How to Play 501 Darts
501 is the most popular darts game in the world, played in every major tournament from the PDC World Championship to local pub leagues. Here's everything you need to know to start playing.
New to darts? Start with our complete darts rules guide.
The Objective
Each player starts with a score of 501. The goal is to reduce your score to exactly 0 by throwing darts at the board. The first player to reach zero wins the leg.
Basic Rules
- Players take turns throwing 3 darts per turn.
- The score of each dart is subtracted from the player's remaining total.
- The outer ring (doubles) scores 2x the number, the inner ring (trebles) scores 3x.
- The outer bull scores 25 and the inner bull (bullseye) scores 50.
- A miss scores 0.
Double-Out Rule
In standard 501, you must finish on a double (the outer narrow ring or the inner bull at 50). This is called "double-out." For example, if you have 40 remaining, you need to hit Double 20 (D20) to win.
If your remaining score goes below 0, or reaches exactly 1 (which is impossible to finish on a double), your turn is a bust — your score resets to what it was at the start of the turn.
Scoring Notation
| Notation | Meaning | Score |
|---|---|---|
| S20 | Single 20 | 20 |
| D20 | Double 20 | 40 |
| T20 | Treble 20 | 60 |
| SB | Single Bull (outer) | 25 |
| DB | Double Bull (bullseye) | 50 |
Understanding 3-Dart Average
The 3-dart average is the key statistic in 501. It measures how many points you score per 3 darts (one turn). It's calculated as:
3-Dart Avg = (Total Points Scored / Darts Thrown) × 3
Here's what the numbers mean:
Track your averages over time with our darts average calculator.
| Average | Level |
|---|---|
| 30–40 | Beginner |
| 40–55 | Casual player |
| 55–70 | Pub league |
| 70–85 | County level |
| 85–100+ | Professional |
Checkout Strategy
When your remaining score is 170 or below, you're in checkout range — meaning it's possible to finish in 3 darts. The most common checkouts to memorize:
- 170: T20, T20, DB (the highest possible checkout)
- 100: T20, D20
- 40: D20 (the most common finishing double)
- 32: D16 (backup if you miss D20 and hit S20)
For a complete list of all checkouts, see our checkout calculator. See our best checkout strategies guide for advanced finishing tactics.
Tips for Beginners
- Aim for Treble 20 during scoring — it's the highest possible single-dart score (60).
- Leave yourself a double — try to leave an even number so you have a clean double to aim for.
- Learn the key checkouts — 40 (D20), 32 (D16), and 16 (D8) are the most important.
- Practice your doubles — checkout accuracy separates good players from great ones.