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Around the Clock Darts Rules: How to Play

Around the Clock is the simplest darts game there is and one of the best for practice. You work through the board from 1 to 20, one number at a time, and the first to get there wins.

Setup

What you need

A board, three darts each and a way to track where everyone is up to. Throw from the usual 7 ft 9¼ in (2.37 m) oche. Throw a dart each at the bull to decide who goes first, closest takes the first turn.

Everyone starts on the number 1. There is no score to keep, only each player’s current target, so a chalkboard or a scrap of paper does the job.

How a turn works

One number at a time

  1. Take turns throwing three darts at your current number.
  2. Every dart that lands in that number counts, in the single, double or treble. Hit it and you move on to the next number straight away.
  3. If your first dart finds the 1, your next two darts can already go at the 2. A good turn can move you on three numbers.
  4. Darts that miss, or land on any other number, do nothing. Your next turn starts on the same number.

For example: you are on 6 and throw a single 6, a miss, then a single 7. The 6 moves you on to 7, the miss is wasted, and the single 7 is a hit on your new number, so you start your next turn aiming at 8.

Winning

How the game ends

The first player to hit 20 wins. If you play with the bull as the finish, you hit 20, then the outer bull, then the bullseye, and the bullseye wins the game.

If you are playing alone, the score is the number of darts it took you to get round. Write it down and try to beat it next time.

Common variants

House rules worth knowing

  • Doubles and trebles skip ahead. A double moves you two numbers on, a treble three. It rewards big darts and shortens the game.
  • Doubles only, or trebles only. You only advance when you hit your number in that ring. Much harder, and good for practice.
  • Finish on the bull. After 20 you need the outer bull, then the bullseye. Sometimes called Around the World.
  • Reverse. Start on 20 and work down to 1.
  • Board order. Follow the numbers as they sit around the board: 20, 1, 18, 4, 13 and so on. It is a lot harder than counting up.

Pubs differ on these, so settle which version you are playing before the first dart.

Tips

Playing it better

  • Aim at the middle of the number’s wedge, not the edge. Singles are the biggest part of the segment, and any ring counts.
  • Do not rush after a hit. Reset your stance for every dart, the same as you would for a double.
  • Use it as a warm-up. Running a few rounds of Around the Clock before a match gets you throwing at every part of the board.
  • Two players on the same number? Think about whether to chase a miss, you only move on by hitting, so patience beats panic.

Want a game with more bite? Try Shanghai, which also goes up the board one number at a time, or Halve-It. Every game is listed on the darts hub.

Questions

Quick answers

Do you have to hit the number in order?
Yes. You can only progress by hitting the number you are on. Darts that land on other numbers do nothing, even if they are the next one you need.
Does a double or treble move you on more than one number?
Not in the basic game. Any hit on your number, single, double or treble, moves you on by one. Some groups let a double jump two numbers and a treble jump three, so agree it before you start.
Is the bullseye part of the game?
In the standard game you finish on 20. Many players add the outer bull and then the bullseye to finish, which makes it a longer game.
How many players can play Around the Clock?
Any number. Everyone throws three darts per turn and races to finish first. On your own, you count how many darts it takes and try to beat your record.

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