How To Play 501 Darts

• You start with a score of 501.

• Every time you throw you reduce your score by the points scored with your set of 3 darts.

• Close out your score by finishing on a double!

How do you play 501?

Each player starts with 501 points and takes it in turns to throw 3 darts. 

Whatever the score that each player gets with their throws is subtracted from their score until they reduce their score to zero.

However, remember ! You have to close out the scoring by hitting a double score so try not to leave an odd number. If you do leave an odd number you get ready to calculate what your “checkout” score needs to be.

Click here for a list of all darts checkouts You will see here there are some bogey* numbers. 

(*Bogey numbers are scores in darts that you cannot checkout with three darts).

Watch this video to see everything you need to know about scoring!

How do you play 501 bust in darts?

If you are bust in 501 it means you have reduced your score to below zero. 

The object of the 501 is to get your score to zero, however, you must finish the scoring to zero by hitting a double. If you score too many points on your “last” throw do not get zero by hitting a double or you score less than 0. You are bust!

Let’s look at what this means. There are a couple of ways you can bust.

If you score the exact score that you need but you do not hit a double then you are bust! For example you have a score of 16 left but instead of hitting double 8 you hit 16.

Aiming for double 8, but hitting 16 = Bust!

You need a double but hit to many points such as when you are aiming for double 4 but hit 18.

Aiming for double 4, but hitting 18 = Bust!

What happens if you have 1 point left in darts?

If you have 1 point left in darts you are bust because you cannot score 1 point by hitting a double. 

If you find yourself on 1 point then you must go back to your previous score and aim to complete your scoring down to zero by hitting a double. This is most frustrating when you are aiming for double 1 and hit single 1!

What happens if you go over 501?

If you go over 501 you are bust!

Do you need a double to start 501?

There are professional games where a double is needed to start your scoring.

So in a normal game of 501 darts you do not need to hit a double to start so your scoring commences with whatever you hit with your darts be that in a double or not.r you hit

Can you do 501 in 6 darts?

Afraid not, the minimum amount of darts needed to finish a 501 game is 9.. 

For example you could hit treble 20 (60 points) treble 19 (57 points) then bullseye (50 points) to get a total of 167. So if you throw this score 3 times in succession to get 501 and finish on the bullseye!

Do you have to throw all 3 darts in 501?

You do not have to throw all 3 darts in a game of 501. Even if you are taking your first turn it is entirely up to you to throw all 3. It would be strange to do that but the rules of darts do not state that you MUST throw all 3 darts. My advice though 0 throw all your darts…!

What is the bullseye worth in 501?

The inner bullseye is worth 50 points. The outer bullseye is worth 25 points.

What is 3 Bullseyes in darts called?

When you score 3 bullseyes with consecutive darts it is called a hat- trick! Give it a try  :-/

Why do they start 501 in darts?

Pro players play from 501 as they are so adept at high scoring.

Playing from 501 ensures there are longer games and they must score more consistently to win each game. 

Takeaways

Your strategy when playing 501 should be to score as many points as possible with each throw.

Once you have scored enough points you can concentrate on what darting check out scores / final throw to finish on zero that you will go for.