Cricket Darts Complete Rules & Strategy Guide

1. The Objective of Cricket

The goal of Cricket is to "close" certain active numbers on the board before your opponents while having equal or higher points. The valid target sectors are:

• Numbers: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
• Bullseye: Outer Bull (25 points) and Inner Double Bull (50 points)

2. Opening and Closing Numbers

To close a number, a player must hit it three times (three "marks"):

• A single segment counts as 1 mark.
• A double ring segment counts as 2 marks.
• A triple ring segment counts as 3 marks (closes the number in one dart!).
• Outer Bull counts as 1 mark; Inner Bull counts as 2 marks.

Once you hit three marks on a number, it is open for you. If an opponent has not yet closed that number, subsequent hits by you score points equal to the face value. Once all active players hit three marks on a number, that number is dead/closed for everyone and cannot score any more points.

3. Standard Cricket vs. Cutthroat Cricket

Standard Cricket: Extra marks on your open numbers award points to your own score. The first player to close all targets with equal or greater points wins.

Cutthroat Cricket (Competitive 3+ Players): Extra marks on your open numbers award points to any opponent who has not yet closed that number! In Cutthroat, the objective is to have the lowest score. When a player closes all numbers and has the lowest (or tied lowest) score, that player wins immediately.

4. Marks Per Round (MPR) Explained

In Cricket, a player's skill is evaluated by Marks Per Round (MPR) rather than 3-dart average:

MPR = (Total Marks Hit / Total Darts Thrown) × 3

• 1.5 – 2.5 MPR: Recreational player
• 2.5 – 3.5 MPR: Intermediate league player
• 3.5 – 4.5+ MPR: Advanced tournament player

5. Smart Cricket Strategy Tips

• Start on the 20: Tripling the 20 immediately gives you scoring control.
• Points first or close first? If you fall behind in points, score on your open numbers to pressure opponents before chasing their open numbers.
• Bullseye control: The Bullseye is worth 25/50 points and often decides close matches; practice Inner Bull finishes.