Madhouse

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The Madhouse — double 1, scoring just 2 points — is the most feared address on the dartboard. The name says it all: ending up on D1 during a checkout can drive you mad. The target is minuscule, the margin for error is essentially zero, and the pressure of the situation makes it even worse. How do you end up in the madhouse? Usually through a series of unfortunate misses. You're on 40 (D20), miss into S20, leaving 20. Go for D10, miss into S10, leaving 10. Go for D5, miss into S5, leaving 5. Go for S1 to leave 4 (D2), but hit S3, leaving 2. Now you need D1. Welcome to the madhouse. The psychology of D1 is its own challenge. Players who are otherwise clinical at doubles can develop a genuine mental block about D1. The segment is small, the double ring is tiny at that point on the board, and there's no good miss: outside the board is zero, inside gives you S1 (leaving 1, which is bust). The only escape is hitting it. Some players develop specific strategies to avoid the madhouse entirely. They'll deliberately aim for a single to leave a higher double rather than risk descending into D1 territory. This forward-thinking approach — always planning what to leave if you miss — is what separates experienced players from novices. In pub darts, ending up on D1 is usually met with groans and sympathetic laughter from everyone watching. It's a universal experience — every darts player has been in the madhouse at some point. The important thing is to keep your nerve and commit to the throw.