Agree on the finish before the first throw
301 has several local and league variations. Some require a double to start, some require a double to finish, and some use an open finish. The number 301 alone does not tell you which version everyone expects.
This guide uses a straight start: your first scoring dart counts immediately. In DartMate, choose 301 and turn Double out on or off. Double-in is not an app option. With Double out off, any scoring area can finish the game if it takes you to exactly zero. With it on, the winning dart must be a double.
Read the board, then subtract
The large sections score the printed number. The thin outer ring doubles it; the thin inner ring triples it. The outer bull scores 25 and the center bull scores 50. A miss outside the scoring area scores zero.
Each player starts with a separate total of 301 and takes a turn of up to three darts. Add the points from that turn and subtract them from that player’s remaining score. Then move to the next player. Your opponent’s score does not change when you throw.
| A dart lands in | Points |
|---|---|
| Single 20 | 20 |
| Double 20 — thin outer ring | 40 |
| Triple 20 — thin inner ring | 60 |
| Outer bull | 25 |
| Inner bull | 50 |
A first few turns, worked through
Imagine your first turn lands in single 20, single 19 and single 12. That is 51 points: 301 − 51 = 250. A second turn of triple 20, single 20 and single 5 scores 85, leaving 165. The table follows just your turns; friends take theirs in between.
You do not need to copy these targets. The example shows how a running total works, and how a score that looked large becomes a possible finish.
| Your turn | Darts | Total | Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 + 19 + 12 | 51 | 250 |
| 2 | T20 + 20 + 5 | 85 | 165 |
| 3 | 20 + 20 + 20 | 60 | 105 |
| 4 | T20 + 5 + miss | 65 | 40 |
What happens with 40 left?
With an open finish, two single 20s take 40 to zero. With double-out, a single dart in double 20 also scores 40 and wins. But two single 20s do not win in double-out: the last dart was a single, so that turn is a bust.
A bust also happens if you score too much. Under double-out, leaving 1 is a bust too, because no double scores 1. End that turn and restore the score you had when it began. For example, start on 40, hit single 20 and then triple 20: the score returns to 40, not 20. With Double out off, 1 can remain and a single 1 can finish.
Keep the first game easy to follow
Choose who starts, keep the same playing order, and check the hits before removing the darts. A dart that bounces out does not score and is not thrown again. Stop as soon as someone makes a valid finish; unused darts are not needed.
For a first game in DartMate, add your players, choose 301 and agree on Double out together. After throwing at your real board, tap each hit on the iPhone screen and confirm the turn. The app does the subtraction. You can play one game or a first-to-2 or first-to-3 series.
Do you have to double in for 301?
Only if your chosen rules require it. This guide and DartMate use a straight start, so any scoring hit counts immediately. Agree on the rules before playing in a league or at someone else’s board.
Is 301 always a quick game?
It starts 200 points closer to zero than 501, but there is no fixed game length. The number of players and the time needed to make the finish both matter.
Sources & scope
Original examples; scoring and finish rules checked against the sources below. Local tournament rules can differ. These organizations do not endorse the app.