How To

How to Play American Cricket Darts

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor
Rate: (35 Ratings)

People who dabble in darts don't realize that cricket is a strategy game. Learn the rules, then develop your technique.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Chalkboards
  • Chalkboard Eraser
  • Chalks
  • Dartboards
  • Darts
  1. Step 1

    Play with two people or four people on two teams.

  2. Step 2

    Write the numbers 20 down to 15 vertically on each side of the scoreboard. Put a letter "B" (for "bull's-eye") below the 15, and below that write "points."

  3. Step 3

    Throw three darts at a time, alternating players. Remove the darts after your turn.

  4. Step 4

    Count any darts that land in the bull's-eye or numbers 15 through 20. Don't award points for hits on the numbers 1 through 14.

  5. Step 5

    Mark a slash on the scoreboard next to a number when you hit one. The second time you hit, make a second slash to form an X. The third time, circle the X.

  6. Step 6

    Count the number twice if a dart lands in the doubles ring (the narrow one around the outside), and count the number three times if a dart lands in the triples ring (the smaller one between the doubles ring and the bull's-eye).

  7. Step 7

    Close out a number by hitting it three times. Once an X is circled, that number is closed.

  8. Step 8

    Hit a number that you've already closed but your opponent still has open, and you get points: If you closed 15 and then hit it again, you get 15 points, which you write in the points area. If you closed the bull's-eye and then hit it again, you score 50 points.

  9. Step 9

    Total up all of the points when one player closes out all of his numbers plus the B. The person or team with the most points wins.

  10. Step 10

    Keep playing if you close all of your numbers before your opponent but are behind in total points. You can win only if you accumulate more points than your opponent before he closes out all of his numbers.

Tips & Warnings
  • Try to close numbers that your opponent has closed to keep him from scoring more points.
  • Points don't start accumulating until the number is closed.
  • A variation called "no slop" requires the players to close out the numbers in order starting with 20 at the top and working down to B at the bottom.

Comments  

| View All 7 Comments
Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 8/8/2006 Try shooting at a Bull earlier in the game. Do this when you have a lead in points and your opponent cannot score on their first dart of their next turn. Meaning that your opponent must first open a new number, point, and then close one of your numbers you have opened. For example, you have 20's and 19's closed with 40 points and you have one dart left. Your opponent, has two marks on 20's, no marks on any other number, and no points. Try to shoot the the third dart at bull. There's 2 reasons for this.
Reason 1: It is impossible to close bulls with one dart. So, by getting one bull early in the game, it is possible to close bulls with one dart hitting a double bull at the end of the game.
Reason 2: Getting that one bull early will really get in the head of your opponent. Your opponent will be thinking about that one bull lead for the entire game, while taking a little pressure off yourself.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 12/30/2005 If you're not a very good dart player, try throwing your darts at the B first. I do this and find that my misses often hit the other numbers needed. If I'm lucky, I'll hit the B, if not, I could get a lucky miss by hitting a number between 15 and 20.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 Since you score 3 hits for hitting the triple row, always throw for the triple section of the board. Generally you want to emphasize closing numbers before scoring points, since you can score on sloppy throws. If you have trouble hitting Bulls, you need to score some extra points in advance.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 If you are not a marksman in darts, it helps to group your targets. Aim for 20 and 18, 17 and 15, 16 and 19, or 17 and 19. Don't shift your weight or pull the dart out of your field of vision while aiming and throwing.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 Cricket strategy is based on who has the lead. If you're winning, then close the numbers your opponent has opened to prevent him from scoring points. If you're losing, then score points to prolong the game. This gives you a better opportunity to come back by giving you more turns.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Have you done this? Click here to let us know.

I Did This

Related Ads

Hobbies, Games & Toys
Nate Chang, eHow Expert,

Meet Nate Chang, eHow Expert eHow’s Hobbies, Games & Toys Expert.

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

eHow Hobbies, Games and Toys
eHow_eHow Hobbies, Games and Toys