Cricket (darts)
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Cricket is a dart game that uses the standard 20 number dartboard with the treble and double rings. It is called Mickey Mouse in Britain.
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[edit] Gameplay
Cricket is played between 2, 3 or 4 players or teams of players. The goal of cricket is to be the first player to close all the cricket numbers and have a higher or even point total.
[edit] Cricket Numbers
Cricket uses the numbers 15 through 20 (or sometimes 10 through 20) and the bull's-eye. To close a number, it must have been scored 3 times in any fashion, on one or more turns. Hitting the triple will close a number in one throw; a single and the double will close it in two throws or three singles will close it in three throws. Numbers do not have to be closed in any particular order and several numbers can be hit in the same turn. A scoreboard is used to keep track of the hits on all the numbers. Hitting a number once is shown by placing a slash (/) beside the number, second hit by an X, and the third by a circle O.
[edit] Scoring
Once a player has closed a number, any additional hits on that number will add to that player's score. Once a number has been closed by all players, it cannot be used to score points for the rest of the game. Each number scores its face value. The outer ring of the bullseye scores 25 and the central section scores 50. The double ring scores double the number's value and the treble (inner) ring scores triple the number's value. Alternatively, cutthroat-style scoring can be used, in which case points are undesirable; hitting a number that is already closed results in points being given to any other players who do not have that number closed. The cutthroat version is also called Murder.
[edit] Playing
To start the game, each player or one player from each team throws one dart at the Bull's Eye. The closest to the center plays first. In the event of a tie, another dart is thrown until there is an obvious winner. During a player's turn, the player throws three darts. After the last dart, the player's score is totaled. Any number that has not been scored three times is considered to be open.
[edit] Example game
Player 1 opens the game by throwing a treble 20, a single 20 and a double 18.
At the end of Player 1's turn the 20 is closed and has scored 20 points. The 18 will require one more hit to close it.
The Score is 20 - 0
Player 2 throws next and hits the treble 20, a single 20 and a treble 16.
At the end of Player 2's turn the 20 is closed but does not score since player 1 already closed it and the 16 is closed.
The Score is still 20 - 0
Player 1 now tries to close the 18 but hits the 1 and the 4 and the 20.
At the end of player 1's second turn there is no score change.
The Score is still 20 - 0
Player 2 throws a treble 16 a single 19 and a double 19.
At the end of player 2's second turn player 2 has closed the 20s, 16s and 19s and has scored 48 points (treble 16).
The Score is 20 - 48
Player 2 can continue to score on the 16s on each of his turns until player 1 closes it.
Play continues until one player or team closes all the numbers from 15 to 20 and the Bull's eye AND has an even or higher score than the other player(s).
It is possible for a player to close all the numbers and be behind in points. In this case, the player must attack one of the opposing player's open numbers. To win the player must score more points than the opposition before the opposition closes all their numbers.
[edit] Teams
This game can also be played by teams of 2 or even more persons. When played with more than 2 teams, the system of points should be replaced by penalty points.
[edit] Newfie Cricket
An alternate version of the game is played in Newfoundland, Canada, hence the name Newfie. Along with each player needing to close 20 through 15, and the bull's-eye, it is required to hit three trebles and three doubles. As with 20-15, once a player has closed his/her trebles or doubles by hitting three of any type, they can point on the double or treble ring. For example, if a player were to hit treble 20 to open, he/she must decide whether to take three 20's (closing 20) or count one treble. For the treble and doubles it doesn't matter where they land, so long as they are on the ring. Hence, a triple 10 would count as 30 points if the player had already thrown three other trebles to close them. Similar variations are also known as Mickey Mouse. In some cases in addition to doubles, trebles and bulls, beds must also be closed. A bed is when all three darts from a single turn land in the same number.
