Bead · darts game rules
Hare and Hounds darts rules
Hare & Hounds
Hare and Hounds is a chase for two players that follows the order of the numbers around the board. The Hare starts at the top, the Hound starts on the opposite side, and both move clockwise one number at a time. If the Hare makes it all the way around, the Hare wins. If the Hound closes the gap first, the Hound wins.
- Players
- 2
- Length
- ≈ 10 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- What you need
- A dartboard (steel tip or soft tip) and 3 darts per player.
Rules
Setup
- One player is the Hare and starts on 20.
- The other player is the Hound and starts on 3, directly opposite on the board.
- Players take turns, three darts each.
How to play
- Throw at the number you are currently on.
- Each dart that hits it moves you one number clockwise: 20, 1, 18, 4, 13, 6, 10, 15, 2, 17, 3, 19, 7, 16, 8, 11, 14, 9, 12, 5.
- Keep moving around the board in that order.
Scoring
- Any single, double or treble of your current number moves you forward one position.
- There are no points: only the positions of the Hare and the Hound matter.
Winning
The Hare wins by completing a full lap back to 20. The Hound wins by catching up with the Hare.
Tips
- As the Hare, a fast start builds a cushion. As the Hound, stay steady and wait for the Hare to stall.
- Learning the clockwise order by heart saves you time and mistakes.
Number order around the board
| Position | Numbers (clockwise) |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | 20 (Hare starts), 1, 18, 4, 13 |
| 6 to 10 | 6, 10, 15, 2, 17 |
| 11 to 15 | 3 (Hound starts), 19, 7, 16, 8 |
| 16 to 20 | 11, 14, 9, 12, 5 |
FAQ
- Where do the Hare and the Hound start?
- The Hare on 20, at the top of the board. The Hound on 3, the number directly opposite.
- How does the Hound win?
- By catching the Hare, reaching its position before it completes the lap.
- How many players is Hare and Hounds for?
- Two: one Hare and one Hound.
