Cricket Darts: Rules, Scoring and Strategy

Cricket is the great tactical alternative to 501. Instead of counting down from a big number, you fight over a handful of targets: the numbers 15 to 20 and the bull. You need accuracy, but you also need to think, because every dart is a choice between closing a number, scoring points or blocking your opponent. Cricket is hugely popular in American bars and on electronic boards, and it is one of the best games to sharpen your trebles. This page covers the rules, scoring, common variants and practical strategy.

The targets

In Cricket, only seven targets count: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and the bull. Everything else on the board scores nothing. Each player tries to "close" all seven targets while scoring more points than the opponent.

Closing a number

To close a number, you need three "marks" on it:

• A single counts as one mark.
• A double counts as two marks.
• A treble counts as three marks and closes the number in one dart.
• The outer bull counts as one mark on the bull, and the bullseye as two.

Traditionally, marks are recorded on a chalkboard with a slash for the first mark, a cross for the second and a circle around the cross when the number is closed.

Scoring points

Once you have closed a number, any extra hits on it score points, as long as your opponent has not closed it. For example, if you have closed the 20 and your opponent has not, a treble 20 scores you 60 points. As soon as both players have closed a number, it is "dead" and no one can score on it anymore.

How to win

You win when you have closed all seven targets and have at least as many points as your opponent. If you close everything but are behind on points, you must keep scoring on numbers your opponent has not yet closed until you are level or ahead. The game is a constant balance between attack (scoring) and defence (closing the numbers your opponent is scoring on).

A sample turn

You have closed the 20 and the 19. Your opponent has closed the 20 but not the 19, and leads by 40 points. On your turn, you hit treble 19 (57 points, because your opponent has not closed it), single 19 (another 19 points) and single 18 (one mark on the 18). You now lead by 36 points and have started on the 18. Your opponent must now decide: close the 19 to stop you scoring, or attack elsewhere.

Strategy tips

1. Start at the top: most players begin with the 20, because it is the highest-scoring number. Closing it first denies your opponent the most valuable points.
2. Score before you close everything: building a points lead gives you a safety margin, so that you can close the remaining numbers without needing to score.
3. Close what hurts you: if your opponent is piling up points on a number, closing it stops the damage immediately.
4. Do not over-score: a huge points lead is pointless if you have not closed your numbers. Points only matter at the end.
5. Leave the bull late: the bull is the hardest target. Many players save it for last, unless they are confident on it.
6. Aim for trebles: a treble closes a number in one dart or scores three times the points. Cricket rewards treble accuracy.

Popular variants

• Cut-throat Cricket: usually played with three or more players. Instead of scoring points for yourself, the points you score are added to your opponents' totals. The lowest score wins.
• No-score Cricket: the first player to close all seven targets wins. Points do not matter, which makes it a good game for beginners.
• Extended Cricket: some versions add the 10 to 14, or doubles and trebles, as extra targets.
• Team Cricket: played in pairs, with partners sharing marks and points.

Common mistakes in Cricket

• Chasing points too early: scoring big on the 20 is pointless if your opponent closes it on their next visit.
• Ignoring your opponent's board: always check which numbers they have open. That tells you where you can score and where you need to defend.
• Wasting darts on dead numbers: once both players have closed a number, any dart thrown at it is wasted.
• Forgetting the bull: many legs are lost because a player leaves the bull until the very end and then cannot hit it.

A simple rule of thumb: when you are ahead on points, close numbers; when you are behind, score on numbers your opponent has not closed yet.

Cricket on electronic boards

Most electronic dartboards have Cricket built in and track marks and points automatically. That makes the game much easier to follow, especially cut-throat versions with several players. On a bristle board, a chalkboard or a scoring app does the same job.

Cricket versus 501

• 501 rewards heavy scoring on the 20 and reliable finishing on the doubles. Read our darts rules and checkout chart.
• Cricket rewards trebles across several numbers and tactical decisions about when to score and when to close.

Playing both makes you a more complete player. Cricket is also an excellent change of pace in a practice session; see our practice routines for ideas.

Why Cricket is great practice

Because you need trebles on six different numbers plus the bull, Cricket forces you to move around the board. Players who only practise the treble 20 often discover in Cricket that their 15 to 18 are much weaker. A few games of Cricket a week quickly improves your accuracy on the whole top half of the board and teaches you to adjust your aim for different targets. If you notice your darts drifting on certain numbers, revisit the basics in our guide on how to throw darts.

Keeping score

Draw a column for each player and list 20 down to 15, then the bull, in the middle of the chalkboard. Record marks next to each number and keep a running points total at the bottom of each column. Updating the score after every visit, rather than every dart, keeps things clear and avoids arguments at the board.

Frequently asked questions

Which numbers count in Cricket?

Only 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and the bull.

How many marks do you need to close a number?

Three marks. A single counts as one, a double as two and a treble as three.

Can you win Cricket without closing all numbers?

In standard Cricket, no. You must close all seven targets and have at least as many points as your opponent.