How to Play Cricket Darts: A Detailed Guide For Beginners

Have you ever been in a situation where you enter a bar, find a dartboard on the wall, and have the thought of giving it a try? You are loving all the excitement around the game, but the issue is that you don’t fully understand the rules related to it. One of the most popular dart games in the United Kingdom is Cricket, as it is just the perfect balance between skill and strategy. This is something that people enjoy endlessly and can be easily learned to play, even by beginners.

This blog post will work as a guide that will help you walk through everything that you need to know about the game, from its basic rules to advanced strategy, and even a few fun variations to try with your friends. So, let’s start with the guide on how to play cricket darts and have some fun.

Understanding Cricket Darts

Cricket is a dart game where players compete to reach a specific set of numbers on the dartboard while scoring as many points as possible. This is not like those standard dart games where the player is required to count down from a number. Playing cricket darts requires both accuracy and tactical thinking. This is not just a board game where you have to throw a dart randomly; the player needs to make the right choice for the number they want to close, when they need to score it and how they can outplay their opponent. This strategic approach is what makes the cricket darts game so addictive. The game can be played in teams of two or one-on-one, depending on the number of players. This flexibility makes the game even better. All that you need to play the game is a dartboard, a set of darts, and a basic scoreboard to keep a record of the marks and points of each player and team.

Targets in Cricket Darts

If you are playing a basic cricket dart game, you have to take care of seven particular targets on the board. The number will be 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the bullseye (The Bull). The remaining numbers on the boards are of no use and are irrelevant because even if the player scores them, they will not be counted for anything. As each game begins, the seven targets will be open for the players, which means that not one of them has been claimed yet.

Understanding Mark’s Work in Cricket Darts

The crucial part of the cricket darts revolves around earning “marks” for each of the targets. For every target to be closed, 3 marks are required. Here is a detailed guide on how marks are earned after each throw:

• Single segment = 1 mark
• Double ring (the narrow outer ring) = 2 marks
• Triple ring (the narrow inner ring) = 3 marks — this closes a target in a single dart.
• Outer bull = 1 mark
• Inner bull = 2 marks

Every player can throw 3 darts per turn, and it is possible for them to close the complete target in one turn, especially if they land a triple. But the points scored in multiple turns are also accumulated as marks. For example, if you hit a single 20 on your first turn, you have 1 mark. Hit another single 20 next turn and you have 2 marks. One more hit and the number is closed.

Understanding Scoring Points in Cricket Darts

After the target is closed, the player owns it. This is where the real fun in cricket darts begins. After every hit made on the number owned by that player, they will get a score equal to its value. For example, if the player closed 20 and then hit a triple 20, their total will be 60 points. But there is a catch in this. The opponent can also close on the same target as you. If both players are on the same closed number, its called a ‘Dead” and this dead zone means no player is allowed to score a point on it anymore. This leads to a push-and-pull dynamic in which the players have to fight to score as many points as possible on the numbers that have closed before it is shut down by the opponent.

Rules for Winning Cricket Darts

For you to win a game of cricket darts, there are two things for you to accomplish. The first one is to close all 7 targets and the second one is to have more points than the opponent. It is important for the player to meet both of these conditions, and to keep in mind that they can’t simply close tall the numbers and declare that they have won. The players has to keep scoring on open targets until they have overtaken the opponent. Another thing to keep in mind is if the opponent has not closed all their numbers and you are still getting points, then the game is still only. This ensures that the match is competitive until the last dart is thrown.

Tips for Getting Better at Cricket Darts

Here are some helpful tips and strategy to get better at playing cricket darts:

• Always target 20 before 19, 19 before 18, and so on. This can help the player stack more points before the opponent close as they can own the high number sooner.
• A triple closes a target in one dart and other two darts are free to use to score and gather more points. So, understand that the trip is the backbone of a cricket game.
• The bull should be saved till the end of the game as it can be quite difficult to hit. If you take a look at the gameplay of some of the most experienced players they will leave the bull for last to as many players lose the game just because they repeatedly try to the score bullseye.
• Going first in Cricket can be a great advantage and should be used properly.

Fun Variations of Cricket Darts

Once you learn the basic Cricket game, there are many fun variations you can try:

• The first is the No Score Cricket where there are no points at all. Both players only try to close all seven numbers. This version can be a great choice for beginners as they only have to focus on hitting the right numbers without worrying about scoring.
• There is a Cut Throat Cricket version where the way scoring works changes. Instead of getting points for yourself, any points you score are given to your opponent. The player with the lowest score at the end wins. This version is not as easy as it sounds, but it can be a really fun one to try out.

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