301 Dart Rules

301 is one of the most popular dart games, especially for beginners and casual players. It's fast-paced and requires both skill and strategy.

Basic Rules

• Starting Score: Each player begins with 301 points.
• Objective: Be the first player to reduce your score exactly to zero.
• Turn Structure: Players take turns throwing three darts.
• Scoring: The point value of each dart is subtracted from the player's remaining score.

Double-In, Double-Out Rules

301 is commonly played with special starting and finishing rules:

• Double-In: Players must hit a double segment (outer ring) before they can begin subtracting points from their score. Until a double is hit, any points scored do not count toward reducing the 301 total.
• Double-Out: To win, players must reach exactly zero by hitting a double. For example, if a player has 32 remaining, they must hit a double 16 to win. If a player scores more points than they have remaining or reduces their score to 1, the turn is a "bust" and their score reverts to what it was at the beginning of that turn.
• Straight-In: Some variations allow players to start scoring immediately without needing to hit a double first.
• Straight-Out: Some casual games allow players to finish on any number, not just doubles.

Strategy Tips

• Opening Strategy: If playing double-in, aim for doubles with high percentage success rates like double 16 or double 20.
• Endgame Planning: As you approach zero, plan your throws to leave scores that can be finished with common doubles (16, 8, 4, etc.).
• Avoid Awkward Numbers: Try not to leave yourself on awkward numbers like 1, 5, or any prime number less than 40, as these require multiple darts to finish.

Common Checkout Chart

Here are some common checkout combinations for 301: