Cricket Tactics Game Rules
Cricket is one of the most popular and tactical darts games. Instead of getting your score down from 501, you compete to close numbers on the board before your opponent does. It is easy to learn, full of strategy, and one of the most fun games to play with friends.
How to play Cricket Tactics
Cricket is all about smart target selection and good timing. The game is played hitting the numbers 15 to 20 and the bullseye. Your first goal is to close these numbers by hitting each number three times. A single counts as one hit, a double counts as two, and a treble counts as three.
Scoring
The key tactical element is what happens after you close a number (so hit it three times). If you have closed, for example, 20 and your opponent has not, you can start scoring points by hitting 20 again. Each extra hit scores the value of the number, so a single 20 scores 20 points, a double scores 40, and a treble scores 60.
Strong Cricket play is about knowing when to focus on closing numbers quickly and when to take advantage of open targets to build the lead.
Winning the game
In Cricket, scoring only works while a number is open for your opponent. Once they close that same number, you can no longer score points hitting that number. This makes timing important. Close key numbers early, then score quickly before your opponent catches up.
You win the game by being the first player to close all numbers from 15 to 20 and the bull, while also having the highest score. The best strategy is to balance fast closing with smart scoring to stay ahead.
If you close everything first but are still behind in points, the game continues. You must keep scoring until you take the lead.
Game settings
Cricket offers plenty of ways to play, depending on the type of match you want. You can practise solo, or against the dartbot. Or play head-to-head against friends, or compete in teams. You can also choose how long the game lasts and enable options like Cut-Troat for an extra tactical challenge.
Player details
Play solo, practise against the dartbot, or challenge your friends in a match. You can play with up to four players, either head-to-head or in teams. Missing a player? Add the dartbot to even out the numbers or include it as an extra opponent.
Difference Cricket and Tactics
The main difference is the target range. In standard Cricket darts, you play on numbers 15 to 20 and the bull. In Tactics, the scoring range starts lower and includes numbers 10 to 20, making it a longer and more demanding challenge.
Match Format
Choose how long you want your Cricket match to be by setting the number of legs or sets. You can play as ‘best of’ or ‘first to’, depending on your preferred format. For extra competitiveness, you can also enable a two-leg difference, meaning a player must win by at least two legs to take the match.
Cut-throat
With Cut-Throat mode enabled, you score points against your opponents instead of for yourself. The player with the lowest score at the end wins.
This mode becomes especially fun with multiple players. You can decide who to give points to, you can spread points across everyone or target the one player who still has a number open. That extra layer of strategy makes Cut-Throat a great option for competitive games with friends.
Tracking your progress in DartCounter
In the DartCounter statistics, free users can see their average marks per round and review their most recent game. Ultimate users get the same stats, plus access to all saved games, long-term trends, and total scores for deeper insights.
Play Cricket Online
You can also play Cricket online against players worldwide. Challenge one opponent in cricket of Tactics, and choose your preferred match format. Set the number of legs or sets, play ‘best of’ or ’first to’, and enable a two-leg difference for extra competitiveness. You can also adjust the game timer to control the pace of the match.
In settings you can choose whether scores are sent immediately or with a short delay. If you prefer instant scoring, turn it on. If you want a brief pause before the next score appears, you can keep a delay instead.
You can also set join requirements for online games, such as Ultimate players only, camera required, OMNI scoring required, or either camera or OMNI. Once you save your game setup, other players can join you through the global lobby.
Cricket: A true tactical battle
Cricket is fun because it is more than just hitting numbers. Every turn is a mix of scoring, closing targets, and making smart decisions before your opponent does. It is easy to learn, but the tactics keep it exciting. Whether you play casually with friends or competitively online, Cricket always feels like a real battle on the board.