Baizewick guide
How to play 501 darts: rules, scoring and finishing
Each player starts on 501 and subtracts what they score. The first to reach exactly zero, finishing with a double or the bullseye, wins the leg.
Before you start
Set the board up properly first: the centre of the bullseye at 1.73 m from the floor and the oche 2.37 m from the face of the board for steel-tip darts. The dartboard setup calculator gives you the marks for your wall.
To decide who throws first, each player throws one dart at the bull. The closest goes first. This is called the bull-off. In a match, players usually take turns to throw first in each leg.
How scoring works
Each turn, called a visit, is three darts thrown from behind the oche. Add up the three darts and subtract the total from your score.
The outer ring of the board is the doubles ring and counts twice the number. The inner narrow ring is the trebles ring and counts three times. The outer bull scores 25 and the inner bull scores 50.
| Area | Scores | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single | The number | Single 20 = 20 |
| Double (outer ring) | Twice the number | Double 20 = 40 |
| Treble (inner ring) | Three times the number | Treble 20 = 60 |
| Outer bull | 25 | — |
| Inner bull (bullseye) | 50, and counts as a double | — |
Finishing on a double
You must reach exactly zero, and the last dart must land in a double or the inner bull. This is called a double-out.
Most players aim to leave themselves an even number they like, such as 32 (double 16) or 40 (double 20). Our darts checkout calculator shows a route for every finish from 170 down to 2.
Going bust
You go bust if a visit would take you below zero, leave you on 1, or reach zero without finishing on a double. Your score goes back to what it was at the start of that visit, and your turn ends.
Leaving 1 is a bust because you cannot finish on a double from 1.
Legs, sets and matches
One game of 501 is a leg. A casual match might be best of three or five legs. In set play, a set is usually won by the first to three legs, and a match by a set number of sets. Agree the format before you start.
Easier versions for beginners and children
- 301: a shorter game played the same way. Some players also need a double to start scoring, called double-in.
- Straight out: any dart can finish, which suits beginners who find doubles hard.
- Soft-tip boards: many score automatically and suit mixed-age homes. See our dartboard buying guide.
Common mistakes
- Stepping over the oche to throw.
- Forgetting that leaving 1 is a bust.
- Counting a dart that bounced out or fell out. Agree before you play; in most rules it scores nothing.
- Taking darts out of the board before the visit has been scored.
Questions
What is the maximum score with three darts?
180, from three darts in the treble 20.
Can you finish 501 on the bull?
Yes. The inner bull scores 50 and counts as a double, so it can be the finishing dart.
What are bogey numbers?
Scores that cannot be finished with three darts on a double-out: 159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168 and 169.
What happens if a dart bounces out?
Under most rules it scores nothing and cannot be thrown again in that visit. House rules vary, so agree before you start.