Darts Scorekeeper301 darts rules: how to play 301
301 is 501's quicker sibling: every player starts on 301 and races to exactly zero. It's the usual game for beginners and short matches, and many American leagues play it "double in, double out". Here are the rules, the variations, and what a good 301 looks like.
The rules
- Each player starts on 301. Bull up to decide who throws first: one dart each at the bull, closest starts.
- Take turns throwing three darts (a visit). Add them up and take the total off your score.
- The first player to reach exactly zero wins the leg. In the standard game the last dart must be a double or the bull.
- Go below zero, leave 1, or reach zero without a double and you bust: your score goes back to what it was before the visit.
- In a match, play first to a set number of legs, with the starting player alternating each leg.
Scoring is the same as any darts game: singles score the number, the outer ring doubles it, the inner ring trebles it (the "triple" in the US), the outer bull is 25 and the bull 50. New to that? See how to score darts.
Double in (and straight in)
301 is often played double in: your score doesn't start going down until you hit a double. The double itself counts, and so does every dart after it in that visit. Darts thrown before it score nothing.
Example. Your first visit is 20, D20, T20. The single 20 doesn't count because you haven't doubled in. D20 (40) starts you, and T20 (60) counts too: you've scored 100 and you're on 201.
Rules vary here: most double-in games accept the bull as a double to start, and some leagues use 301 straight in. Straight in means every dart counts from the first one, as in 501. If nobody says otherwise, casual games are usually straight in, double out. Many US leagues play double in, double out (DIDO); check your league's sheet.
Double out and busts
To win you must reach exactly zero with a dart in the double ring or the bull (which counts as double 25). A dart busts if it takes you below zero, leaves 1, or reaches zero without being a double. The visit ends and your score resets to where you began it.
Some casual games play straight out, where any dart that hits exactly zero wins and only going below zero busts. It's faster and a good way to start.
301 vs 501
| 301 | 501 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting score | 301 | 501 |
| Fewest darts to win | 6 | 9 (the "nine-darter") |
| Usual start | Double in (US leagues) or straight in | Straight in |
| Usual finish | Double out | Double out |
| Where you'll see it | Beginners, quick games, many American leagues | Pro events, most pub and league darts |
Because 301 is shorter, the double matters more: a missed double in or a slow checkout costs a bigger share of the leg. The 501 rules are otherwise the same.
How to win 301 in six darts
Six darts is the minimum: five darts can score at most 300. The perfect legs:
| Format | Visit 1 | Visit 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Straight in, double out | T20 T20 T20 = 180 | 121 left: T20 25 D18 |
| Double in, double out | D20 T20 T20 = 160 | 141 left: T20 T19 D12 |
Other routes for the 121 and 141 checkouts work too; the checkout calculator shows the usual one for any score.
What's a good 301?
Count the darts you took to finish. The table turns that into a 3-dart average (301 ÷ darts × 3), the standard measure of how well you're throwing:
| Finished in | 3-dart average |
|---|---|
| 9 darts (3 visits) | 100.3 |
| 12 darts (4 visits) | 75.3 |
| 15 darts (5 visits) | 60.2 |
| 18 darts (6 visits) | 50.2 |
| 24 darts (8 visits) | 37.6 |
| 30 darts (10 visits) | 30.1 |
As a rough guide, casual players often average 20 to 40 and regular league players 45 to 70, so winning 301 in five visits (15 darts) is a solid league-level leg.
301 strategy
- Double in fast. In double-in games, many players start on D20, or D16 if the 20 area is crowded with their own darts.
- Think about the finish early. 301 gets to checkout range after two or three good visits, so plan to leave a finish rather than just scoring big.
- Leave a good double. 32 (D16) and 40 (D20) are favourites: miss D16 into the single 16 and you're on D8.
- Avoid the bogey numbers. 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162, 159 can't be finished in three darts. The checkout chart shows every finish from 170 down.
Questions
What's the difference between 301 and 501 in darts?
Only the starting score and the usual start rule. Both count down to exactly zero and usually finish on a double. 301 is shorter, and many American leagues play it double in, where your score only starts counting once you hit a double. 501 is the standard game in pubs, most leagues and on TV.
Do you have to double in to play 301?
Only if your league or group plays double in. Many US leagues do; casual games are often straight in, where every dart counts from the start.
How do you score 301 in 6 darts?
Straight in: 180 (T20, T20, T20), then 121 (for example T20, 25, D18). Double in: D20, T20, T20 for 160, then 141 (T20, T19, D12). Six darts is the minimum, because five darts can score at most 300.
Is winning 301 in 5 turns good?
Yes. Five visits is 15 darts, a 3-dart average of about 60, which is solid league-level darts.
Keep score on your phone. Darts Scorekeeper scores 301 straight in, with double out on or off: it catches busts, shows the checkout from 170 down, and tracks your average for every leg. It doesn't have a double-in setting; for double-in games, enter the darts thrown before your opening double as misses.
More darts guides
- How to play darts: setup, throwing order and etiquette
- 501 rules and cricket rules
- How to score darts, including averages
- Checkout chart and checkout calculator