What numbers are used in Cricket darts?

15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and the bullseye. Nothing else on the board counts.

How many players can play Cricket?

Standard Cricket is for two players or two teams. Three or more players usually play cut-throat, where points go against your opponents.

Do you need to close all the numbers to win?

You need all seven closed and a score equal to or higher than your opponent's. If you close everything but you are behind on points, keep scoring on any numbers your opponent has left open until you catch up.

Does the bullseye count as a double?

Yes for marks. The inner bull counts as two marks and the outer bull as one, so you need three marks in total across the bull to close it. Each mark scores 25 points once the bull is closed.

What is the difference between standard and cut-throat Cricket?

In standard Cricket, when you hit a number you have closed and your opponent has not, the points go to your own score and the highest score wins. In cut-throat, those points go to your opponents instead, and the lowest score wins.

Darts

Cricket Darts Rules: How to Play

Cricket is the best-known alternative to 501. You only aim at seven targets, and every dart on them is useful. It rewards accuracy and strategy over big scoring, which makes it a good game for mixed abilities.

The idea

Close the numbers, then score on them

The numbers in play are 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and the bullseye. Each player or team tries to close all seven by hitting each one three times, called marks. Once you have closed a number, any further hits score points, as long as your opponent has not closed it too.

How many marks each dart is worth
Dart	Counts as
Single	1 mark
Double	2 marks
Treble	3 marks
Outer bull (25)	1 mark
Inner bull (50)	2 marks

How to play

Turn by turn

Decide who throws first, usually with a throw at the bull, and take turns of three darts.
Darts at 15 to 20 and the bull earn marks. Darts at 1 to 14 do nothing.
A number closes for you after three marks. A treble closes it in one dart. Only the numbers still open for you can score.
Once you have closed a number and your opponent has not, each extra mark scores its face value: 20 points for each 20, and 25 for each bull mark.
When both players have closed a number, it is dead and nobody scores on it.

For example: you hit a treble 19, closing it. Next turn you hit a single 19 and your opponent has not closed it, so you score 19 points. A double 19 would be two marks and 38 points.

Winning

How a game of Cricket is won

You win by closing all seven numbers while holding at least as many points as your opponent. If you close everything first but trail on points, you have to keep scoring on any numbers your opponent has left open until you are level or ahead.

Strategy matters. Closing the high numbers first, 20, 19 and 18, builds a points lead that is hard to catch. If your opponent is ahead on points but has numbers open, closing those numbers cuts off their scoring.

Variation

Cut-throat Cricket

Cut-throat flips the scoring. When you hit a number you have closed, the points go onto the score of every opponent who has not closed it. The player with the lowest score at the end wins, as long as they have closed all their numbers. It is the usual way to play Cricket with three or more people, because the leader cannot hide.

Playing 501 instead? The 501 rules cover the standard game, and the scoring guide shows how to mark Cricket on a chalkboard.

Questions

Quick answers

What numbers are used in Cricket darts?: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and the bullseye. Nothing else on the board counts.
How many players can play Cricket?: Standard Cricket is for two players or two teams. Three or more players usually play cut-throat, where points go against your opponents.
Do you need to close all the numbers to win?: You need all seven closed and a score equal to or higher than your opponent's. If you close everything but you are behind on points, keep scoring on any numbers your opponent has left open until you catch up.
Does the bullseye count as a double?: Yes for marks. The inner bull counts as two marks and the outer bull as one, so you need three marks in total across the bull to close it. Each mark scores 25 points once the bull is closed.
What is the difference between standard and cut-throat Cricket?: In standard Cricket, when you hit a number you have closed and your opponent has not, the points go to your own score and the highest score wins. In cut-throat, those points go to your opponents instead, and the lowest score wins.

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