Why 501, and what is a checkout? The rules of darts explained
Sep 13, 2026 · 11:05
From 501 down to zero, finishing on a double - that is the essence of darts.
Darts has become popular in Hungary too in recent years. The rules are simple; the difficulty lies elsewhere.
The key rule
Both players start from 501 and the first to reach exactly zero wins the leg. The finish must come with a double: either the outer ring of the board or the central bullseye worth fifty.
The throw
Three darts are thrown per turn. The treble ring is the most valuable: with the treble twenty, a maximum turn is worth 180, the best-known number in darts. Winning a leg in nine darts - a nine-darter - is the sport's perfect performance.
The checkout
The real difficulty is the closing phase: the remaining score must be broken down so that a double is left at the end. That is why players calculate instantly in their heads and sometimes deliberately leave a specific number for the next turn.
Formats
Matches are built from legs, or from sets made up of legs. That is why world championship formats grow longer and harsher round by round, and why concentration rather than physical endurance is what fades.
