501 is the dart game that is generally played at competition level around the world. Tricky Darts Scorer enables you to play any version of the "01" game from 101 to 1001. The shorter game is used to practice pegouts (explained later) whilst the longer game is used to practice scoring. The longer games are also used for team games, where two or more people can play on the one team.

The game of "01" begins by one member from each team throwing a dart at the bullseye to determine the order of play, closest to bullseye going first. The game then proceeds from the nominated total down to exactly zero, the first player getting there being the winner. A set of darts bringing the score to one or below is not scored at all. The player resumes from the previous total on the next throw.

Finishing the game is referred to as pegging out or otherwise getting the pegout. This is achieved by bringing the score down to zero, subject to doubles conditions if they apply.

"Doubles to Finish" is the game normally played in competition. This means that players are required to finish the game on a double. This double must bring the score down to exactly zero. Centre bull counts as 50 (ie double 25).

"Doubles to Start" is normally used in conjunction with "Doubles to Finish". This makes a more difficult game as players are required to throw a double before any score can be taken from their total.

Mickey Mouse in this author's opinion is one of the most fun and competitive darts games around. It can be played with two or more teams with one or more players per team. For the novice darts player, chance can play a part in the game as numbers all around the board can score. For the more experienced player it offers a fun alternative to the game of 501 and gives them an opportunity to practice numbers all around the board, which can be a real help when going for that high peg out.

The Scoreboard
A game of Mickey Mouse begins with a pre-drawn scoreboard similar to the following diagram.

Optionally more or less numbers can be used and the beds, bulls, doubles or trebles removed.

Object of the Game
The object of Mickey Mouse is to be the first team to close all of the categories on the scoreboard, twenty down to twelve, doubles, trebles, bulls and beds. To close a category a team must score three of that category. A treble twenty can count as three twenties or as a treble. Scores are taken once all three darts have been thrown. An inner bull counts as two bulls or a double. A bed is made when getting three darts in the same number on the same throw. A team as well as closing all categories must also have the highest score to be declared the winners. If they do not they must keep scoring on whatever is available to them. Put simply the winning team is the first team to have both the highest score and all the categories closed.

Scoring
A team may score in any category once they have three of that category until all other teams also have three of that category. Thus a treble twenty, twenty, twenty thrown on the first set of darts for the game, could either be taken as a treble and two twenties or three twenties and two twenties scored. Beds score the total of all three darts.

Special Rules
A version of the game I will call nomination is also played which adds another level of difficulty for more experienced players and makes the players think more about each dart that they throw. The rules for nomination are simple. A player must announce whether a double or treble of the numbers on the scoreboard is to be counted as that number or in the appropriate double or treble category at the time the dart is thrown, rather than announcing it after throwing all three darts. This does not stop the player from taking a bed instead after all three darts have been thrown.

Shanghais
Shanghais are special combinations of three darts that score a bonus of 100 score when thrown. Shanghai bonus can be scored on any number whether open for score or not. There are three possible ways of scoring a Shanghai, one is a single double and treble of the same number, another is three trebles of the same number and the last is two inner bulls and one outer bull. Shanghai bonus is scored in addition to anything else the team may be entitled to score.

Burma Road is a game for two or more players. Play begins with all players throwing for the bull. The closest player to the bull may choose to throw first or last. All other players throw in order of closest to the bull.

Each player begins the game with twenty points. Players throw in turn for the following numbers in this order - 20, 19, 18, double (any), 17, 16, 15, treble (any), 14, 13, 12, bulls (either), having three darts at each number. Only target numbers count toward score and any scores on the target numbers are added onto the persons score.

In the event of all three darts missing the current target the players score is halved (rounding up). This can be very deadly in the latter parts of the game. The winner is the player with the highest score at the end of the game.

This is the game known as Cricket in Australia. It is based on the game of cricket played with bat and ball. The object of the game is to score as many runs as possible before losing your wickets. One or two inning matches may be played. An inning consists of each team having a turn at bowling and batting. The team with the highest score at the end of a match is the winner.

Players should first divide into two teams. Next, as is traditional in a game of cricket a coin is tossed to determine which team bats and which team bowls, the winner of the toss chooses which they want to do first.

The bowling side throws first, throwing at the bull. A single bull counts as one wicket, a double as two wickets.

The batting side goes next. Any score made above 45 counts towards the score for the innings. Thus if the total of three darts scores 60, then 60 minus 45 is 15. 15 is added to the innings score.

Teams take it in turn until the bowling side has taken 10 wickets. The batting side is then all out and it is now their turn to bowl.

Follow ons can be forced and declarations made as in a real game of cricket.

This is a good game for times when several players are available.

Each player/team starts by throwing for the bull to determine order of play. Every player/team begins the game with 3 lives (make this 5 if you want the game to last a little longer), when all of these are gone the player/team is out of the game. Play continues until only one player/team remains.

Play begins by the first player/team setting the lead by throwing one dart at the board with their wrong hand to set the lead. More darts may be used until a lead is set. Possible sets are the double of a number, the outer of a number (the bit between the double and treble), the treble of a number, the inner of a number (the bit between the treble and the bull), the outer bull and the inner bull. The next player/team has three darts to hit the previous set and to set a new lead. The player/team loses a life if the previous lead set is not hit. One additional dart is available if a new lead has still not been set with the first three darts. If no new lead is set then play reverts to the old set and that player/team loses a life. A player/team does not have to throw at a lead that they set themselves. They can choose to pass the throw if they wish.

These are versions of the same game with the rules being basically the same.

Each player/team starts by throwing for the bull to determine order of play. Every player/team begins the game with 3 lives, when all of these are gone the player/team is out of the game. Play continues until only one player/team remains.

The first player/team throws a set of darts at the board with the wrong hand. The total scored by this set of darts is recorded and must be beaten by the next player/team. If the score is not beaten then a life is forfeited. The total made is then recorded as the new target. This continues with each player/team either beating the previous score or not and losing a life.

Play is basically the same as for Overs, except each team attempts to throw less than the team they follow. Inner and outer bulls count as zero.

Shanghai is a simple game for two or more players, that gets you throwing at the lower numbers on the board for a change.

Each player in turn starts by throwing 3 darts at number one, then number two and then all the numbers up to and including seven. A double counts for score as two of a number, a treble as three. The player with the highest tally at the end of the game wins unless.....

A Shanghai is thrown. If a single, double and treble of the target number is thrown, the player automatically wins. Players with a throw still remaining on that round may still attempt to throw a Shanghai for the draw.