This is a basic guide to scoring darts so you can watch it on TV.

First, some dartboard basics.

Throw a dart!

Can you hit the highest-value tile on the board?


Contrary to popular belief, the bullseye (more accurately, the double bullseye) isn't the "best" tile on the board. It's worth 50 points, and there are 4 tiles worth more: the triples of 17, 18, 19, and 20.

Why does that matter? The goal of a game of darts is to score exactly 501 points. The first stage of a game of darts is to get as many points as possible.

Each tile in the inner ring is worth triple the value of that section, and the outer ring is worth double the value.

Check out the heatmap and mouseover here
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Now that you know how the dartboard works, let's get on to the game play.










Each player throws three darts per turn.

Professional darts players (the only kind we care about on TV) are generally hoping for 180 points per turn: three triple-20s in a row.

Here's how many 180s have been thrown by 50 top darts players over the last 20 years.




What's more important is what the commentators (and crowd) do when a 180 is scored:







The shortest game of darts is over in 9 darts -- a 9-darter. Here's how many 9-darters have been played by 50 top darts players in the last 20 years:

(not many)




You now have almost all of the information you need to watch darts on TV!







There’s one more important thing: how does a game of darts end?


A game of darts can only end with a player reaching 501 points by hitting a double tile – one of the tiles around the outside of the board or the double bullseye in the center.

This chart highlights the most efficient checkouts, but in truth the possibilities are basically endless--particularly if you miss the spot you're aiming for!


**There are still some bugs to be worked out -- for now, re-load the page to choose a new selection (ugh I know).