this is a little harder as you need to complete two circuits over jumps as per the 'Grand National' as the game gets harder the further down the track you make. Handicaps can be applied, but watch as some of the front runners may fall early!
Halve it!
Score as much as you can on the selected numbers, but miss one, then your accumulative score is halved! You determine the numbers and target areas; examples are shown.
Hare and Hounds
Who is the hare, and who is the hound? The chase game is an easy but fun game to play for beginners. Will you get away from the jaws of the hound?
Ho No!
A simple game with a race to a target number, but watch out; your opponents may set you back to Zero! HO No!
Killer and Blind Killer
There is murder on the dartboard! Killer requires several players. However, to stop the mob from ganging up on you, 'Blind Killer’ lets you play incognito. A true favourite amongst friends!
Knockout
Up for the fight? Who is the stronger? A straight knockout is a game designed for several players to play simultaneously. A good quick league team warm-up game. High scores win this contest.
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Loop / Loopy
Loop or Loopy, as some like to call it, is a game played in many pubs and clubs, usually for a small wager. However, I have also seen many dartboard wire number rings break because of this game. It also isn’t suitable for modern dartboard number rings. A high skill level is required.
Mickey Mouse
As the name applies, this is a game where the rules of a strict game are changed! Mickey Mouse is a simplified game of cricket. Played for fun and speed, this game is suitable for players new to the sport.
Nine Lives
A simple game of elimination. Miss and lose a life! The game can be played with multiple players and can be played at all leaves of ability. However, this is a game mainly aimed at beginners.
Noughts and Crosses / (Tic-Tac-Toe)
Noughts and Crosses, or as some call it, ‘Tic-Tac-Toe’, is a fun game, and unlike the pen and ink game, you may find you have more winners than a constant draw! Numbers replace the scoring areas, as you will see within the rules.
Prisoner
Will you lose your darts to the prison and then lose your darts to another? This is a great game for several people to play, read the rules carefully, as they can be a little complicated.
Scam
One player stops the other from scoring in this game of Scam. The order of play reverses to determine a winner!
Shanghai
A very popular game that will help improve your skill level. Hitting the sing, double and treble of the next nominated number.
Shove Ha'Penny
The traditional ‘Shove Ha’Penny’ game in darts format. Shove Ha’Penny may not be that familiar to some, but once it was a popular pastime game.
Snooker
Like Baseball, you can purchase Snooker-inspired dartboards. However, with a bit of number labelling, you can play an excellent game of Snooker on a dartboard.
Sudden Death
Sudden Death is a variation of ‘Knockout’ with the lowest-scoring player eliminated after each round! Score High!
The Preston Game!
The Preston Game gets its name from the Preston Dartboard (no longer made). My thanks to Barry Riley for providing me with the rules to share with you.
Tennis
My thanks to Richard Cotterill and Keith Black for designing this game for initial inclusion on one of my other dart websites. The rules are quite detailed but worth the effect if you want something new to play.
Game Dartboards
If you are not a 501 or cricket darts enthusiast, then you may like to know dartboards come in a number of designs to play one or two specific games. Popular boards are casino oriented along with games based on other sports, Golf, Snooker to name just two.
If you write articles or dart information websites and like the games, please link to this page.
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