Leg

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A leg is the fundamental unit of darts competition. It's a single game played from the starting score (usually 501 or 301) down to exactly zero, finishing on a double. A match is then made up of multiple legs, with the winner being the first to reach a set number of legs — like "first to 3 legs" or "best of 7 legs." The structure of legs within a match creates interesting tactical dynamics. The player who throws first in a leg has a statistical advantage — they get to the checkout first. In professional darts, holding your throw (winning the leg you start) is expected, and breaking your opponent's throw (winning a leg they started) is a big deal. This is similar to "holding serve" in tennis. Typical formats vary by competition level. Pub and club leagues often play best-of-3 or best-of-5 legs. Regional competitions might use best-of-7. Professional PDC events range from short formats (best-of-5 in early rounds) to epic battles (best-of-13 sets of best-of-5 legs in the World Championship final). The longer the format, the more skill prevails over luck. A leg of 501 at the professional level typically lasts 12-18 darts per player. A player averaging 100 per visit would need about 15 darts (five visits) to reach a checkout range, then one or two more to finish. The fastest possible is 9 darts — the mythical nine-darter. For newer players, a leg might take 20-30+ darts. That's totally normal — the fun is in seeing that dart count decrease over time as your scoring and finishing improve.