Dart Games Variants
The Global Dartboard: Regional Variants and Traditions
Darts is often viewed as a singular game played in smoke-filled British pubs, but look closer and you'll find a complex tapestry of regional traditions. From the "Master Out" bars of Germany to the "Double-In" heritage of Ireland, how you play depends entirely on where you stand.
The "01" Family: The Global Standard
The most common competitive format is the "01" game (301, 501, 701). While the goal—getting to zero—is universal, the entry and exit requirements change by region.
The "Outs": Finishing the Game
Double Out (The Professional Standard)
The most common finish in the UK, Netherlands, and Belgium. You must hit a double to reach exactly zero.
Trivia: The bullseye counts as a "Double 25," meaning you can finish a game on a bullseye.
Master Out (The Central European Favorite)
Dominant in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, especially in E-Dart (electronic) leagues. You can finish on either a Double OR a Triple. This makes the "checkout" much faster and changes the math significantly.
Straight Out (The Casual/American Style)
Common in casual North American bars. You simply need to reach zero. No double or triple is required.
The "In": Starting the Game
Straight In
The standard for almost all televised tournaments.
Double In (The Irish/World Grand Prix Style)
Popular in Ireland and parts of Northern England. You cannot start scoring until you hit a double.
Local Legend: This format is used in the PDC World Grand Prix. It is often called the "ultimate equalizer" because even the best players in the world can get stuck for several rounds without scoring a single point.
Cricket: The American Obsession
While the UK loves 501, the United States, Canada, and parts of Asia are obsessed with Cricket.
The Goal
"Close" numbers 15 through 20 and the Bullseye by hitting them three times each.
Point Cricket
If you close a number before your opponent, you can "point" on them by hitting it again, racking up a score they must then overcome.
No-Score Cricket
Common in casual Asian bars and some European "friendly" matches. It's a pure race to close the numbers; points are ignored.
Tactics Trivia: In the US, Cricket is highly tactical. If an opponent is far ahead in points, you might spend three turns just "pointing" on the 20s to bury them before moving to other numbers.
The "Board" Variants: It's Not Always the Same Target
Believe it or not, not all dartboards look like the one you see on TV.
The Yorkshire and Manchester Boards (UK)
In specific regions of Northern England, "Traditional" boards are still used:
Yorkshire Board
No triples, and no "outer" bullseye. Just singles and doubles. It makes a 100+ score nearly impossible.
Manchester Log-End
A very small board made of solid wood (usually Poplar) that must be kept soaked in water to prevent it from cracking. It is much smaller than a standard board and has no triples.
The American "Baseball" Dartboard
Primarily found in Pennsylvania and New York, this board is designed to play Baseball Darts. It has a completely different layout where the numbers 1 through 9 are the only ones that matter (representing the 9 innings).
Pub Games & "Killer" Variants
Bars have developed games that allow 4, 6, or even 10 people to play at once.
Killer
A staple in British and Australian pubs.
The Rule: Each player is assigned a "number" (usually by throwing with their "wrong" hand). Once you hit your own double, you become a "Killer" and can hit other people's doubles to take their lives.
Trivia: In some "hardcore" pub versions, if you hit your own double after becoming a killer, you lose a life (committing "suicide").
Halve It (Split Score)
Common in South Africa and the UK.
The Rule: A list of targets is set (e.g., 20, 16, Double 7, Triple 19). If you miss all three darts in a round, your total score is cut in half.
The Dreaded Finish: The final round is often "Bullseye." Many players go from 400 points to 25 in the final minute of the game.
Shanghai
Named after the city, this is a race from 1 to 20.
The "Instant Win": If you hit a Single, Double, and Triple of the active number in a single turn, you win the game immediately, regardless of the score.
Regional Trivia & Etiquette
The "Oche" (Line)
In the UK, it's pronounced ok-key. In some US bars, it's just "the line."
Chalking
In traditional UK pub leagues, the "loser" of the previous game is expected to "chalk" (keep score) for the next game. Refusing to chalk is a major breach of etiquette.
Soft-Tip vs. Steel-Tip
In Japan and Spain, "Soft-Tip" (plastic) darts on electronic boards are far more popular than the traditional steel-tip game. This has led to the rise of massive global online networks like Dartslive and Phoenix.
Discover More Dart Games
Whether you're playing 501 with Double Out in a London pub, Master Out in a German E-Dart league, or Cricket in an American bar, understanding regional variants adds depth to the game. Each tradition brings its own strategy, etiquette, and local flavor to the oche.
Use Simple Dart Counter to practice any of these variants and discover which style suits your play best!