Rules
301 Darts Rules
301 works exactly like 501 with a lower start: subtract each visit and finish on a double. The difference that matters is that 301 is often played double in, meaning nothing counts until your first dart lands in a double.
How 301 differs from 501
| 301 | 501 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting score | 301 | 501 |
| Starting rule | Often double in | Straight in |
| Finishing rule | Double out | Double out |
| Typical leg | 9 to 20 darts | 15 to 40 darts |
| Where it is used | Pub, team, soft tip | Leagues, PDC, WDF |
Everything on the checkout chart applies unchanged, since the finishing rule is identical. Only the start differs.
Double in
The rule exists to stop the game being decided purely by scoring. It forces every player to hit the hardest part of the board at both ends of the leg rather than only at the finish.
In practice it also produces the least enjoyable part of 301: a weaker player can throw three, six or nine darts that count for nothing while their opponent is already scoring. It is the main reason casual games drop the rule.
The double that starts you counts towards your score as normal. Open with double 20 and you are on 261, not 301.
A worked leg, double in
| Visit | Darts | Counts | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | S20, T20, S5 | 0 — never doubled in | 301 |
| 2 | D20, T20, T20 | 160 | 141 |
| 3 | T20, T19, D12 | 141 | 0 |
Visit one is a complete write-off despite containing a treble 20. Visit two opens with double 20 for 40, then two treble 20s for 120, so 160 comes off and the player is on 141 — a finish they take next visit.
When to play 301
- •Short on time. A 301 leg is roughly half a 501 leg, so a best-of-five fits into a pub visit.
- •Large groups. With six players waiting, 501 legs get slow. 301 keeps everyone throwing.
- •Practising doubles. Double in and double out means two doubles per leg minimum, which is the point of the format as a drill.
- •Soft tip. Most electronic machines default to 301, because the shorter leg suits coin-operated play.
For a serious match between two players of similar standard, 501 is the better test. The extra 200 points give scoring ability time to show, rather than letting one maximum decide the leg.
