Ask most people what darts is and they will describe 501: big scores, counting down, finishing on a double. Cricket is the other great darts format, and it plays entirely differently.
How Cricket Differs from 501
Cricket uses only seven targets on the board: the numbers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and the Bullseye. Every other number on the dartboard is dead. You are not counting down from a fixed score — you are racing your opponent to gain control of those seven targets, and accumulating points on them while you still hold the advantage.
That single change turns darts into an intense territorial game. Cricket rewards accuracy across the entire board rather than the singular ability to hammer the treble 20, and it quickly punishes players who cannot shift focus under pressure.
Opening, Scoring and Closing Numbers
Three "marks" are required to open a target. A single segment counts as one mark, a double counts as two marks, and a treble counts as three marks. That means landing a single treble 20 opens the 20 outright on your very first dart.
- Opening: Once you have landed three marks on a number and your opponent has not, that number is "open" for you.
- Scoring Points: Every subsequent dart you land on an open number adds directly to your score — a single 20 adds 20 points, while a treble 20 adds 60 points.
- Closing: When your opponent also lands three marks on that same number, it is officially "closed". Once closed, neither player can score on it for the remainder of the leg.
Winning Condition: The game ends when a player has closed all seven targets (15 through 20 plus Bullseye) AND holds a score equal to or higher than their opponent. Closing everything first is not enough — if you are trailing on points, you must continue scoring on your open numbers until you pull ahead.
The Tactical Layer: Scoring vs Blocking
This dynamic is where Cricket becomes truly strategic. Every visit to the oche forces a tactical choice: do you pile up points to extend your lead, or do you shut down your opponent's scoring engine?
- Score aggressively: When you control an open number that your opponent has not yet marked, bank points quickly. Points accumulated now force your opponent into defense later.
- Block when threatened: If your opponent is racking up points on the 20, closing their 20 stops their scoring immediately, even if it does not grant you points directly.
- Do not neglect the Bullseye: The Bullseye (outer bull 25, inner bull 50) is the smallest target and frequently decides close matches. Players who skip bullseye drills often lose games they could have won.
- Track the mathematical gap: If you are 60 points ahead with only one number left on the board, closing that number seals the win. If you are 60 points behind, closing simply gives the victory to your opponent.
Popular Variations
- Cutthroat Cricket: In this popular variation, points scored on an open number are added to your opponents' scores instead of your own. The lowest total score wins. It completely flips the tactical calculus and works exceptionally well with 3 or 4 players.
- Team Pairs: Two players per side taking alternate visits, combining team communication with strategic target selection.
- No-Score Cricket: A pure speed race to close all seven targets without point accumulation — ideal for newcomers learning board navigation.
Why We Feature Cricket at Darts Club
Cricket is universally recognized as one of the best training games in darts. It forces players to hit the 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 rings under match conditions, building the multi-segment precision required for high-stakes 501 checkouts. It is also inherently social — the back-and-forth blocking creates memorable camaraderie during club league nights.
Cricket is played regularly across our weekly casual nights, practice sessions, and corporate team events at Palodia, TopSpin Ahmedabad, and Surat. Join us this week for casual club matches or explore our Tournament Results to see competitive formats in action.
Related Reading: Cricket is frequently played in pairs; see our comparison of singles vs doubles darts formats.
Related Reading: Cricket stats and auto-scoring come alive on electronic DARTSLIVE machines.
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