What are some difficult darts games to play?

May 14, 202311 min read

Difficult darts games featured image with challenging dartboard segments

The most difficult darts games are the ones that remove your hiding places. Doubles Around the Clock, Bob's 27, Cricket with points, Shanghai and Killer are all hard because they test specific skills rather than simply asking you to score heavily.

Last reviewed: 24 August 2026. This guide explains which hard darts games to play, what each one trains, how to scale the difficulty and how to choose the right format for practice.

Difficult darts games selector showing which hard games train doubles, cricket, Shanghai, Killer and Bob's 27 skills — Hard games work best when they expose a specific weakness: doubles, switching, pressure, counting or tactical target choice.

The direct answer

If you want difficult darts games, start with these five: Doubles Around the Clock, Bob's 27, Cricket with points, Shanghai and Killer. Each one is hard for a different reason. Doubles Around the Clock tests pure finishing accuracy. Bob's 27 punishes missed doubles. Cricket adds tactics and target control. Shanghai demands single, double and treble accuracy on the same number. Killer creates pressure against other players.

The best choice depends on what you are trying to improve. A hard game should diagnose a weakness, not just make you feel bad. If you miss doubles, play Bob's 27. If you cannot switch targets, play Cricket or Shanghai. If you lose focus under pressure, play Killer or a race-format finishing game.

Doubles Around the Clock

Doubles Around the Clock is simple and brutal. You aim at double 1, then double 2, then double 3, continuing around the board until double 20. Some players finish on bull. You only move on when you hit the required double.

This is one of the hardest practice games because there is no scoring disguise. A loose treble 20 does not help. A fat single does not help. The game tells you exactly which doubles are weak. It is especially useful for players who can score but collapse near the end of 501 legs.

Bob's 27

Bob's 27 starts you on 27 points. You throw three darts at each double in order. Hit a double and add its value. Miss all three darts and subtract that double's value. For example, on double 1 you add 2 for each hit or subtract 2 if you miss all three. Then move to double 2, double 3 and so on.

The punishment makes it hard. You can build a score early, then lose it quickly on awkward doubles. Bob's 27 is excellent because it combines accuracy, recovery and mental control. It also gives you a score to track over time.

Cricket with points

Cricket uses the numbers 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15 and bull. You normally need three marks to open or close a number. Singles count as one mark, doubles as two and trebles as three. Once you have opened a number, further hits can score points until the opponent closes it.

Cricket becomes difficult because it is tactical. You must decide whether to close an opponent's number, build points on your own number, move to bull or attack a weaker target. It trains switching, board coverage and match awareness better than repeated 20s practice.

Shanghai

Shanghai is played in numbered rounds. In round 1 you aim at 1, in round 2 you aim at 2, and so on. The classic instant-win Shanghai is hitting a single, double and treble of the target number in one visit. Even without the instant-win rule, the game forces you to move around the board.

Shanghai is hard because it asks for complete segment control. A player who only practises 20s can look strong in scoring practice but struggle when round 13 or round 6 arrives. This makes Shanghai a good bridge between casual practice and real match adaptability.

Killer

Killer is a multiplayer pressure game. Players usually claim a number, then hit doubles to gain lives or become a killer, depending on the house version. Once active, players attack opponents' doubles to remove lives. The last player left wins.

The difficulty comes from social pressure. You may be aiming at an awkward double while other players are watching. You also need target discipline because the number you are attacking may not be one you normally practise. Killer is useful for doubles, nerves and competitive focus.

Hard 501 finishing games

Standard 501 can be made harder by adding constraints. Start from 121 and give yourself nine darts to finish. If you finish, move up one point. If you fail, move down one. Another version is “must get a dart at a double”: start from 61 to 80 and track whether each visit produces a genuine finishing chance.

These formats are hard because they connect scoring with finishing. They stop you practising high scoring in isolation. In real legs, the best players do not only hit big scores; they leave finishes, choose routes and avoid busts.

Hard game selector

Weakness	Best hard game	Why it helps
Missing doubles	Bob's 27	Repeated doubles with penalty
Poor board coverage	Shanghai	Forces movement across numbers
Weak tactics	Cricket	Requires target choice and scoring control
Nerves around others	Killer	Adds social and competitive pressure
Bad checkout planning	121 finishing ladder	Connects scoring, setup and doubles

How to scale difficulty

Do not start with the hardest version if it ruins the session. Scale the rules. In Doubles Around the Clock, allow three visits per double before moving on. In Bob's 27, start on 57 instead of 27. In Shanghai, play singles-only first, then add doubles and trebles. In Killer, give beginners more lives.

Difficulty should create useful pressure, not random failure. If a game is so hard that you stop aiming properly, reduce the difficulty and build back up.

Solo, pairs and group options

For solo practice, Bob's 27, Doubles Around the Clock and 121 are the best. They produce measurable scores and do not need another player. For pairs, Cricket and Shanghai work well because both players are engaged on every visit. For groups, Killer is the best option because it creates interaction and pressure.

Choose the format to match the session. A serious practice night needs tracking and repetition. A pub night may need a hard game that is still fun for several players.

What equipment helps?

Hard practice is more useful on a clear, reliable dartboard. If the board is worn, rotate it or replace it, because bounce-outs and dead segments make scores misleading. A dartboard surround protects the wall during pressure practice, and a dartboard stand helps if you need a measured setup without drilling.

Use consistent darts or dart sets so the game tests your throw rather than unfamiliar equipment. Keep spare flights, stems and points available so a broken setup does not end the session.

How to track progress

Write down one metric for each game. For Bob's 27, record final score. For Doubles Around the Clock, record total darts used. For Shanghai, record total score and whether you hit any single-double-treble visits. For Cricket, track marks per round. For 121, record highest finish reached.

Repeat the same game weekly for four weeks. Hard games only become useful when you can compare results. A single good night may be luck; a steady upward trend is improvement.

Scoring examples

In Bob's 27, suppose you hit one double 1, miss double 2 completely, then hit two double 3s. You start on 27, add 2, subtract 4, then add 12. Your running score becomes 37. That kind of swing is why the game tests recovery as much as accuracy.

In Shanghai, if the round number is 8 and you hit single 8, double 8 and treble 8, that is a Shanghai. Many groups treat it as an instant win. Even if you do not use the instant-win rule, the visit proves complete segment control on that number.

A four-week hard-game rotation

Week one: play Bob's 27 twice and record both scores. Week two: play Doubles Around the Clock and record darts used. Week three: play Shanghai from 1 to 20 and record total score. Week four: play 121 finishing ladder and record the highest number completed.

After four weeks, look for the weak pattern. If Bob's 27 collapses, practise doubles. If Shanghai collapses in the lower numbers, practise board coverage. If 121 stalls, practise setup shots and checkout counting.

Which hard games should you avoid?

A beginner should avoid full-pressure Bob's 27 if they cannot yet hit doubles with any consistency. Start with singles Around the Clock or doubles with a safety rule. A player who struggles with basic scoring should not jump straight into tactical Cricket with points because the decisions can hide the technical issue.

Strong players should avoid games that are too comfortable. If Around the Clock singles is easy, move to doubles only. If normal Cricket is easy, add a minimum marks target or require bull to finish. The game should stretch the skill you are trying to improve.

How long should a hard session last?

Keep hard practice short enough that quality stays high. Twenty to forty minutes is often better than two unfocused hours. Warm up first, play the hard game with full attention, record the result, then finish with relaxed scoring or doubles practice.

Hard games create pressure. That is the point. But tired pressure becomes messy practice. Stop before your throw breaks down and the session turns into random darts.

Common mistakes

Choosing the hardest game too early: pressure should be useful, not destructive.
Only playing scoring games: doubles and switching need their own formats.
Changing rules every session: progress is harder to measure.
Ignoring weak numbers: hard games are meant to expose them.
Not warming up: start with easy grouping before pressure games.

Visual guide: how to apply this at the board

A practical decision map for applying the some difficult darts games to play answer at a real board.

Use this matrix to turn the some difficult darts games to play question into the right practice, scoring or setup decision.

Sources used

Choose difficulty by weakness

The best difficult darts game is the one that exposes the weakness you actually need to fix. If your scoring is poor, play games that punish loose grouping. If your doubles are weak, choose finishing games. If your counting breaks down, play checkout ladders. Difficulty should create useful feedback, not just make practice feel punishing.

Bottom line

The hardest darts games are useful because they expose specific weaknesses. Pick Bob's 27 for doubles, Cricket for tactics, Shanghai for board coverage, Killer for pressure and 121 for checkout planning.