Shanghai

Learn More

Shanghai is one of the most satisfying achievements in darts — hitting a single, double, and treble of the same number all in one three-dart visit. It requires hitting three different beds of the same number, which tests your ability to precisely adjust your aim within a narrow area of the board. In the game of Shanghai (the darts variant), hitting a Shanghai is an instant win condition, regardless of score. The game works like this: each round, all players aim at a specific number (round 1 targets 1, round 2 targets 2, and so on up to 20 or sometimes 25). You score whatever you hit on that number, and if anyone hits single, double, and treble in the same visit, they win immediately. This makes Shanghai an exciting party game because a trailing player can win in a single round. Shanghai is also the nickname for the 120 checkout: T20, S20, D20. This is a satisfying three-dart finish because all three darts target different beds of the same number 20 — a Shanghai on 20. It's one of the classic checkout routes that every player should know. The strategic beauty of Shanghai as a checkout comes from its efficiency: you're targeting one general area of the board (the 20 segment) but hitting three distinct beds within it. If your first dart hits T20 (60), your second aims for S20 (20), and your third goes for D20 (40) — that's 120 exactly. In practice, try the Shanghai challenge: go around the board attempting to hit single, double, and treble of each number. It's an excellent drill for developing versatility and control across different areas of the board.