How to Play Cricket Darts
How to play cricket darts and keep score: the marks (/, X and a circled X), closing 15 to 20 and the bull, when points count, and a worked example.
Quick answer
Cricket uses only 15 to 20 and the bull. A single is one mark, a double two and a treble three. Three marks close a number for you; after that every extra mark scores the number's value, until your opponent closes it too. Close all seven with at least as many points as your opponent to win.
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Objective
Cricket is a strategic darts game where players try to "close" numbers 15 through 20 and the bullseye while scoring the most points. A number is closed by hitting it three times.
Setup
Two players or teams compete. The target numbers are 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Bull (25/50). A scoreboard tracks marks and points for each player.
How to keep score in cricket darts
A cricket scoreboard lists 20 down to 15 and the bull in the middle. Each player's marks go on their side of the number, and their points go underneath.
The marks: /, X and a circled X
One mark
A single, or the outer bull (25). Draw a slash.
Two marks
A double, the bullseye (50), or a second single. The slash becomes an X.
Three marks
A treble, or any mix that adds up to three. Circle the X: the number is closed for you.
There is no treble bull, so the bull always takes at least two darts: a bullseye and an outer bull, or three outer bulls.
Opening and closing numbers
Three marks on a number make it yours. Players say you have closed it, or that it is open for you to score on. Both mean the same thing.
As long as your opponent has fewer than three marks there, every extra mark you hit scores the number's face value: a single 20 scores 20, a treble 20 scores 60.
When your opponent gets their third mark too, the number is closed for both of you. Strike it through on the board: nobody scores on it again.
When do points count?
- •Only on a number you have closed and your opponent has not.
- •Only for marks after the third. With two marks on 20, a treble 20 closes it with one mark and scores the other two: 40 points.
- •On the bull each extra mark is worth 25: 25 for the outer bull, 50 for the bullseye.
- •Numbers 1 to 14 and misses score nothing and add no marks.
- •You win when you have closed all seven numbers and have at least as many points as your opponent. If you close everything but are behind, keep scoring until you are level or ahead.
Worked example: five visits
Anna and Ben play standard cricket. This is what each three-dart visit puts on the board.
1 · AnnaT20, 20, miss20–0
The treble closes 20 for Anna. The single 20 scores, because Ben has no 20s yet.
2 · Ben19, 19, D1920–19
Two singles give Ben two marks on 19. The double adds two more: one closes 19 and one scores 19.
3 · Anna20, T18, 1858–19
Another 20 scores. The treble closes 18, and the single 18 scores.
4 · BenT20, T20, 2558–19
The first T20 closes 20 for Ben, so 20 is now closed for both and the second T20 scores nothing. The outer bull is one mark on the bull.
5 · Anna19, D19, miss58–19
A single and a double make three marks. 19 is now closed for both, so nothing scores.
| Visit | Darts | What happens | Anna–Ben |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Anna | T20, 20, miss | The treble closes 20 for Anna. The single 20 scores, because Ben has no 20s yet. | 20–0 |
| 2 · Ben | 19, 19, D19 | Two singles give Ben two marks on 19. The double adds two more: one closes 19 and one scores 19. | 20–19 |
| 3 · Anna | 20, T18, 18 | Another 20 scores. The treble closes 18, and the single 18 scores. | 58–19 |
| 4 · Ben | T20, T20, 25 | The first T20 closes 20 for Ben, so 20 is now closed for both and the second T20 scores nothing. The outer bull is one mark on the bull. | 58–19 |
| 5 · Anna | 19, D19, miss | A single and a double make three marks. 19 is now closed for both, so nothing scores. | 58–19 |
The scoreboard after five visits
| Anna | Ben | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | ||
| 19 | ||
| 18 | – | |
| – | 17 | – |
| – | 16 | – |
| – | 15 | – |
| – | Bull | |
| 58 | Points | 19 |
20 and 19 are closed for both and out of play. Anna can keep scoring on 18 until Ben closes it, so Ben's best next target is probably T18. Anna leads 58–19, but she still needs 17, 16, 15 and the bull to win.
Other ways to play
Cut-throat cricket
Popular with three or more players. Your extra marks add points to every opponent who hasn't closed that number, and the lowest score wins.
No-score cricket
Points are left out and the first player to close all seven numbers wins. A good way to learn the game.
Marks per round (MPR)
The cricket average: how many marks you hit, on average, per three-dart visit.
Let TallyPally keep the cricket score
Tap the number you hit and TallyPally adds the marks, closes the numbers, counts the points and tells you who won. One to six players or teams, on a phone, tablet or in the browser. Free, and you can try it without an account.
Score a cricket game now →The cricket screen in TallyPally: marks, closed numbers and points update with every tap.
Winning
The game ends when one player has closed all seven numbers (15-20 and Bull) AND has equal or more points than their opponent. If you close everything but have fewer points, you must keep scoring until you take the lead.
Tips
Cricket rewards both accuracy and strategy.
- •Close 20 first — it's the highest-value number and the biggest scoring threat
- •If your opponent closes a number you haven't, prioritize closing it to stop them from scoring
- •Treble hits are huge — a T20 closes the number and scores 60 points if already closed
- •Don't ignore Bull — it's worth 25/50 points and must be closed to win
- •Balance closing numbers and scoring — being ahead in points gives you more flexibility
Common Mistakes
Avoid these common Cricket errors:
- •Ignoring the scoreboard — always know which numbers your opponent has closed
- •Focusing only on closing without scoring — points matter for winning
- •Leaving Bull for last — it's harder to hit and you don't want to be stuck on it
- •Not being defensive — if your opponent is scoring big on a number, close it to cut them off
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