My son and a couple of his friends, and I, have invented a darts game that we are liking quite a bit. It's called "Twenty". Before I explain the game, I should say that it is not a game for good darts players, as it would be quite boring for them. But if you're of a certain low level of ability, it's a pretty great game.
By "a certain low level of ability", I'm talking about people who are inconsistent in hitting the number or section on the board that they are trying to hit. If you can consistently hit the number you're trying to hit, then you shouldn't be playing this game. If you, on the other hand, miss your target more-or-less often than you hit it, you're perfect for this game.
Twenty
Two to however many players can play at the same time. For each Round, each player throws three darts (if needed) per turn. You win the round, you get a point. We play the first to five points wins the set, and a match is the first to win 3 sets. (if more than 3 people are playing, you'd probably want to lower those to, say, three points wins the set...)
To win the round (and get a point), the goal is to reach, during your turn, a total of 20. (each round can have several turns)
Let's say you hit the 5 with your first dart. That means you try to hit the 15 with your second dart (to total 20). Let's say you hit the 19 with your second dart. That means your total is now 24 (5 + 19) and on your third dart, you would try to hit the 4 (24 - 4 = 20). Let's say you hit the 14 with your third dart. That means you carry-over with a 10 (24 - 14), and on your next turn in the round (if you get a next turn), you'd start by trying to hit the 10.
In short, you're always trying to achieve a total of 20 points (by either adding or subtracting the point value of each dart thrown) to win a round.
At the beginning of each round, everyone starts over with a 0 (zero) total.
The Doulbes ring is worth the double value of the point, and the triple ring is worth triple value of the point. The outer bullseye is worth 25 and the inner bullseye is worth 50 (just like in other darts games).
(one special note about scoring: Your total cannot go into the minus numbers. So, let's say you get 5 with your first dart, and 19 with your second dart. Your total is 24 and you're trying to get the 4. But instead you hit Triple 20 (which = 60). Instead of subtracting 60 from 24 (your current score) which would give you a minus-number, you have to add 60 to 24, meaning on your next dart (or series of darts) you'd be at 84 (meaning you'd need 64 to get to the 20-total. Follow me?) In short, if, by subtracting the score on the last dart you threw your total would become a minus-number, you have to, instead, ADD the score of your last dart to your current total.
Getting Twenty to win the Round
The One-Dart Twenty: Let's say you get a 20-total on the first dart of your turn. That is called a One Dart Twenty". In that situation, all other players get a chance to play out the round, and each gets one dart to try and match your "One Dart Twenty". If someone else gets a One Dart Twenty, then the round is tied, and everyone starts the round over (everyone starting at zero).
Examples of One Dart Twenty Rounds in a 3-player game:
P1 hits a 20 in one dart. P2 hits a 5 on first dart and is out (he needed to hit 20 in one dart to tie P1). P3 hits 20 to match P1. That means it's a Hold-Over and all 3 players start the round over, each starting at zero
P1 hits 20 in one dart. P2 hits a 1 on first dart and is out. P3 hits 12 and is out. That means P1 get one point, and a new round starts, each players starting at zero.
P1 hits a 4, then an 18 (4 + 18 = 22) then a 6 (22 - 6 = 14). P1 now needs a 14 during his next turn. P2 hits 20 on his first dart. P3 (needs to hit 20 to tie) hits a 12 and is out of the round. P1 gets a chance to tie P2. If he hits 14 (which is what he needs to get 20) it's a Hold-Over and all 3 players start the round over, each starting at zero. If he misses 14 in one dart, then he is out and P2 gets the point.
There is a special One-Dart Twenty rule for games with 3 or more players: If P1 hits 20 on his first dart, and P2 hits 20 on his first dart, P3 (or the rest of the players) gets a chance to *win* the round by hitting the red (inner) bullseye with one dart. If he gets the bullseye, he wins the round and gets the point. If he (or all subsequent remaining players) misses the bullseye, then the round is tied, and everyone starts the round again at zero.
The Two-Dart Twenty: Let's say you get a 20-total in two darts on your turn. That is called a "Two Dart Twenty". In that situation, all other players get a chance to play out the round, and each gets two darts to try and match your Two Dart Twenty. If someone else gets a Two Dart Twenty, then the round is tied, and everyone starts the round over (everyone starting at zero). If someone (when trying to match a Two Dart Twenty) manages to reach twenty in One-Dart, then the remaining players (those who haven't already tried to match the Two Dart Twenty) must try and match the One Darty Twenty.
The Three-Dart Twenty: Let's say you get a 20-total in three darts on your turn. That is called a "Three Dart Twenty". In that situation, all other players get a chance to play out the round, and each gets three darts to try and match your Three Dart Twenty. If someone else gets a Three Dart Twenty, then the round is tied, and everyone starts the round over (everyone starting at zero). If someone (when trying to match a Three Dart Twenty) manages to reach twenty in One-Dart or Two-Darts, then the remaining players (those who haven't already tried to match the Three Dart Twenty) must try and match the One-Dart or Two-Dart Twenty.
Starting the game & starting each set: To start the game and each set, each player tosses one dart. Closest to the bullseye goes first, second closes goes second, etc.
Order of play (for more than 2 players): When playing with more than 2 players, the order of play often keeps changing, depending on the outcome of the preceeding round. Basically, when you throw your darts you go to the end of the line. That order is maintained, unless someone other than the first thrower wins the round. The person who won the preceeding round throws first in the next round, and the order of the line changes to reflect that. For simplicity's sake, the basic rule is "after you throw your dart(s) in the round, go to the end of the line. Unless you win the round, then you go to the front of the line."
