The Darts Rules You Need to Play a 501 Match

In standard steel-tip 501, each player starts on 501, takes turns throwing up to three darts, and subtracts their points. The first player to reach exactly zero with a double wins the leg. You do not need a double to start scoring. These are the default rules in the DRA rulebook, effective from 31 March 2026, unless an event specifies another format.

This guide covers that game—not every darts variation. Before a pub or league match, confirm the starting score, whether a double is required to start, the finishing rule and how many legs you need to win. Soft-tip games can use different settings; check the competition or machine rules.

Set up and decide who starts

For standard steel-tip play, set the centre of the bull 1.73 m above the floor. The horizontal throwing distance is 2.37 m from the board face to the back of the raised oche, where your toes stop—not from the wall. The oche is the throwing boundary.

Do not stand on the raised oche while throwing. Your front foot must remain grounded behind its toe edge. If you throw from beside the oche, keep your feet behind the imaginary extension of that boundary. Under DRA rules, a dart thrown in breach of these foot rules does not score. See DRA rules 6.5 and 6.7, or follow our throw-line setup guide.

For a casual match, agree who starts before playing. In organised play, use the event’s bull-off procedure: DRA rules recommend a throw at the bull to determine the choice of starting, with starts alternating thereafter in the specified leg or set format. DRA rule 6.13

Score the board, then subtract

Singles score the numbered value, the outer narrow ring scores double and the inner narrow ring scores treble. The outer bull scores 25 and the centre bull scores 50. The point’s position determines the score—not where the barrel rests. A point outside the outer double wire scores nothing. DRA rules 6.4–6.5

For example, treble 20, single 20 and single 5 total 85. From 501, that leaves 416. Record each player’s remaining score separately. Use our dartboard scoring guide for more board-value examples, or our darts chalking guide for subtraction help.

Finish on a double—and recognise a bust

A checkout is the sequence that finishes a leg. With 40 remaining, double 20 wins. With 50 remaining, the centre bull wins because it counts as double 25; the outer bull does not.

You bust if a dart:

• Scores more than your remaining total.
• Leaves exactly 1.
• Reaches zero without a double.

A bust ends the visit—your turn at the board—immediately and cancels the whole visit’s score, restoring your total to what it was before that visit. These finishing conditions are set out in DRA rule 6.3.

For example, start on 32 and hit single 16, then single 20. You bust and return to 32, not 16. Start on 20 and hit single 20: that also busts, because the finishing dart was not a double.

Take a legal turn and check before collecting

A visit allows up to three darts, thrown individually overarm. It ends early if you finish, bust or touch a dart already in the board.

During a leg, a bounce-out—or a dart that falls out before retrieval—scores nothing and cannot be thrown again, even if the score was already called. A dart dropped before the deliberate throwing action begins may be picked up and used. DRA rules 6.2–6.3

Wait until the score is called or recorded before removing your darts. Check the total and subtraction promptly. While your opponent throws, remain silent and stand back; DRA rules also prohibit officials from telling a player which checkout route to use. DRA rules 6.4 and 6.15

Practise the rules with five short finishes

Start on 40 and allow yourself up to three visits to finish. Repeat five times, resetting to 40 each time. Keep a written remainder after every visit, including busts.

Record finishes out of five, bust visits and subtraction corrections. Before retrieving your darts, say the score and new remainder aloud. Your checkpoint is simple: every bust restores the visit’s starting total, and every finish ends on a double.