Around the Clock Darts Rules

Hit numbers 1 through 20 in sequence, then finish on the Bull.

Overview

Around the Clock is a sequential darts game where players must hit every number on the dartboard in order, starting at 1 and working up to 20, before finishing on the Bull. It is one of the most straightforward darts games to learn, making it popular with beginners, but the Doubles Only and Triples Only variants provide a serious challenge even for experienced players.

The first player to complete the full sequence and hit the Bull wins the leg. Around the Clock is an excellent practice game for improving accuracy across the entire dartboard, since it forces you to aim at every segment rather than focusing on the high-scoring areas.

Game Setup

How to Play

Each player starts on number 1. On your turn, you throw up to 3 darts at the dartboard. The goal is to hit your current target number. When you hit it, you advance to the next number in the sequence. If you hit any other segment, it counts as a miss — you stay on the same target, but the dart still counts toward your darts thrown total.

After hitting 20, the final target is the Bull. The exact Bull requirement depends on the variant and finish target settings (see below). The first player to hit the Bull after completing numbers 1 through 20 wins the leg.

Variants

Standard

In the Standard variant, any hit on the target number counts — whether it is a single, double, or triple. This is the most accessible version of the game and is recommended for beginners or casual play. The finish target for the Bull can be configured (see Finish Target Options below).

Doubles Only

In the Doubles Only variant, you must hit the double of each target number to advance. A single or triple on the correct number does not count and is treated as a miss. This dramatically increases the difficulty, since the double ring is the narrowest scoring area on the dartboard.

For the Bull, the Doubles Only variant always requires Double Bull (50). The finish target setting is ignored. Single Bull (25) does not count.

Triples Only

In the Triples Only variant, you must hit the triple of each target number to advance. Singles and doubles on the target number are treated as misses. This is the most difficult variant, as the triple ring is a very small target.

For the Bull, the Triples Only variant always requires Double Bull (50), since there is no triple bull on a standard dartboard. The finish target setting is ignored.

Finish Target Options

The finish target determines what type of Bull hit is required to complete the game. This setting only applies to the Standard variant. In Doubles Only and Triples Only, Double Bull is always required regardless of this setting.

Win Condition

The first player to hit the Bull (according to the variant and finish target settings) after completing numbers 1 through 20 wins the leg. Once a player finishes, other players do not continue — the leg ends immediately.

In a best-of-N-legs format, the match continues until one player wins the required number of legs. The starting player rotates with each new leg to ensure fairness.

Strategy Tips

• Practice the full board: Around the Clock exposes weaknesses in your aim. Pay attention to which numbers consistently give you trouble and practice those segments.
• Stay calm on difficult numbers: Some segments are harder to hit than others due to their position or neighboring wires. Take your time rather than rushing throws.
• Use it as a warm-up: Many competitive players use Around the Clock as a pre-match warm-up because it forces you to aim at every part of the board.
• Doubles Only for practice: If you want to improve your double-out game for X01, playing Around the Clock in Doubles Only mode is an excellent drill.
• Track your hit rate: Monitoring your hit rate over multiple games shows measurable improvement in your overall accuracy.

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