What does it mean to halve your score?

If all three darts miss the round's target, your total is cut in half. A score of 84 becomes 42.

Do you round up or down when halving?

Most groups round down, so 85 becomes 42. Some round up. Agree it before you start.

What does 'any double' mean?

Any dart in the double ring, on any number. Each one adds its value to your score, so a double 16 adds 32.

What score does everyone start on?

Zero in the usual game, so early halvings cost little. Some groups start from 40 so there is something to lose from the first round.

Darts

Halve-It Darts Rules: How to Play

Halve-It is a scoring game with a nasty edge. Each round has a target, hit it and you score, miss it with all three darts and your whole total is cut in half. The lead can vanish in one bad turn.

Setup

The targets

Any number of players, three darts each per round. Everyone starts on zero. A standard game has nine rounds, each with a different target:

The target for each round
Round	Target
1	15
2	16
3	Any double
4	17
5	18
6	Any treble
7	19
8	20
9	Bull

How a turn works

Hit it, or lose half

In each round, every player throws three darts at that round’s target.
Each dart that hits the target adds its value to your total. A treble 20 adds 60, a double 16 adds 32.
For “any double” or “any treble”, any dart in that ring counts, whatever the number.
For the bull, the outer bull adds 25 and the bullseye adds 50.
If none of your three darts hit the target, your total is halved. One hit is enough to keep it.

For example: you are on 84 and the round is 17. You hit a single 17 and miss twice. You add 17 and finish on 101. If you had missed all three, you would have dropped to 42.

Winning

Highest score after the last round

After the final round, the highest total wins. Ties are settled by a throw at the bull, closest takes it.

Halving rounds down in most pubs, so 85 becomes 42. If you play it rounding up, say so at the start. A player on zero has nothing left to lose.

Common variants

Other versions

Bermuda Triangle. Thirteen rounds: 12, 13, 14, any double, 15, 16, 17, any treble, 18, 19, 20, the outer bull and the bullseye.
Double Down. Same targets as the standard game, but everyone starts on 40.
Your own list. Many groups make up their own targets, such as a specific double or a score of at least 41.
Rounding. Down is normal, up is a house rule.

The target list differs between pubs, so confirm yours before the first round.

Tips

Protecting your total

Hit once and you are safe. Aim at the biggest part of the target, not the highest-scoring spot.
The higher your total, the more a halving costs. When you are leading, play for safety.
Behind late on? The big trebles in the last rounds are your route back.
Any-double rounds are harder than they sound. Pick a double you hit well and stick to it.

For a scoring game with no penalty, try Baseball or Around the Clock. There are more on the darts hub.

Questions

Quick answers

What does it mean to halve your score?: If all three darts miss the round's target, your total is cut in half. A score of 84 becomes 42.
Do you round up or down when halving?: Most groups round down, so 85 becomes 42. Some round up. Agree it before you start.
What does 'any double' mean?: Any dart in the double ring, on any number. Each one adds its value to your score, so a double 16 adds 32.
What score does everyone start on?: Zero in the usual game, so early halvings cost little. Some groups start from 40 so there is something to lose from the first round.

More darts