There are lots of dart games apart from the usual 501 and cricket.
Also there are lots of variations of these 2 popular games as well.
The true expression of darting skill is surely the 501 game.
Just as the top golf competitions in the world are all stroke play, the game played in all the top tournaments in the world of darts is the game of 501.
Regarded as the true test of darting skill and the biggest draw in the sport of darts (not to mention the top prize money in the game).
However the home dart player wants more variation to the game than just 501, hence the myriad of other dart games and variations on the classic games.
These are the classic dart games to start with.
Cricket Lets start with the game of Cricket; The cricket scoring board is marked as follows, 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, B: The B on the card signifies the Bull.
Before you can start scoring points, you must hit a number 3 times (or 1 treble or 1 double and a single); the number is then Open for you to score on, indicated by an O next to your name and thereafter every time you hit that number you score points toward your total with doubles and trebles scoring as normal as well.
Your opponent however can stop you from scoring any more by also registering 3 hits on your number; the number is then marked with an X and takes no further part in the game.
If you hit the number 20 5 times the number 20 is then open for you to score after 3 hits and you have scored 40 towards your total, indicated by an O by your name.
Then your opponent hits the 20 3 times, the number 20 is then marked with an X to indicate it is no longer part of the game and you both move on to the other numbers.
To win the game you must get more points than the other player and hit every number and Bull 3 times.
(The centre bull is counted as a double and the outer bull a single) It can get very tricky to decide if you go for points or close out your opponents scoring numbers.
501 The game of 501 is one of the simplest games to play and is the game played in all the big money professional tournaments.
Starting with a total of 501, your score is taken away from this total until you get down to 0.
The finishing dart to the game must land in the double ring, (obviously corresponding to your score and so be an even number of 40 or smaller).
The bust rule means that if you score more than you need or just one less than you need then you are "bust" and the score is voided for that turn.
You start the next turn with the same score you had before.
The dreaded scenario is to end up on double 1 and keep missing it.
The double one finish is often called "Annie's House" for reasons lost in the mists of time.
301 This is basically a shorter version of 501, the difference being, most local rules dictate that you must start your scoring with a double as well as finish on a double.
There are more dart games than this of course, but knowing these basic games means you can get a game of darts virtually anywhere as most darters in the world will know these games at least.