Keep score here
Pick Single, Double or Treble, then tap the number you hit. Three darts per visit, then the board moves on to the next player. Made a mistake? “Undo” takes back the last dart.
The aim of the game
- Only 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15 and the Bull count. The rest of the board scores nothing.
- You must close each of these numbers by hitting it three times, in any order.
- The winner is the first player to close everything with at least as many points as every opponent.
Marks: single, double, treble
Each hit gives marks: a single is one, a double two, a treble three. A treble 20 closes the 20 in one dart. In the centre, the outer bull (25) is one mark and the Bull two; there is no treble Bull.
On a chalkboard, one mark is written “/”, two “✕”, and a closed number “⊗”.
Scoring points
Once a number is closed, every extra mark scores its value in points as long as at least one opponent has not closed it: a treble 20 on a closed 20 is worth 60. On the Bull, each extra mark is worth 25.
When every player has closed a number, it is “dead”: nobody can score on it any more.
Extra marks count on the closing dart too: with two marks on 19, a treble 19 uses one to close it and scores 2 × 19 = 38.
Who wins?
- As soon as a player has closed all seven numbers with as many points or more than every opponent, they win, even mid-visit.
- Everything closed but fewer points? The game goes on: they must score on a number the opponent still has open, while the opponent tries to close.
- If everyone has closed everything, nobody can score: the best score wins, and equal scores are a draw.
Worked example
Two players, Lea against Tom. The first two visits each:
| Visit | Darts | What happens | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lea | T20, 20, 20 | The treble closes 20. The two singles are extra marks and Tom has not closed 20: 2 × 20. | 40 |
| Tom | T20, T19, 5 | Tom closes 20: it is dead, nobody scores on it now. He also closes 19. The 5 does not count. | 0 |
| Lea | T19, 18, D18 | 19 is closed on both sides: nothing to score. The single and double 18 close 18. | 40 |
| Tom | T18, T17, D17 | Tom closes 18 (dead), closes 17 and scores 2 × 17 because Lea has not closed it. | 34 |
After two visits each: Lea 40, Tom 34. Lea now needs to close 17 to stop Tom scoring, or keep moving on 16, 15 and the Bull.
Cut-Throat variant
Cut-Throat turns points around: extra marks do not score for you, they go to the opponents who have not closed that number yet. So the aim is the lowest score.
You win by closing everything with a score lower than or equal to every opponent’s. It is mostly played with three or four players, who can team up against the leader. For more group games, see Killer, Shanghai and Golf.
Strategy tips
- Start with 20: it scores the most, and closing it early takes away your opponent’s easiest points.
- Close what your opponent is scoring on before scoring elsewhere: every visit they score on a number you have not closed widens the gap.
- Do not race ahead on marks without points: closing fast is not enough, you need at least as many points to win.
- Leave the Bull for last if the centre is not your strength: it is the smallest target, and a 25 is only one mark.
MPR, the Cricket average
MPR (Marks Per Round) is the average number of useful marks per three-dart visit. A mark is useful when it closes a number or scores points; a hit on a dead number does not count. It is the Cricket equivalent of the 501 average, and the scoreboard above works it out for each player.
What the DartCV app adds
- More than two players, several legs, and the history of every game.
- Bots to play alone, from beginner to pro level.
- Camera scoring: point your phone at the board and DartCV reads the darts for you.
- Stats: MPR and progress, profile by profile.
Frequently asked questions
How many players for Cricket?
Two or more, or solo against a bot in the app. Cut-Throat is usually played with three or four.
Do numbers have to be closed in order?
No, close them in any order. Many players leave the Bull for last, by choice.
Do the 25 and the Bull count the same?
No: the outer bull (25) is one mark, the Bull (bullseye) is two. Once the Bull is closed, each extra mark is worth 25 points.
Can you score on a number everyone has closed?
No. A number closed by every player is dead: nobody scores on it any more.
What if a player closes everything but has fewer points?
The game goes on. They must score on a number their opponent has not closed to get back in front.
What is MPR?
The average number of useful marks per three-dart visit. It is the reference Cricket stat.