Darts Basics: How to Start Playing and Have Fun

Darts is a game that has become so popular around the world that it has quickly grown from a local pub pastime to a large-scale competition. Now darts has become a new sport, with tournaments held all over the world.

There are many legends about the invention of this game, but two are the most interesting.

The first legend says that darts is a game of kings. About 600 years ago, English King Henry VII created darts for his beloved wife. The queen loved hunting but was unable to participate due to her health. Henry VII then suggested that she throw darts at an image of a bull’s head. That is why the English still refer to the center of the target as the “bull’s eye.”

The second legend is more widespread. It says that darts was invented in Britain in the Middle Ages, on the eve of World War I. At first, the game was popular in taverns and pubs in England as entertainment for visitors. Upside-down barrels served as targets. A cork played the role of the “bullseye.” Bows and arrows were used as darts. But the pub was not very large, and the swing of the “throw” was impressive. This circumstance forced the inventive visitors to create a dart by cutting off the arrows. The target acquired its modern appearance when Brian Gamlin, a carpenter from Lancashire, suggested making sectors. But Thomas William Buckley filed the patent and is considered the official creator of the rules of the game.

Soon, British soldiers began playing darts. The game was so popular with the servicemen that darts became part of their sports equipment for maintaining physical fitness. After the war, British military allies took darts home as souvenirs.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the game was banned because it was considered gambling. The owner of the hotel where bets were placed on the game, Jim Garside, was brought to court for this. But Jim managed to prove through experimentation that the game requires certain skills and mastery, not luck or the blessing of fortune.

In 1927, the first darts tournament was held in London. Later, the game gained the status of a sport, and soon the whole world learned about it. In 1976, the headquarters of the World Darts Federation was established in Lishta (Sweden). Currently, it includes 46 countries from six continents: Europe, Australia, South and North America, Africa, and Asia.

General rules of darts

To play darts, you need:

• 3 darts. They can be made of nickel, plastic, brass, steel, tungsten, and have a feather tip to stabilize flight. Beginners prefer to play with brass darts, while professionals prefer heavier tungsten darts.
• A target. It is divided into 20 sectors. The 20th is always located strictly at the top. The target is made of cardboard, which is the most common and budget-friendly option. Or from compressed agave fibers – sisal targets.

In the center of the target is the “bullseye,” which you need to hit to get 50 points per throw. Hitting the green circle gives you 25 points. To double the number of points in a sector, you need to hit the outer narrow circle, and to triple them, you need to hit the inner circle. According to the standards, they are colored green and red.

The first throw in any darts game is determined by hitting the “bullseye.” Players take turns making one throw. Whose dart is closest to the center starts the game.

In a standard game, the score is counted in ascending order. The maximum number of points is 180. Here, you can use a masterful throw and hit the triple twenty points at once. This requires a well-practiced throwing technique, a certain distance, and accurate aiming.

There are more than 30 types of darts games. They are all different, as are their rules, but the general principle always remains the same.

The general rules include the following points:

• After each turn, each player must remove their darts from the target themselves;
• It is strictly forbidden to stand behind the throwing line;
• To maintain the spirit of competition and keep score, it is better to record the points before the darts are removed from the target;
• Points will not be counted if the dart bounces off the target or does not stick to it and falls; the throw cannot be replayed;
• If, by chance, your opponent’s dart falls out of their hand, you can pick it up and throw it to score extra points for yourself. This will not be considered a violation of the rules of the game;
• Under no circumstances should you distract your opponent from their throw.