Bead · darts game rules
Count Up and Gotcha darts rules
Gotcha, Count-Up
Count Up is the easiest darts game to explain: every dart counts and you simply add up your points. It is a great way to practise heavy scoring. Gotcha adds a target score and a mean little rule: land on exactly the same score as another player and they drop back to zero.
- Players
- 1 to 8 (solo friendly)
- Length
- ≈ 10 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- What you need
- A dartboard (steel tip or soft tip) and 3 darts per player.
Rules
Setup
- Choose the format: a set number of rounds (most points wins), or Gotcha with a target score to reach exactly.
- All players start on zero and take turns, three darts each.
How to play
- Throw three darts anywhere on the board and add the visit to your total.
- In Gotcha, if your new total is exactly equal to another player's score, that player is reset to zero.
- In Gotcha, the aim is to land exactly on the target score.
Scoring
- Every dart scores its normal value: singles, doubles, trebles, 25 for the outer bull and 50 for the bullseye.
- The best possible visit is 180.
Winning
In the rounds format, the highest total at the end wins. In Gotcha, the first player to reach the target score exactly wins.
Tips
- Keep an eye on the other scores: sometimes a small, precise visit to knock a leader back is worth more than a big one.
- Near the target, slow down and plan the exact numbers you need.
FAQ
- What is Gotcha in darts?
- A Count Up variant with a target score you must hit exactly. If your total matches another player's score, that player goes back to zero.
- What if you go past the target score in Gotcha?
- You need to land exactly on the target to win, so near the end players aim at small numbers to avoid overshooting.
- Is Count Up good practice?
- Yes, it is the ideal drill for treble 20 and for pushing your 3-dart average up.
