How To Play 501 Darts

How To Play 501 Darts

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Are you looking for a fun and exciting game to play? If so, then 501 darts may be the perfect option for you!

Whether you’re an experienced recreational player or just starting in the sport of darts, playing 501 is a great way to test your skill and accuracy while having loads of fun. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to play 501 darts at home – from setting up your setup properly to scoring points and more! So get ready – let’s show you how to hit the bullseye every time!

What are the rules of 501 darts?

501 darts can bring hours of fun to any game night! At the start, both players have a score of 501 points. As they play, they must reduce their points to zero by throwing three darts per turn.

Each dart landing on the board will deduct its corresponding point value. For instance, if you hit a single bullseye that’s 50 points gone! Unfortunately, any stray throw is considered a foul and the turn is skipped without any changes to the player’s score. 

The first person to bring their point total down to zero wins – but not without cutting it close. You must land your final throw on a double or triple if your remaining score is 25 or less. Now that you know the rules; gather up your friends and start throwing darts!

Players Two or more
The Object of the Game To be the first player to reach exactly zero points by subtracting their score from 501
Equipment Needed Dartboard, darts
Scoring Players take turns throwing three darts each. The total score of the three darts is added up and deducted from the starting score of 501. Players aim for the highest-scoring segments of the dartboard, such as the triple 20, triple 19, or triple 18. The bullseye can also be targeted for higher scores.
Starting Score Each player starts with a score of 501
Scoring Rules Players must “double in” to start scoring points. This means that the first dart thrown must land in the double ring of any segment on the dartboard. Once a player has “doubled in,” they can score points as normal. Players must also “double out” to win the game. This means that the final dart thrown must land in the double ring of any segment on the dartboard, and the player’s remaining score must be exactly zero. If a player goes below zero points or misses the required double to win, they must reset their score to what it was at the start of their turn.
Winning the Game The first player to reach exactly zero points by subtracting their score from 501 and hitting a double to “double out” wins the game. If multiple players reach zero points in the same round, the player with the lowest score at the end of the round wins.
Variations Some variations of 501 Darts include playing with different starting scores (e.g. 301, 701), increasing or decreasing the number of darts per turn, or requiring players to hit certain targets, such as the bullseye or a specific number, to score points.

How do you get 501 in darts?

If you want to get 501 in darts, you’ll need to land a double before your last dart. This means that the scores of each round must equal an even number – either two or four points from the double should be added to your total score.

To make sure you reach 501 exactly, subtracting your current total score from 501 will let you know how many points are left for your last dart. Practice makes perfect and eventually hitting a double at the right round and hitting the right numbers come with this experience. Good luck!

How many darts should 501 take?

Figuring out how many darts to take for a game of 501 can be tricky business. Everyone’s throwing style differs, making it hard to predict what the ideal number might be.

That said, the more experienced you are, the closer you can come to pinpointing that perfect number. It’s best to start low, then work your way up as needed.

For beginners, starting with three darts per turn can be a great way to warm up and practice your accuracy without taking too much risk. 

As your skills improve over time, try increasing the amount until you find just the right balance between risk and reward. Ultimately it’s all about personal preference — so experiment until you find the approach that works best for you!

play 501 darts in black and yellow dartboard

What is a perfect 501 dart game?

The perfect 501 dart game provides plenty of excitement and some nail-biting finishes. Every throw counts and the outcome can change in an instant. Whether you are shooting for a double or triple, or you’re hoping to land your dart on the magical bullseye – there’s no other feeling like it! 

Games between two players can be especially thrilling, as it turns into a real battle for supremacy. With two experts vying for the top score, it’s almost impossible to guess who will take home the win.

Ultimately, a perfect 501-dart game offers all of this tension but is ultimately rewarding for everyone involved.

Why do darts legs start at 501?

Darts is often considered to be a game of skill and precision, so it’s no wonder why the traditional starting score for a match is 501 points.

It’s said that this number was chosen because it can be achieved in just nine throws. Count backward from 501, and you’ll realize that each throw can reduce your point total by one or two points due to its ability to allocate odd numbers.

With some practice and experience, skilled players can rapidly reduce their point total and increase the excitement of the game! It makes you wonder what other arithmetic tricks we might come across while playing darts.

How many sets are there in 501 darts?

In the game of 501 darts, a set is a predetermined number of throws that each player takes to reach zero.

Generally, a set consists of three darts, though some tournaments allow for five. The goal is to reduce your score from 501 to exactly zero in as few sets as possible. Typically, it takes between nine and twelve sets on average to finish the game.

Players start with a score of 501 and subtract the total points they earn with each throw. A single bullseye counts for 50 points, while the inner ring (the triple ring) counts for three times the number on the segment it lands on. The outer ring (the double ring) counts for twice the number on the segment it lands on and the inner black circle (single bull) counts for just one point per throw.

The order in which players take their turns is usually up to them. Some players choose to throw all three darts at once, while others prefer waiting until one dart has been thrown before throwing another.

five darts for 501 darts tournament

How do you check out 501 darts?

To check out in 501 darts, a player must reach an exact score of zero. This is done by subtracting the total points earned on each throw from the starting score of 501.

Generally, to complete a set the player must reduce their score below the double bull (inner black circle), which is worth 50 points. To win the game they must then finish with an exact score of 0.

Checking out can be done in various ways, depending on the player’s preference and skill level. Some choose to “go for it” with all three darts at once, while others prefer waiting until one dart has been thrown before throwing another. Players may also opt for a combination of both strategies.

To successfully check out, players must take into account not only their remaining score but also how certain combinations will leave them. For example, if a player has 12 left and throws two treble 20s and a double 8, they are left with 4 rather than 0 as they would have been if they had thrown two double 8s instead.

What happens if you pass 501 in darts?

If a player goes beyond the score of 501 in darts, their turn will be considered a “bust” and they will have no points added to their total. This means that if the player has already achieved a score lower than 501, any additional points scored beyond this threshold will not count towards the overall score.

For example, if a player has 493 points and throws three treble 20s, they will go bust as they have now gone over 501 with 593. As such, their total score stays at 493 and it is now the opponent’s turn to play.

Players need to bear this rule in mind when attempting to check out as failing to do can leave them with an insurmountable lead over their opponents. To successfully check out, players must understand which combinations will leave them exactly at zero without going above or below this threshold.

Can you tie in 501 darts?

In 501 darts, it is possible to tie when both players reach an exact score of zero on the same turn. This is known as a ‘leg-a-leg’ or ‘double out’, and occurs when both players end their turns with the same amount of points – either exactly 501 or 0.

The odds of tying in 501 darts depend heavily on the skill level of the players involved, but also on luck and strategy. If a player has a good understanding of what combinations leave them at exactly zero, they increase their chances of hitting an exact double out.

On the other hand, if both players choose conservative strategies rather than going all out to reduce the risk of going bust, it can be more difficult for either player to reach zero before their opponent does.

know strategies in 501 Darts play

What does freeze mean in 501 darts?

In the game of 501 darts, a player’s score can become “frozen” when they throw a triple 20. This occurs when the same number of points is scored on three consecutive throws, and it locks in the player’s current score for the duration of their turn.

For example, if a player has 340 left to go and hits three treble 20s, their total will remain at 340 until the end of their turn. Any further points scored from that point onwards will not be counted towards the overall score as it has already been “frozen”.

The concept of freezing is used primarily to reduce risk in situations where players have to make difficult decisions about which combinations to aim for to check out. By freezing their score after hitting a triple 20, they can reduce the chances of going bust while still maintaining a good chance of reaching zero in the remaining throws.

Freezing can also be used offensively as a strategy to create an insurmountable lead over an opponent by scoring multiple triples or high doubles without having to risk going bust. Players need to understand this concept to effectively use it as part of their strategy during competitive games.

What is 501 open in open-out darts?

501 open in open out darts is a popular variation on the game of 501 darts. In this variant, players start with a score of 501 and have to reduce their score to exactly zero without going over.

The catch is that they must begin and end their turn with either a double or triple scoring segment – known as an ‘open’ or ‘closed’ out respectively. This means that if a player does not hit one of these scoring segments for their first or last throw, their turn will be considered invalid and no points will be added to their total score.

An open out requires the player to begin their turn by hitting a double or triple, while the closed out requires them to finish the turn with one of these combinations.

Players need to understand how certain combinations will leave them before attempting either an open or closed out, as failing to achieve either of these can result in costly mistakes.

The objective when playing 501 open in open-out darts is to reduce your score from 501 down to zero using as few styles as possible.

Do you double in for 501 darts?

Playing 501 darts is one of the most popular dart games out there, if not the most. Whether you’re a fan of Cricket or just a fan of throwing arrows at circles, it’s pretty hard to resist. And why would you want to?

Doubling in for 501 darts is a great way to challenge yourself, with even greater rewards commensurate with how well you play.

It adds another layer of competitiveness to an already popular sport while giving you yet another way to get bragging rights. Plus, it’s always exciting and usually entertaining so why not give it a try?

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it – a quick guide on how to play 501 darts. As with anything, the more you practice, the better you’ll become at dart throwing. Remember to always have fun and enjoy yourself when playing – that’s what games are for! Thanks for reading and we hope this article was helpful.

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 Jason Greeves

Jason Greeves

Darts are more than just a bar game. It requires concentration and an hand-eye coordination gift from heaven.
But it also takes a good board to get really good. And no one knows dart boards more than me.

About Me

Darts are more than just a bar game. It requires concentration and an hand-eye coordination gift from heaven.
But it also takes a good board to get really good. And no one knows dart boards more than me.

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