How to play 501.
501 is the standard game of darts, the one played on TV and in leagues worldwide. Two players or teams race from 501 down to exactly zero, finishing on a double.
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The basic rules
- Both players (or teams) start with a score of 501.
- Each visit is three darts. Add up what you scored and subtract it from your remaining total.
- Players alternate visits.
- First to reach exactly 0 wins the leg, but the final dart of the leg must land on a double (or the bullseye, which counts as double 25).
So if you're on 40, a dart in double 20 finishes the leg. If you're on 32, double 16 does it. There's more than one way to get there for most scores, see the darts checkout chart for the standard route on every finish from 2 to 170.
Busting
If your visit would take your score below 0, to exactly 1, or to exactly 0 but not on the final dart being a double, that visit is a bust. None of the points from that visit count, your score reverts to what it was before you threw, and the turn passes to your opponent.
Example: you're on 20, you hit double 10 (20 points), 0 remains, but you were aiming for double 10 and instead the third dart earlier in the visit already put you past 0. Any route that overshoots or leaves you on 1 is a bust, not just going below zero.
Straight in vs double in
Most casual and pub 501 is "straight in", meaning you start scoring immediately from your first dart. Some leagues and more competitive formats use "double in", where you have to hit a double before any of your scoring counts, so the first few visits can be spent just trying to get started. If you're not sure which your group plays, straight in is the safer default and what most online scorers, CSWStats included, assume unless stated otherwise.
Legs, sets and match format
A single 501 game to zero is called a leg. Matches are usually played as "first to" or "best of" a number of legs (best of 5, first to 3, and so on), and longer professional matches group legs into sets, each set itself a race to a number of legs. Casual play, including most pub darts, is just a single leg or a short best-of.
301 and other starting scores
Everything above applies identically to 301, just starting from a lower total, it's a faster game often used for a quick match or as a warm-up leg. Some casual games use 701 or 1001 for a longer contest. The rules for scoring, busting and finishing on a double are the same regardless of the starting number.
Score your 501s here for free, or link DartCounter and CSWStats builds your 3-dart average, checkout percentage and full match history automatically.
Common questions
Do you have to finish on a double in 501?
Yes, in standard rules. Your final scoring dart of the leg has to land on a double, or the bullseye (which counts as double 25).
What happens if I go below zero?
It's a bust. The whole visit is voided, your score goes back to what it was before you threw, and it's your opponent's turn.
What's the highest possible checkout in 501?
170, the "big fish", checked out with two treble 20s and the bullseye. See the full darts checkout chart for every finish.
What's a good average for a 501 game?
It depends on your level, pub players are commonly in the 40s and 50s, strong league players 55 to 70. See what counts as a good 3-dart average for the full breakdown by standard.