Darts

Throwing

Move the mouse or drag a finger anywhere on the board. The sight follows your finger with an offset so it never hides under it. Throw with a flick upwards, a click, the Throw button or Space; a crooked or badly judged flick scatters the dart.

In 501 and 301 you must finish exactly on zero with a double, and the bull counts as a double. Going below zero, leaving 1, or reaching zero without a double is a bust: the turn ends and the score goes back. In round the clock any part of a number counts.

The computer has four levels, from a beginner who averages about twenty-five a visit to a player who scores near eighty. Two players can also share one device.

Finishing well

• Leave yourself an even number. 32 (double 16) is the classic finish because a single 16 still leaves double 8, then double 4.
• Avoid odd numbers below 40 when you can. They need a single dart first, which costs a throw.
• When you have three darts and more than 100 left, aim for treble 20 or treble 19 and think about the finish only when you are close.
• The hint shows where to aim and a checkout route for your score.

Our guide Aim and spares goes through common finishes from 40 down.

Round the clock

Round the clock is the friendliest way in. Hit 1, then 2, and so on up to 20 and the bull; any part of the number counts, single, double or treble. It teaches you where every number sits on the board, which is exactly what you need later for finishing. Against the computer it is a straight race, and on one device it is a good game to share with a child.

Questions