Alright, so you wanna mix the thrill of cricket with the precision of darts? Sounds like a blast! Here’s how you can play some cricket games on a dartboard:
The Basics (For all Cricket Variations):
- The Numbers: You’ll be focusing on the numbers 15 through 20 on the dartboard, plus the bullseye (which counts as two separate targets: the outer bullseye is worth 25 points, and the inner bullseye, often called the “double bull” or “bull-bull,” counts as 50 and is treated as its own number).
- Opening a Number: To “open” a number, you need to hit it three times in total. These hits can be singles, doubles, or triples. For example, three single 20s, one single and one double 20, or a single 20 and a triple 20 all open the 20s for you.
- Scoring: Once you’ve opened a number, any further hits on that number score you points, but only if your opponent hasn’t opened that number yet. The points you score are the face value of the segment you hit (single = face value, double = double the face value, triple = triple the face value).
- Closing a Number: A number is “closed” when it has been hit three times by each player. Once a number is closed, no more points can be scored on it by either player.
- Winning: The first player to open and close all the required numbers (usually 15-20 and the bullseye) and have a score equal to or greater than their opponent wins. If a player closes all the numbers but is behind in points, they must continue throwing until they either surpass their opponent’s score or their opponent also closes all the numbers.
Common Cricket Variations:
- Standard Cricket: This is the most common way to play. You aim to open and close the numbers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the bullseye. Scoring is as describe above. If you have a number closed and your opponents do not have it closed, you get the points corresponding to the number for each additional hit until all opponents have closed the number.
- Cut-Throat Cricket: This is a more strategic and often more cutthroat (hence the name!) version. Opening and closing numbers is the same. However, instead of scoring for yourself, any points you score on an opened number are added to your opponent’s score if they haven’t closed that number yet. The goal is to have the lowestscore when all the required numbers are closed.
- No Score Cricket: In this version, you simply focus on being the first to open and close all the required numbers. Points don’t matter.
How to Play – Step by Step (General for Standard Cricket):
- Decide on the Numbers: Usually, you’ll play with 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the bullseye. Agree on this before you start.
- Determine the Order: Flip a coin or come up with another fair way to decide who goes first. Diddle for the middle (throw one dart each and the closest to the bull wins) is a very popular way of deciding who plays first.
- Taking Turns: Players take turns throwing three darts per round.
- Opening Numbers: On your turn, try to hit the numbers you need to open three times. Keep track of how many hits you have on each number. You can open numbers in any order you like.
- Scoring Points: Once you’ve opened a number, if your opponent hasn’t opened it yet, any subsequent hits on that number will score you points. Call out your score after each dart.
- Closing Numbers: Once both you and your opponent have hit a number three times, it’s closed, and no more points can be scored on it.
- Winning the Game: The first player to close all the agreed-upon numbers and have a score equal to or greater than their opponent wins.
Tips for Playing:
- Strategy is Key: Decide which numbers you want to go for first. Often, the higher numbers (like 20 and 19) are good to open for quick points.
- Defense Matters: If your opponent opens a high-scoring number, try to close it as quickly as possible to prevent them from racking up points.
- Keep Score Clearly: Use a whiteboard, a scorecard, or and app to keep track of who has opened which numbers and the current scores.
- Communicate: Call out your hits and scores so everyone knows what’s happening.
- Have Fun! It’s a game, so enjoy the challenge and the friendly competition.