What is the impossible score with three darts?

Nov 5, 202211 min read

Impossible score with three darts featured image with scoring puzzle setup

Short answer: the high scores that cannot be made with three legal darts are 179, 178, 176, 175, 173, 172, 169, 166 and 163. Many players only mention the biggest six, but 169, 166 and 163 are also impossible as plain three-dart scores. This is separate from checkout bogey numbers such as 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162 and 159.

Last reviewed: 23 August 2026. This guide separates two questions: “Can this score be made with three darts?” and “Can this remaining score be finished under double-out rules?” They overlap, but they are not the same list.

The two meanings of impossible

In darts, “impossible score” can mean two different things. The first meaning is a scoring total that cannot be built from three darts on a standard board. The second meaning is a checkout total that cannot be finished in three darts because the final dart must land in a double or the bull.

Those questions sound similar, but they test different rules. A three-dart score can end on any scoring segment. A checkout must end the leg legally. That is why 169 appears in both conversations, while 168 is a checkout bogey but can still be scored with three darts.

Three-dart impossible scores reference showing impossible scoring totals and checkout bogey numbers as two separate lists — The common mistake is mixing two lists: impossible scoring totals and double-out bogey numbers.

Why 180 is possible but 179 is not

The highest possible score with three darts is 180: treble 20, treble 20, treble 20. The problem with 179 is that there is no legal one-dart value of 59. If your first two darts are 60 and 60, the third dart would need 59 to reach 179. If you change one of the 60s, the total drops too far or lands on another reachable combination.

The same logic explains 178, 176 and 175. They are close to 180, but the missing difference would require a one-dart value the board does not offer, or a combination of three values that cannot be assembled from singles, doubles, trebles and bull scores.

The full high impossible score list

Impossible three-dart score	Why it matters
179	The famous near-180 that cannot be made.
178	Too close to 180 without a legal combination.
176	Another high total with no three-dart route.
175	Often mistaken for a possible high score.
173	No combination reaches it in three darts.
172	Below 173 but still impossible to score.
169	Impossible to score and also a checkout bogey.
166	Impossible to score and also a checkout bogey.
163	The lowest high impossible score above 100.

How the board creates gaps

A single dart can score 0 if it misses, 1 to 20 in the single segments, 2 to 40 in the doubles, 3 to 60 in the trebles, 25 for outer bull and 50 for bull. Three darts can combine those values in thousands of ways, but that still does not cover every number from 0 to 180.

The gaps appear near the top because the route options become narrow. To get close to 180 you need high treble values. Once you use two treble 20s, the remaining target must be a legal one-dart score. Values such as 59, 58, 56 and 55 do not exist as single darts, so several near-maximum totals disappear.

Score impossible versus checkout impossible

A checkout bogey is a remaining score below 170 that cannot be finished in three darts under double-out rules. Darts501 lists 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162 and 159 as numbers that cannot be finished in three darts. Dartist uses the same bogey-number concept in its checkout chart.

Notice the mismatch. 168 is a bogey checkout, but it is possible to score 168 in a normal visit: T20, T20, T16. The score exists. The checkout does not, because after two treble 20s from 168 you have 48 left, and the final dart cannot finish 48 unless it is a double worth 48, which does not exist. You would need at least one extra dart.

Why 169 is the best example

169 is useful because it sits in both categories. It cannot be scored as a three-dart visit, and it cannot be checked out in three darts. That is why it appears so often in commentary and checkout discussions.

But the reason differs depending on the question. As a scoring total, 169 cannot be built from three legal dart values. As a checkout, 169 cannot be ended on a double or bull within three darts. Keeping those reasons separate prevents bad explanations.

What about 170?

170 is not impossible. It is the highest standard three-dart checkout and is usually called the Big Fish: treble 20, treble 20, bull. That is why leaving 170 is dramatically better than leaving 169. One is the biggest finish in normal double-out darts; the other is a bogey.

For more on that finish, read what the Big Fish is in darts. It is the cleanest way to understand why one point can change the whole leg.

Why beginners should care

This is not just trivia. Knowing impossible scores helps you understand why experienced players choose setup shots instead of always chasing the biggest score. If you cannot finish, the priority is often to leave a finishable number for the next visit.

For example, if you are on 181, a score of 12 leaves 169, which is a poor leave because it cannot be checked out in three darts. A different setup may leave 170, 167, 164, 161 or 160, all of which have known finishing routes. Good players are not only thinking about this visit; they are shaping the next one.

Setup thinking from 181 to 200

The impossible-score idea becomes most useful when you are just above the checkout zone. From 181 to 200, you cannot finish in the current visit, so the goal is to leave a finish you like. This is where a smaller, controlled score can be better than a loose maximum attempt. A visit that leaves 170 is useful. A visit that leaves 169 gives the opponent one more turn even if you come back to the board.

Take 189 as an example. A casual player may simply aim at treble 20 and accept whatever happens. A stronger player knows that 20 leaves 169, so a first dart in single 20 creates a problem unless the next darts repair it. That does not mean you avoid 20 forever. It means you understand what each miss leaves before you throw.

The same principle applies from 188, 187 and 186. You are trying to avoid creating a bogey. Your best route depends on your favourite doubles, your accuracy, and whether you trust the treble 20, treble 19 or treble 18 under pressure. The maths gives the boundary; your throw decides the route.

Worked examples

Example one: 181 remaining. If you score 11, you leave 170. That is a finish. If you score 12, you leave 169. That is a bogey. The difference is tiny on the scoreboard but huge tactically.

Example two: 189 remaining. A single 20 leaves 169, so you need the next darts to fix the leave. If you are not confident on the treble 20, switching plan may be smarter than blindly staying upstairs.

Example three: 229 remaining. A 60 leaves 169, while a 59 leaves 170. That is why setup thinking is not only for the final three darts. It starts earlier, especially once both players are approaching a finish.

How this changes match decisions

In a casual leg, leaving a bogey might only cost pride. In a league leg, it can cost the visit that decides the match. If your opponent is already on a finish, leaving yourself unable to check out next turn gives them a free attacking visit. Even if they miss, they know you cannot end the leg immediately.

This is why commentators talk about “leaving a finish” as a skill. It is not just counting. It is pressure management. A player who leaves 170, 167 or 164 has kept the leg alive. A player who leaves 169 has created a mandatory setup dart before any winning dart can be thrown.

How to practise this without memorising everything

Start with the five major high finishes: 170, 167, 164, 161 and 160. Then learn the nearby danger numbers: 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162 and 159. You do not need to recite every route on day one. You need to recognise when a number is a bad leave.

A useful drill is to start from 181 and throw three darts with one goal: leave a finish, not necessarily the highest score. Write down the number left after each visit. If you leave a bogey, repeat the turn and choose a smarter route.

Once that feels natural, move the starting score up by ten each round: 191, 201, 211 and 221. The higher starting points force you to think about setup before the checkout zone. Keep the drill honest by recording the leave, not just the score. A 100 that leaves a bogey is less useful than a 96 that leaves a clean finish.

Common mistakes

Mixing scoring and checkout lists: 168 can be scored but cannot be finished in three darts.
Forgetting 163: many quick lists mention only the biggest impossible scores, but 163 is also impossible to score with three darts.
Assuming lower means easier: a lower number can be worse if it is not finishable.
Chasing 180 from the wrong score: a huge visit is less useful if it leaves a bogey.

Equipment and setup notes

Checkout practice depends on repeatable board feedback. If your trebles are damaged or the bull is worn, it becomes harder to trust the results. Browse dartboards if your board is tired, dart sets if you are still finding a comfortable setup, and darts accessories for flights, stems, mats and checkout practice essentials.

Visual guide: how to apply this at the board

A practical decision map for applying the the impossible score with three darts answer at a real board.

Use this matrix to turn the the impossible score with three darts question into the right practice, scoring or setup decision.

Sources used

Bottom line

The biggest impossible three-dart score is 179, but the high impossible scoring list is 179, 178, 176, 175, 173, 172, 169, 166 and 163. Checkout bogeys are a related but different list. If you remember only one point, remember this: impossible to score and impossible to finish are not the same question.