Cricket (darts)

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Typical cricket score card
Typical cricket score card

Cricket is a dart game that uses the standard 20 number dartboard with the treble and double rings. It is known by various names in Britain, including "Mickey Mouse", "Horse and Carriage", "Coach and Horses", "The Game" and "Faldo".

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

Cricket is typically played between 2, 3 or 4 players, or teams of players, although the rules do not discount more 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 less frequently a predetermined selection of numbers) 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 turning the slash to an X, and the third by a circle (O) around the X.

[edit] Scoring

The object is for a player to hit each number and the bullseye three times. Doubles count as two hits and triples as three. The first player to hit a number three times owns that number and it is said to be opened. Further hits on the opened number score that number of points (e.g. triple 20 gains 60 points) until his opponent also hits that number three times and closes it, then that number is removed from play. The double ring scores double the number's value and the treble (inner) ring scores triple the number's value. The outer bullseye ring is worth 25 points and the inner circle (or double bull) is worth 50. Once a player has opened or closed all the required numbers and bull and has equal or more points than his opponent that player wins. 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.

[edit] Playing

To start the game, each player or one player from each team throws one dart. The player who's dart lands closest to the center goes first. Generally, if both players darts are in the same section of the bullseye or in the event of a tie, each player throws another dart 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 triple 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 open it.
    The Score is 20 – 0 (as the player hit S20 after opening)
  • 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 (as player 2 closed the number and hits on a number that is closed do not count. The player also opened 16)
  • Player 1 now tries to close the 18 but hits the S1 and the S4 and the S20.
    At the end of player 1's second turn there is no score change.
    The Score is still 20 – 0 (As only 15-20-Bull are used in Cricket and 20 was closed by player 2)
  • 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 (As hit T16 after it was closed = 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 at least as many points than the opposition before the opposition closes all their numbers. (The allowance of equal points winning explains why the first person to close all numbers where neither has any points nonetheless wins.)

[edit] Teams

This game can also be played by teams of 2 or even more persons. In some variations, when played with more than 2 teams, the system of points is replaced by penalty points. With penalty points the points score on every team that has not closed the number and the low point total wins the game.

[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 triples and three doubles. As with 20–15, once a player has closed his/her triples or doubles by hitting three of any type, they can point on the double or triple ring. For example, if a player were to hit triple 20 to open, he/she must decide whether to take three 20's (closing 20) or count one triple. For the triples and doubles it doesn't matter where they land, as long as they are on the ring. Hence, a triple 10 would count as 30 points if the player had already thrown three other triples 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.

[edit] Tactics

Yet another version played in Canada, tactics uses the number 20 down through 13, along with doubles, triples, and bulls. Again, 3 of each are required. "Killer", or 'Cut-throat Tactics' can be played with 3 players. Rather than gain points for yourself, they are given to the others players who don't have the number closed. Then the player with all the Xs and the least points is the winner.

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