Darts is a competitive sport where players throw small sharp-pointed projectiles, called darts, at a round target known as a dartboard. The game originated in England in the 1860s and is now widely played across the world, particularly in the British Isles. Governed by organisations like the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and the World Darts Federation (WDF), darts can be played recreationally or professionally. It is traditionally associated with pub culture but has grown into a professional sport with global tournaments.
The dartboard is typically 451 mm (17.8 inches) in diameter and divided into 20 numbered sections, scoring between 1 and 20 points. The central part of the board is the bullseye, with the inner red section worth 50 points and the green outer ring worth 25 points. Other sections of the board include singles, doubles, and triples, with doubles scoring twice the value and triples scoring three times. The highest score a player can achieve in one turn with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple-20s.
Darts can be played in different formats, with the most common being 501, where players aim to reduce their score from 501 to zero. To win, the final dart must land in either a double or the bullseye. Players take turns, throwing three darts each per turn. Other versions of the game include 301, 701, and 1001, often played in team formats. Darts games can also vary by region, such as American darts and other variations like cricket and dirtball.
The equipment used in darts includes a set of three darts, which consist of a point, barrel, shaft, and flight. The barrels can be made of different materials like brass, nickel-silver, or tungsten, with tungsten being the preferred choice due to its high density. Flights help stabilise the dart during its flight towards the board. Dartboards are generally made from sisal fibres, but cheaper versions might use cork or coiled paper.
Darts can be played in various forms, with different types of dartboards and rules depending on the region or variation. Here are some of the common types of darts games:
Standard Darts (501/301): This is the most common type of darts game, where players aim to reduce a set score (usually 501 or 301) to zero. The game must be finished by hitting a double or the bullseye.
Cricket: In this game, players aim to hit specific numbers on the dartboard (15 to 20 and the bullseye) three times each. Once a number is hit three times, it is “closed,” and the player can score points on it until their opponent closes it as well.
American Darts: This is a regional variant played mostly in parts of the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. The game uses a special dartboard with different scoring areas compared to the traditional dartboard.
Dartball: Dartball is similar to baseball, where a dartboard is shaped like a baseball diamond, and players throw darts to score runs, just like in a baseball game.
Fives: This variation is popular in some parts of London. The dartboard has fewer segments, each numbered 5, 10, 15, or 20. Players start with a score of 505 and aim to reduce it to zero.
Halve It: In this game, players must hit predetermined targets on the dartboard. If they fail to hit the target in three darts, their score is halved.
Killer: Killer is a knock-out game where each player selects a number by throwing a dart with their non-dominant hand. Once a player hits their number five times, they become a “killer” and can target other players’ numbers to knock them out of the game.
Shanghai: This game involves aiming for one number per round, starting with 1 and going up to 7. The player with the highest score at the end wins, or a player can win instantly by hitting a single, double, and treble of the same number in a round (known as a "Shanghai").
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