Dice Darts Game: Rules, 301 Chart and Odds

Dice darts is a paper version of the pub game 301 for two players or two teams. Each roll of two dice is one dart: most land in a single number, some doubles land in the treble ring, and a double 6 hits the bullseye. Every player starts on 301 and counts down, and the first to reach exactly zero wins. You need two dice, a pencil and a sheet of paper, and a game takes about 20 minutes. It is also very good subtraction practice. Below is a simple home version with the exact chance of each throw.

What you need

• Two six-sided dice, or a dice roller set to two dice.
• A scoresheet with a column for each player or team, with 301 written at the top.
• Two players, or two teams that take turns throwing.
• A coin flip to decide who throws first.

Who throws first?

In a real darts match the players often throw one dart each at the bull, and the one closer to the centre starts. A coin flip is just as fair and much quicker: the winner throws first in the first game, and the other player starts the next one.

How to play

1. Each player starts on 301. A turn is three darts, so you roll the two dice three times.
2. For every roll, look at the chart below and take the points away from your score.
3. Bust: if a dart would take you below zero, the turn ends at once and your score goes back to what it was at the start of that turn, as in real darts.
4. The finish: once you have 12 or less left, throw with one die only. Each dart then scores the number on that die.
5. The first player to reach exactly zero wins the game. Play best of three or best of five games for a match.

Real 301 is usually played with a double to start and a double to finish, and its board has the numbers 1 to 20. This dice chart is a common style of simplified home version, not an official game, so agree on the rules before the first throw.

The dart chart and the chance of each throw

In the table, “Roll” is how the two dice land, “Where the dart lands” is the part of the board it counts as, with its points, and “Chance” is the exact probability out of the 36 ways two dice can land.

So five rolls in six land in a single number, and only one in 36 hits the bull. A double 1 is the one double that is not a treble: it counts as the double 1, which is 2 points.

The next table gives the chance of each number of points. “Points” is what one dart scores and “Chance per dart” is the exact probability of each of those scores.

A 7 is the most likely score, for the same reason it is the most common total of two dice, which you can read about in our guide to dice probability. On average one dart is worth about 9.6 points and a full turn of three darts about 29.

How long does a game take?

With these rules a player needs about 15 turns on average to get from 301 down to zero, and half of all games are finished in 14 turns or fewer. These numbers are worked out exactly from the chart, not simulated.

In the next table, “Turns to finish 301” is how many turns one player needs and “Chance” is how likely that is.

The player who throws first wins about 54% of the time, which is why it is fair to swap the first throw after each game. A turn of 60 points or more comes about once in 12 turns, and a turn of 100 or more, which darts players call a ton, only about once in 400. The highest possible turn is three bulls for 150, a chance of 1 in 46,656.

Tips

• Say your new score out loud after every dart. Taking away in your head is half the fun.
• Keep a column for each turn so you can go back after a bust.
• For a quicker game, start on 101. A player then needs about 8 turns on average.
• The finish with one die can take a while from a small number. That is part of the game, as in real darts, where players can get stuck on the last double.

Classroom ideas

• Mental maths: pupils take away each dart from 301 and check each other’s sheets at the end of every turn.
• Times tables: the treble ring is a quick way to practise the 3 times table.
• Fractions: ask why a 7 comes up 6 times in 36 but a 3 only 2 times in 36, and turn both into simple fractions.
• Fair teams: split the class into teams with a random name picker, then decide the first throw with a coin.

Variations

• 501: start on 501 for a longer match, as in most professional darts.
• Double out: the dart that reaches zero must be a double. Only for patient players.
• Round the clock: roll two dice and try to hit the totals 2 to 12 in order. You may move on only when the next total comes up.
• Team darts: two players per side take turns, both taking away from the same team score.

If you like sports played with dice, try dice tennis or dice rugby next.

FAQ

How do you play darts with dice?

Each roll of two dice is one dart. Two different numbers score their total, doubles 2 to 5 score three times their total, a double 6 is the bull for 50 and a double 1 scores 2. Players start on 301, take away the points and try to reach exactly zero.

What happens if you go below zero?

That is a bust. The turn ends at once and your score goes back to what it was at the start of the turn.

What is the chance of hitting the bull?

A double 6 is the bull, which is 1 in 36 for each dart, or about 8% for at least one bull in a turn of three darts.

How many turns does a game of 301 take?

About 15 turns per player on average, and half of all games are finished in 14 turns or fewer.

Does the first player have an advantage?

A small one: the player who throws first wins about 54% of games, so take turns to throw first.

How do you decide who throws first?

Toss a coin. The winner throws first, and the other player starts the next game.