How Does Scoring Work In Lawn Darts?

Lawn darts is a fun, casual game that can be played just about anywhere. The objective of the game is to toss darts and land them inside the circular targets across from you.

Traditional Scoring

In a traditional game of lawn darts, scoring is quite simple. The players for both teams alternate throwing their darts (each team has two darts) towards the circular target at the other end, attempting to land the darts in the circle. Landing a dart within the circle earns a team three points. However, the scoring is done on a cancellation basis. If both teams land a dart in the circle, the three points offset and no team is awarded any points for that throw.

There are a few scoring scenarios that can occur during a traditional lawn darts match:

• Team A lands both darts in the circle while Team B lands no darts in the circle. Team A is awarded six points for the round.
• Team A and Team B both land one dart in the circle. The points are offset and no team is awarded any points for that round.
• Team A and Team B both land two darts in the circle. The points are also offset and neither team earns any points for the round.
• Neither team lands any darts in the circle. No points are awarded for that round.
• Team A lands one dart in the circle and Team B lands no darts in the circle. Team A is awarded three points for the round.
• Team A lands two darts in the circle and Team B lands one dart in the circle. Team A is awarded three points for the round.

Handly Cup Scoring

Handly Cup is another style of lawn darts that utilizes a more complex scoring method. Similar to traditional lawn darts, a dart that lands in the circle earns a team three points, and points are offset when opposing darts both land in the circle. However, Handly Cup Style also awards teams points for landing their dart closest to the circle. The team that lands their dart closest to the circle is awarded one point if neither team lands a dart within the circle.

There are many situations in which teams can score points in Handly Cup Style lawn darts, ranging from 0-6 points in a round (note: there is no possibility of earning 5 points in a round). Here is a list of each possible scoring scenario:

• Both Team A and Team B land one dart in the circle. The darts offset one another and neither team earns any points for the round.
• Neither team lands a dart in the circle but Team A has one dart that is closest to the circle. Team A is awarded one point for the round.
• Neither team lands a dart in the circle but Team A has both darts closer to the circle than both of Team B’s darts. Team A is awarded two points for the round.
• Team A lands one dart in the circle but Team B lands one of its darts closer to the circle than Team A’s other dart. The three points earned by Team A are offset by one point earned by Team B for landing a dart closest to the circle. Team A is awarded two points for the round.
• Team A lands both its darts in the circle while Team B lands one of its darts in the circle. One of Team A’s darts in the circle is offset by Team B’s dart in the circle. Team A is awarded three points for the round.
• Team A lands one dart in the circle and its other dart is closer to the circle than both of Team B’s darts. Team A is awarded four points for the round: three points for landing a dart in the circle and one point for landing a dart closest to the circle.
• Team A lands both of its darts in the circle while Team B does not land any darts in the circle. Team A is awarded six points for the round.

Winning the Game

The rules for winning a lawn darts game can vary and must be determined before beginning the match. A typical game is played to 21 points, with some rules stating that a team must score exactly 21 points to win. If a team goes over 21 points, it is common that the team’s score for that round is deducted from their current score. Others may choose to play the winner is the first to reach 21 points, regardless if the team scores 21 exactly or surpasses the threshold.

Another common rule is that a team must lead by two or more points to win the game. For example, if one team had 20 points, the other team must reach at least 22 points to win the game. Regardless of the rules chosen, it is important to communicate these rules among all players before the game so that the competition is fair.

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