How to Play Cricket Darts

Cricket is one of the most popular darts games, especially in North America. It combines accuracy with strategy, making it a favorite for both casual and competitive play.

New to darts? Start with our complete darts rules guide.

The Objective

The goal of Cricket is to "close" all the numbers (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Bull) by hitting each one three times, while also having equal or more points than your opponent(s).

Numbers in Play

Only these segments count in Cricket:

• 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
• Bull (inner bull = 50, outer bull = 25)

Darts that land in any other number (1–14) don't score and don't count as marks.

How Marks Work

You need 3 marks on each number to "close" it:

For bull: the outer bull (SB) counts as 1 mark, and the inner bull (DB) counts as 2 marks.

Scoring Points

Here's the key strategic element of Cricket:

• Once you have 3 marks on a number (it's "open" for you), any additional hits on that number score points — but only if your opponent hasn't closed that number yet.
• Points scored equal the face value of the hit (e.g., hitting T20 when 20 is open scores 60 points).
• When all players have 3 marks on a number, that number is closed for everyone — no one can score on it anymore.

Winning the Game

To win, you must:

1. Close all 7 numbers (15–20 and Bull) — each with 3 marks.
2. Have points equal to or greater than all opponents.

If you close all your numbers but have fewer points than an opponent, you must keep scoring on their open numbers until you take the points lead.

Strategy Tips

1. Start with 20s — they give the most points per mark. T20 = 3 marks and potentially 60 points per hit.
2. Close what your opponent has open — if they're scoring on 20s, prioritize closing 20 to cut off their points.
3. Balance offense and defense — don't just rack up marks. If your opponent is building a big point lead, start scoring back.
4. Leave bull for last — it's the hardest target. Close the easier numbers first.
5. Trebles are key — a single treble closes a number instantly. Aim for trebles when you need to catch up.

Example Turn

Suppose you need marks on 20. You throw:

1. T20 — 3 marks, 20 is now closed for you!
2. S20 — scores 20 points (if opponent hasn't closed 20)
3. D20 — scores 40 points (if opponent hasn't closed 20)

That's 3 marks + 60 points in a single turn. This is why trebles are so powerful in Cricket.

Marks Per Round (MPR)

MPR is the key statistic in Cricket. It measures how many marks you average per turn (3 darts).