Darts Cricket: The Classic Pub Game of Strategy and Precision

Introduction

Cricket is the most popular darts game in American bars and pubs, and for good reason. It blends accuracy with tactical decision-making in a way that keeps both beginners and experienced players engaged. Unlike 501, which is pure points-based racing, Cricket forces you to choose between closing your own numbers and attacking your opponent’s weaknesses — a strategic tension that makes every turn meaningful.

The game revolves around seven target numbers: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the bullseye. Players take turns throwing three darts, trying to “close” each number by hitting it three times while simultaneously scoring points on numbers they have already closed but their opponent has not. The winner is the first player to close all seven numbers while holding an equal or higher points total than their opponent.

What makes Cricket so enduringly popular is its accessibility. A complete beginner can understand the rules in two minutes and start playing immediately, yet the strategic layer — when to close defensively versus when to pile on points offensively — provides depth that rewards years of practice. Cricket is also self-balancing: a weaker player who falls behind in closings can still stay competitive by scoring points on their open numbers, keeping games close and exciting until the final dart.

Whether you call it Cricket, Mickey Mouse (as it is known in parts of Britain), or Coach and Horses, this game has been a fixture of dartboard culture for decades. Once you understand the rules, you will see why it dominates league night at pubs around the world.

What You Need

Cricket requires minimal equipment, all of which is standard in any pub or home game room:

• A regulation dartboard — a standard bristle (sisal) board or electronic dartboard, hung with the bullseye 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 metres) from the floor.
• Three darts per player — steel-tip for bristle boards or soft-tip for electronic boards. Each player uses their own set of three darts.
• A scoreboard — a chalkboard, dry-erase board, or the electronic display on a coin-operated machine. The scoreboard must have space to track marks on each number and running point totals for each player.
• Throwing line (oche) — positioned 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 metres) from the face of the board. Most pubs have this marked on the floor already.

The Target Numbers

Only seven segments of the dartboard matter in Cricket. Every other number on the board is irrelevant — hitting a 14, a 3, or any number outside the target range is a wasted dart.

The seven Cricket targets are:

The 20 is the most valuable standard target, which is why most experienced players aim to close it first. The bullseye is unique: the outer bull (green ring) counts as a single and is worth 25 points, while the inner bull (red centre) counts as a double and is worth 50 points. There is no triple bullseye segment on a standard dartboard.

Setting Up the Scoreboard

The Cricket scoreboard is distinctive and easy to recognise. It consists of a central column listing the seven target numbers (usually written from top to bottom as 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, B) with player columns on each side. Points totals are tracked at the top or bottom of each player’s column.

Marks are recorded using a universally understood notation system:

• First hit: a single slash ( / )
• Second hit: a second slash crossing the first to form an X
• Third hit (closed): a circle drawn around the X, creating the symbol ⊗

This / → X → ⊗ progression is so ingrained in darts culture that players recognise it at a glance across a dimly lit pub. Once a number shows the circled X, it is closed for that player. If a player hits a triple in one dart, they go straight from blank to ⊗ — closing the number in a single throw.

How to Play Cricket Darts

1. Determine who throws first Each player throws one dart at the bullseye. The player whose dart lands closest to the centre (inner bull beats outer bull, closer to centre beats farther) goes first. This is called the diddle or bull-off. Remove all darts from the board before play begins.
2. Throw three darts per turn On your turn, step up to the oche and throw three darts, one at a time. Aim at any of the seven Cricket targets. Only hits on numbers 15 through 20 and the bullseye count. If a dart lands in any other number or bounces off the board, it scores nothing and earns no marks.
3. Record marks toward closing numbers Each hit on a target number earns marks toward closing it. You need three marks to close a number. A single (the large wedge-shaped segments) counts as one mark. A double (the narrow outer ring) counts as two marks. A triple (the narrow inner ring between the outer numbers and the bullseye ring) counts as three marks — closing the number instantly. For the bullseye, the outer bull is one mark and the inner bull is two marks.
4. Score points on closed numbers Once you have closed a number (accumulated three marks), any additional hits on that number score points equal to the number’s face value. A single 20 adds 20 points, a double 20 adds 40 points, and a triple 20 adds 60 points. However, there is a crucial restriction: you can only score points on a number that your opponent has not yet closed. Once both players have closed a number, it is dead — no one scores on it again.
5. Alternate turns and build your position After throwing three darts and recording your marks and points, remove your darts from the board. Your opponent then steps up and throws their three darts. Play continues in strict alternation. The strategic heart of Cricket lies in deciding each turn whether to focus on closing new numbers or scoring points on numbers you have already closed.
6. Win by closing all numbers with equal or greater points The game ends when one player has closed all seven numbers (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Bull) and has a points total that is equal to or higher than their opponent’s. If you close everything first but trail in points, you must continue throwing at your opponent’s open numbers to score enough points to take the lead. Conversely, if you lead in points but have numbers left to close, you must finish closing them before you can win.

Closing Numbers: The Core Mechanic

The concept of closing is what separates Cricket from simpler darts games. Closing a number requires accumulating three marks on it, and the way marks are earned depends on which segment of the board your dart hits:

• Single segment (large wedge): 1 mark
• Double ring (thin outer ring): 2 marks
• Triple ring (thin inner ring): 3 marks — instant close
• Outer bullseye (green ring): 1 mark
• Inner bullseye (red centre): 2 marks

Suppose you have one mark on 19 and then hit a double 19. The double gives you two marks, bringing your total to three — closing the 19. Now suppose your next dart also hits single 19 and your opponent has not closed their 19 yet: that dart scores 19 points for you. This interaction between closing and scoring is the engine that drives every Cricket decision.

A number is only fully dead when both players have closed it. Until then, the player who has closed it can score on it (provided the opponent has not), and the player who has not closed it is vulnerable to having points piled onto their deficit. This asymmetry creates the game’s fundamental tension.

Scoring Points on Open Numbers

Points in Cricket are offensive ammunition. They do not accumulate passively — you must actively choose to throw at numbers you have already closed in order to pad your total. Here is how point scoring works in detail:

• You may only score points on a number you have closed (three marks recorded).
• You may only score points on a number your opponent has NOT yet closed.
• Points equal the face value of the number multiplied by the segment hit: single = 1x, double = 2x, triple = 3x.
• For the bullseye: outer bull scores 25, inner bull scores 50.

Consider this scenario: you have closed 20 and your opponent has only one mark on 20. You hit triple 20 — that scores 60 points for you. Your opponent now needs to close their 20 quickly to stop the bleeding. If they fail and you hit another triple 20 next turn, that is another 60 points. These scoring runs can decide games in two or three turns.

Points serve a dual purpose. They build your winning total, but they also put psychological pressure on your opponent. A player who sees a 100-point deficit growing on the scoreboard may panic, rush their throws, and make mistakes. The ability to score efficiently on open numbers is what separates competitive Cricket players from casual ones.

The Bullseye in Cricket

The bullseye occupies a special place in Cricket, both tactically and mechanically. Unlike numbers 15 through 20, the bullseye has no triple segment. The outer bull (green ring) counts as one mark and 25 points, while the inner bull (red centre) counts as two marks and 50 points.

Closing the bullseye therefore requires hitting it at least twice: two inner bulls (2 + 2 = 4 marks, with the fourth mark wasted or scoring) or various combinations of inner and outer. The most common path is hitting one inner bull and one outer bull for exactly three marks. Three outer bulls also close it.

Because the bullseye is physically the smallest target on the board and yields only 25 points per single hit (versus 20 for the highest number segment), most players leave it until last. However, a player who is strong at hitting the bull can use it as a surprise weapon — closing it early when the opponent expects them to work on bigger numbers.

Cutthroat Cricket (3+ Players)

Standard Cricket works best with two players or two teams. When three or more individual players want to play, the cutthroat variant is the solution. The rules for closing numbers remain identical, but scoring is inverted:

• When you score points on an open number, those points are added to every other player’s total, not your own.
• The goal becomes having the lowest score when all numbers are closed.
• A number only dies when all players have closed it.

Cutthroat fundamentally changes the game’s psychology. In standard Cricket, you want points; in cutthroat, you fear them. The player who falls behind in closings gets hammered with points from multiple opponents, creating a snowball effect that rewards defensive, efficient closing over aggressive scoring.

The ideal cutthroat strategy is to close your numbers as quickly as possible while selectively punishing the player who is furthest ahead. If one player has closed everything except the bullseye and another player has only closed 20 and 19, the group’s incentive is to pile points onto the weaker player through the numbers they have left open — a dynamic that creates alliances of convenience and sudden betrayals.

Cutthroat Cricket is excellent for groups of three to five players and is often the default choice when an odd number of people want to play darts at a pub. Games take slightly longer because every player must close every number before it dies, but the social dynamics more than compensate.

Team Cricket

Cricket is frequently played as a team game, most commonly in doubles (two players per side) but any team size works. Team Cricket follows all standard rules with these adjustments:

• Shared scoreboard: Teammates share a single column. Marks and points are pooled for the team.
• Alternating throws: Teammates alternate turns. If Player A throws first in the round, Player B throws the team’s next turn, then back to Player A, and so on.
• No conferring during throws: In most pub leagues, players may discuss strategy between turns but not while a player is at the oche throwing.
• Combined skill: A strong partnership pairs a player who excels at the upper numbers (19, 20) with one who is accurate at the lower numbers (15, 16) and the bull. This complementary approach is highly effective in league play.

Doubles Cricket is the standard format in American dart leagues and many pub tournaments. The team dynamic adds a layer of communication and shared strategy that individual play lacks.

Strategy: Which Numbers to Close First

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Cricket rewards disciplined play, and most beginners fall into the same traps. Here are the most common errors:

• Scoring when you should be closing. It is tempting to pile points onto a number you have closed, but if your opponent is closing numbers faster than you, your points lead will evaporate once they start scoring back. Balance is essential: do not neglect closings in favour of points.
• Ignoring the scoreboard. Cricket is a game of information. If you are not checking the scoreboard between every turn to see what your opponent has closed and how many marks they have, you are throwing blind. Always know the state of the board before deciding where to aim.
• Chasing the bullseye too early. Some beginners try to close the bull early because it seems dramatic. In practice, the bull is a poor use of your darts in the opening turns. Close the high-value numbers first and deal with the bull when everything else is settled.
• Throwing all three darts at the same number every turn. If you close a number with your first dart, you have two darts left. Do not throw them at the same number unless you are scoring and need the points. Move to your next target and start working on it instead.
• Panicking when behind on points. A 60-point deficit feels enormous, but one triple 20 scoring turn can erase it. Stay calm, close your numbers methodically, and look for opportunities to score in bunches. Panic leads to wild throws and wasted darts.

Cricket Variations

Beyond standard Cricket and Cutthroat, several popular variations exist in pub darts culture:

No-Score Cricket (Tactics)

A simplified version where points do not exist. The first player to close all seven numbers wins, regardless of any other factor. This removes the strategic tension between closing and scoring, making the game a pure race. Tactics is popular among beginners and in timed tournament formats where speed matters more than strategy.

Wild Cricket

Before the game begins, each player throws one dart at the board with their non-dominant hand (or with eyes closed). Whatever numbers they hit become their personal targets instead of the standard 15–20. This creates an asymmetrical game where each player works on different numbers, and the strategic interaction comes from the numbers that overlap between players.

Hidden Cricket

Each player secretly selects their seven target numbers at the start (from any numbers on the board, not just 15–20) and writes them on a hidden piece of paper. The game proceeds as normal, but since you do not know your opponent’s targets, you cannot defensively close their numbers. Targets are revealed progressively as marks are scored. This variant adds a guessing and deduction element to the game.

Cricket with Points Cap

A house rule in some pubs limits the maximum points any player can score on a single number to a set amount (commonly 60 or 100 points). Once a player has scored that many points on a number, it automatically closes for scoring purposes even if the opponent has not closed it. This prevents blowout games and keeps matches competitive between players of different skill levels.

Frequently Asked Questions