Playing 501 and round the clock in Pub Darts

Pub Darts hangs a proper dartboard on the wall of the Skill & sport shelf in Games by Zaweba, and gives you a throwing hand that will not keep still. You can play 501, the classic pub game, or go round the clock. Either way, the fewer darts you need, the better.

Aiming with a swaying hand

Your hand sways in a slow figure of eight, so the sight drifts across the board. Watch it, and click when it drifts over the spot you want. That is the throw.

Hold Space to hold your breath. The sway steadies, and it becomes much easier to put the sight exactly where you want it. Do not hold it for too long, though. The trick is to wait until the sight is close to your target, then hold your breath to settle it, and throw.

Playing 501

In 501, you start on 501 and score down towards zero. Each dart takes its score off your total. You need to finish on exactly zero, and your last dart must land in a double or the bull.

If a throw takes you below 2, or reaches zero without a double, it is a bust. Your score goes back to what it was, and the visit is wasted.

The middle of a 501 game is about scoring heavily. The end is about arithmetic. When you are getting close, think about which double you want to finish on, and set yourself up for it. Leaving an even number is a good habit, since every double is even.

Round the clock

Round the clock is a test of accuracy rather than scoring. Hit 1, then 2, then 3, all the way to 20 in order, and then the bull. Each dart has one target, so it is a good game for getting used to the sway and the breath-holding.

Throwing well

A rhythm helps. Watch one full loop of the figure of eight so you know where the sight will travel. Begin holding your breath just before the sight reaches your target, and throw as it settles.

Do not chase the sight. If it has drifted away from your target, wait for it to come back round rather than trying to throw at the edge of the loop.

In 501, aim for the big scoring areas while your total is high, and switch to careful finishing as you get close. A bust can cost a lot of darts.

In round the clock, keep the same calm routine for every number, even the ones on the far side of the board. Some targets will feel awkward because of where the sway takes the sight, and those are the ones where patience pays most. Waiting a full loop for a steady moment costs nothing, while a hurried dart at the wrong number adds to your count.

Moving on from Pub Darts

Pub Darts is one of the games named on the Skill & sport shelf of Games by Zaweba as having a hand that will not keep still. Bullseye Archery uses the same idea of holding your breath to steady your aim, so if you enjoy one, try the other. When a game ends, Pub Darts shows your score and your best, and Games by Zaweba keeps your plays and wins. Press Esc to pause and F1 for the rules.