501

Who is it for?

501 is the most popular form of competitive darts, and it can be played singles, or in pairs or teams.

It's recommended for good-level darts players.

In competitive darts, players usually play one-versus-one. FLYBY allows multiple players to play singles at once.

Objective

Reduce your score from the starting point of 501, to finish on exactly zero.

The final number must not only reduce the score exactly to 0, but also be a number from the double ring.

New Player Advice

501 is also a favourite of those wanting to improve their game, as long as they have time on their hands.

Everywhere on the board counts for something, and they've seen Luke Littler on the telly, so beginners may be tempted to try too. However, new players will usually be better off starting with 201.

Inexperienced players score an average of 10–30 points per turn, so 501 is a very big target. It could take a full FLYBY session just to make it to the end, and then you have to deal with the Double-finish...

Scoring

501 uses standard dart scoring.

• Each player throws 3 darts per turn
• Board sections score from 1 to 20
• Outer ring = double score, inner ring = treble score
• Bullseye = 50 points; outer bull = 25 points
• Add up the total from all 3 darts

Rules

• Each player or team starts with 501 points.
• The FLYBY system randomises the order of play at the start of the game.
• Players or teams take turns, throwing three darts per round.
• FLYBY automatically tracks the location and score of each dart as it lands.
• The score from each round is subtracted from your remaining total.
• Scores are updated live, and the system clearly indicates whose turn is next.
• Turns rotate once the previous player's darts have been removed from the board.
• To win, you must reach exactly zero, by landing on the appropriate number from the double ring.
• If a player goes below zero, the round is a bust, and their score reverts to what it was before that turn.
• The game continues until a player or team finishes on exactly zero.

Winning the Game

To win, you must reach exactly zero, via a number from the double ring.

For example, if you have 20 points left, you will need a double 10; a single 20 will not do the job!

When a team finishes on zero, any remaining players in that round are allowed to complete their turns.

If another team also finishes on zero in that same round, the game goes to a bonus tiebreaker: Sudden Death.

Sudden Death

If two or more teams reach exactly zero points and check out on the same turn, the game extends to Sudden Death.

Each team will be playing the same rules, but now counting down from a target of 51 points.