Ally Pally at Home: 5 Darts Games to Play During the World Championship
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Watching the World Championship always makes you want to pick up your own darts. Whether it's two of you or the whole family over Christmas, here are five games that work at home. Keep a Light Up Scoreboard next to the board and everyone can follow the scores.
1. 501: play it like the Worlds
Players: 2, or two teams
The classic. Everyone starts on 501 and takes turns throwing three darts, subtracting their score. You must finish exactly on zero with a double (the bullseye counts as double 25). Go over, or leave yourself on 1, and that's a bust: your score goes back to what it was at the start of the turn.
Make it feel like Ally Pally: play in sets. First to three legs wins a set, first to three sets wins the match, just like the early rounds on TV.
2. Round the Clock
Players: any number. Great for kids and beginners.
Hit 1, then 2, then 3, all the way to 20, then finish on the bull. You need to hit each number in order before moving on. First to the bull wins. For a harder version, you have to hit the double of each number.
3. Cricket
Players: 2 or more
Only the numbers 15 to 20 and the bull count. Hit a number three times to "open" it (a double counts as two, a treble as three). Once a number is open, you score points on it until your opponent closes it by hitting it three times too. Close all seven with the most points to win. It's tactical and great fun for mixed abilities.
4. Killer
Players: 3 to 8. The best party game.
Everyone throws one dart with their weaker hand to get their own number. Hit the double of your number to become a "killer". Killers then aim at other players' doubles, and each hit takes a life off them (everyone starts with three). Last player standing wins. Expect plenty of shouting.
5. Bob's 27
Players: 1 or more. The pros' doubles practice.
Start on 27 points. Throw three darts at double 1. Each hit adds the value of the double (2 points per hit), and if you miss all three, you lose that amount instead. Then move on to double 2, double 3 and so on up to double 20. If you drop to zero or below, you're out. Try to beat your best score each night of the tournament.
Keep the games going
A long holiday session is hard on your darts. A few things that save the night:
- Aluminium Flight Rings stop flights flying out every other throw.
- A Broken Shaft Removal Tool sorts snapped shafts in seconds.
- Finger Grip Wax helps when it gets warm with a full room.
Or get all the essentials in one go with the Player's Essentials Pack.
Planning the full night? Read our guide to hosting a darts night during the World Championship. Free UK delivery on every order.
