How to Play 501 Darts

Learn to play 501 darts.

If you catch professional dart tournaments in person or on TV, you'll find the game played most often is 501 darts. It may take some time to get up to the professional level, but recreational darters can still have a good time playing this popular dart game. Brush up on your math skills and enjoy 501 with your friends.

Things You'll Need

• 2 to 4 players
• Darts
• Dartboard
• Score sheet or chalkboard
• Pencil or chalk
• Eraser

Instructions

1. Decide if you are playing a singles match or with two teams of two.

2. Divide the score sheet into two halves, one for each team. Label each side with the players' names or initials, so you can keep track of which score belongs to which team.

3. Each team starts with 501 points. The object is to work your way down to zero.

4. The first player throws three darts and adds up his score. Subtract that number from 501 and mark it on the score sheet.

5. The first player removes the darts, and the next player throws. If playing four players, the turns alternate between teams.

6. A player must end the game on a double. If you have 32 points left, you hit the double 16 to get out. The narrow outer ring of the dartboard is the doubles ring. (The narrow inner ring is worth triple points.) The highest double you can get out on is the center bulls eye, which is 50 points.

7. Darts that miss the double ring and land on another number must be counted into your score. If you have 40 points, you need a double 20. If your dart lands in the single 20 section, you must subtract 20 points from your score. With 20 points left, you now need a double 10 to end the game.

8. If you hit a number larger than the number of points you have left, you've "busted." Your point total then returns to what you had at the start of your turn.

9. If your score leaves you with 1 point, you have also busted. You cannot double out on a 1, so you are back to your points at the start of the turn.

10. The first player to double out wins the game. In recreational play, the team that lost the match gets to start first on the next game.

Tips & Warnings

• Professional and league play games usually start with what is called a "diddle," as in "Diddle for the Middle." Each team throws one dart at the bulls eye. Whoever gets closest to the bulls eye gets to start the game. When playing "best of three" matches, players diddle on the first game. The loser of that game starts the second. Players diddle again at the start of the third game.

• Be wary of odd numbers as you get closer to zero. You cannot double out on an odd number. If you accidentally hit an odd number when you're going for a double, you need to hit another odd number to even your points out again.

• The more you play the game, the more you'll pick up on strategy. Most players like to work their way down to 32 points, because it's a number that gives you several chances at the game-winning out. If you hit a single 16 instead of the double 16, you can now try for a double 8. A single 8 thrown now leaves you with double 4, and so on. If you have 22 points and hit the single 11, you have to even the score out before you can go for the double again.

References

• Masters Games: The Rules of Darts