"Hitting the Bulls eye" is a popular analogy used by people who have acquired a certain coup. "She hit the bulls eye when she met him", or "Did you hear about Zack's new job? He really hit the bulls eye there". When someone says they've hit the bullseye, their achievements are right on target. In the game of darts however, there's a lot more to playing successfully than just being able to hit the bulls eye. While darts is certainly a game of skill, there are other elements that make it a fun and challenging game.

The game of darts has been around for many years, and remains a very popular sport of the modern era. It is a fun social game played by around the world. With an enduring popularity among all social classes, the game of darts involves a combination of talent, precision and just a little luck.

Method of Play

Darts is basically a social game involving two opponents or opposing teams. Standardized rules dictate that teams be composed of two or more people each. There are certain variations to the original game that permits for more than two teams to play a game. These alternative game options do not enjoy the same level of popularity as the basic two-team rules.

Under basic darts rule, nine throws are allowed for every player as a form of warm up prior to the start of the game. One person from each team throws a single dart to determine which team will shoot first. The player shooting closest to the center of the board, or "bulls eye" wins the draw and his or her team is first to shoot.

The game progresses with each player throwing darts in turn. Two sets of darts, one set per team, are thrown during each turn. If a player's foot crosses over during the shoot, the throw is disqualified and no points are counted. There is no re-throw. This darts rule also holds if a player happens to trip over the oche (throwing line) and release his or her dart.

Rules of darts dictate that each dart must stay on the board for a minimum of five seconds after the final throw of the player to count. If the dart falls off the board, or if it sticks into another dart on the board, no points are counted. Good darts players must be able to control the speed and accuracy of the throw, to get a good and lasting shot.

Scoring

Understanding the scoring positions on the board will help you determine your game scores:

* In the wedge: the amount posted on the outer ring is the score counted

* In the double ring: (outer, narrow ring): count twice the number shown

* In the triple ring: (inner, narrow ring): count three times the number shown

* Double bulls eye (inner bull, usually red): count fifty points

* Bullseye (outer bull): count twenty-five points.

As previously stated, there are variations to the basic game of darts. 301 and Cricket are two popular games played by darters around the world. In 301, each player starts with a score of 301 and counts backward as they score. The first player to reach zero is the winner. Cricket is a game that requires more precise throwing, as certain areas of the board must be hit. A complete game of Cricket requires each player to hit numbers 15 through 20, with their "doubles" and "triples", as well as the bullseye.

Rules of darts and game play can vary, but the most important rule should always be "safety first". For obvious reasons, darts is not a game recommended for young children as the careless handling of dart can result to serious injury. Play safe and have fun.