Another darts night, another shot at glory (or at least not embarrassing myself). Michael swung by and instead of the usual 501 grind, we decided to spice things up and work on our high numbers and bullseye skills. After a quick Google deep dive, we stumbled into the wild, wonderful world of Cricket. Turns out, it’s a game that’s as strategic as it is chaotic, kind of like chess, but with more beer and sharp objects. Oh and it’s as American as apple pie, except instead of dessert, you get the thrill of hitting (or missing) tiny targets.

Whether you’re a dart-throwing wizard or someone who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn with a map and a flashlight, this guide will have you slinging darts like a semi-pro in no time. Or at least you’ll look like you know what you’re doing. Let’s break it down, step by step, with a generous side of humor and maybe a drink or two.

Cricket darts is the Beyoncé of dart games, popular, iconic and a little intimidating at first glance. It’s the most-played dart game in the U.S. and for good reason. It’s easy to learn, hard to master and perfect for trash-talking your friends. The goal? Close out specific targets (numbers 15-20 and the bullseye) and score more points than your opponent. Simple, right? Well, not so fast. There’s strategy, drama and the occasional accidental triple in the wrong number.

You can play solo, with a buddy or in teams. It’s like darts meets a party game, everyone’s invited, but only one person leaves victorious (and probably smug). The numbers 15 through 20 and the bullseye are your targets. Think of them as your dartboard BFFs: you need to “close” them by hitting each one three times. Singles count for 1 mark, doubles for 2 marks and triples for 3 marks. The bullseye is split into two, the outer ring is 1 mark and the inner bull is 2 marks. Sounds simple, but trust me, it’s trickier than it looks.

Here’s where it gets sneaky, the first player to close a target owns it. That means you can score points on it until your opponent closes it too. Once both players close a target, it’s off-limits for scoring. Pro tip, close the high-value targets (like the 20) first to rack up points while your opponent is still fumbling with the 15. Points are scored by hitting a target you’ve closed but your opponent hasn’t. For example, if you’ve closed the 20 and hit a triple 20, you’ve just scored 60 points. Boom.

To win, you need to close all the targets and have more (or equal points, depending on the rules) than your opponent. If you close all the targets but are behind in points, you’re not done yet. Keep throwing until you’re ahead or your opponent catches up. It’s like a dart-throwing marathon, but with more beer and questionable aim.

Cricket darts is more than just a game, it’s a battle of wits, aim and a little bit of luck. Whether you’re a seasoned dart-thrower or a beginner who still confuses the bullseye with the number 20, this guide will help you up your game and have a blast while doing it. Let’s dive into some pro tips, strategies and fun variations to keep things fresh and exciting.

Pro Strategies to Make Your Opponents Sweat

Start with the big numbers, 20, 19 and 18. These are your golden tickets to racking up points early. Why? Because hitting a 20 feels like winning the lottery, while hitting a 15 feels like finding loose change in your couch. Plus, closing these numbers first puts pressure on your opponent and who doesn’t love a little psychological warfare?

The bullseye is the final boss of Cricket darts. It’s sneaky, elusive and loves to humiliate you. Save it for the end when you’ve got your confidence (and maybe a drink or two) on your side. Trust me, nothing feels worse than wasting three darts on the bull while your opponent casually closes their numbers.

The first player has a slight advantage, so flip a coin or have a “bull-off” (each player throws at the bullseye and the closest dart wins the right to go first). Winning the bull-off is like winning the first round of a rap battle, it sets the tone and gives you the upper hand.

Variations, because normal is too mainstream

Regular Cricket darts is fun and all, but let’s be honest, it’s about as predictable as your drunk uncle at a wedding. Want to spice things up? Try these ridiculous variations that range from “why not?” to “who hurt you?”

No-score cricket (For people who failed math)
Can’t add 15 and 20 without using your fingers? This is your game. No points, no pressure, just you versus the board in a beautiful display of incompetence. It’s like regular Cricket if regular Cricket had a “participation trophy” mode. Perfect for when you’re three beers deep and numbers start looking like hieroglyphics.

Wild mouse cricket (For show-offs and overachievers)
We took normal Cricket and fed it radioactive energy drinks. Now you need doubles, triples AND three darts in the same wedge to score. It’s the darts equivalent of juggling chainsaws, impressive when it works, catastrophic when it doesn’t. Warning, may cause players to question their entire dart-throwing existence.

Spanish cricket (Because chaos is underrated)
Why limit yourself to boring old 15-20 when you can add 11-14 to the mix? It’s like someone took the rulebook, tossed it in a blender and served it with a side of confusion. Perfect for when you want the game to last longer than your attention span.

Cutthroat cricket (For “frenemies”)
The only game where helping yourself means screwing over your buddy. Points you score get added to your opponent’s total, so the LOWEST score wins. It’s darts meets psychological warfare. Keep an eye on your drink, “accidental” spills increase by 300% when playing this version.

Killer cricket (Drama club edition)
Closed a number? Great! Now use your remaining throws to erase your opponent’s progress like a vindictive ex deleting photos. This version turns polite players into dartboard assassins. Pro tip: Wear protective gear, both for darts and potential flying beverages.

Low pitch cricket (For gluttons for punishment)
Who needs high numbers when you can torture yourself with 1-6? Hitting a triple 1 in this game feels like winning the lottery, if the lottery paid out in bruised egos and existential dread. Perfect for when normal darts just isn’t humiliating enough.

Rules lawyer special (For that one annoying friend)
Pick your poison, singles only, doubles only or trebles only. It’s like regular Cricket if regular Cricket was designed by someone who enjoys watching their friends suffer. Perfect for when you want to combine the thrill of darts with the excitement of doing taxes.

The best part? No matter which version you play, you’re guaranteed two things, First, at least one dart will end up somewhere embarrassing and second the arguments about rules will be more entertaining than the actual game. So grab your darts, pick your variation and remember, it’s not cheating if you make up the rules as you go along!

Final Thought First, Cricket Darts is 10% Skill, 90% Damage Control

Cricket darts is the ultimate blend of strategy, skill and sheer silliness. Whether you’re sticking to the classic version or diving into one of the wild variations, the real goal is to have fun, laugh at your epic misses and celebrate those rare bullseyes like you just won the lottery. So grab your darts, rally your friends and get ready for a night of sharp throws, big laughs and maybe a little too much friendly competition.

And hey, even if you lose, you’re still winning, because at least you’re not the one who has to explain why you missed the entire board and hit the wall instead.

Darts fever, because why not practice more, aim higher and laugh louder!

Wayne Mardle, Hawaii 501: “Cricket is the only game where you can be winning, losing and confused all at the same time. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while someone’s throwing darts at your head.”