Shanghai in darts means hitting a single, double and treble of the same number in one three-dart visit; the name is usually linked to older slang for being suddenly caught or taken by surprise. The pattern is clear, but the exact origin of the name is less certain than the scoring rule.
Last reviewed: 23 August 2026. This guide covers the common darts meaning of Shanghai, the Shanghai game variant and the likely language origin. Local pub rules can vary.
The direct answer
Shanghai is called Shanghai in darts because the term is commonly connected with old slang for being caught suddenly or unexpectedly. In darts, a Shanghai can catch the game suddenly too, because one visit can win a Shanghai variant or complete a dramatic checkout.
The scoring meaning is firm: hit the single, double and treble of the same number with three darts. The name origin is best treated as a likely language link rather than a fully official invention story.
What is a Shanghai in darts?
A Shanghai is a single, double and treble of the same number in one visit. On 20s, that means single 20, double 20 and treble 20. The total is 120 points: 20 + 40 + 60.
In many pub-game versions of Shanghai, hitting that combination on the nominated number wins the game immediately. In standard 501, a Shanghai pattern can also be used as a checkout if the final dart lands in the double.
Does the order matter?
In many casual definitions, the order does not matter. The player simply needs the single, double and treble of the same number within the three-dart visit. Some local games may specify an order, so always check house rules before the game starts.
For a checkout, the order can matter because the winning dart must finish on a double in standard double-out play. A 120 Shanghai checkout on 20s is usually T20, S20, D20 or S20, T20, D20, with double 20 last.
Why Shanghai is such a strong pub-game idea
The appeal is that it gives every round danger. A player who is behind on points can still win immediately if they hit the full single-double-treble set on the nominated number. That keeps the game alive and makes each round feel tactical.
It also teaches the whole segment. Beginners often aim only at the big single. Shanghai forces players to understand the single bed, double ring and treble ring as separate targets on the same number.
Shanghai on 20s: the classic example
| Dart | Target | Score | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | Single 20 | 20 | Completes the single |
| Two | Treble 20 | 60 | Completes the treble |
| Three | Double 20 | 40 | Completes the double and can finish 120 |
That is why people often connect Shanghai with 120. It is not the only possible Shanghai, but it is the most familiar high-value example because 20 is the largest number on the board.
Shanghai as a game
Shanghai is also a darts game. Players usually throw at numbers in order, often 1 through 20, scoring only on the nominated number for that round. Hitting a single, double and treble of the round number may win instantly, depending on the rules being used.
If nobody hits a Shanghai, the winner is often the player with the highest score after all rounds. Some versions award bonus points instead of instant victory. This is why confirming the rules matters before play.
Write the variant on the scoreboard before starting if several players are joining mid-session.
Example round in the Shanghai game
Imagine the round number is 7. A single 7 scores 7. A double 7 scores 14. A treble 7 scores 21. If the local rules use instant-win Shanghai, a player who hits S7, D7 and T7 in the same visit wins the game immediately.
If the rules use points only, that same visit scores 42 and may also receive a bonus if the group has agreed one. Neither approach is wrong; they are different pub-game variants. The important point is to agree the scoring before round one.
This is why Shanghai is a good social darts game. A player who is behind on total points still has a live route back into the game. The possibility of instant reversal is part of the name’s appeal.
That keeps weaker players involved longer without changing the board.
Shanghai as a checkout
In 501, people often talk about a Shanghai checkout when a player finishes by hitting a single, treble and double of the same number. The best-known example is 120 on 20s.
The key difference is that a checkout must end on a double or bull in standard double-out play. If the double is not hit last, the route may score well, but it does not finish the leg. That is why checkout order is more important than pub-game order.
Why 120 is the famous Shanghai checkout
The number 20 gives the largest Shanghai total because it is the highest segment on the board. Single 20, treble 20 and double 20 add up to 120. That makes 120 the classic Shanghai checkout route in standard 501.
Other numbers can produce Shanghai patterns, but the totals are lower. Shanghai on 19 scores 114. Shanghai on 18 scores 108. Shanghai on 17 scores 102. The pattern is the same, but 20s carry the best-known checkout because they create the highest same-number finish.
There are other ways to finish 120, but the Shanghai version is memorable because all three darts stay in the same number. It is tidy, recognisable and easy for spectators to understand.
Why the origin is not completely settled
Darts historian Patrick Chaplin links Shanghai to older nautical slang and explains how the term came into darts language. That is a stronger explanation than vague claims that the term was invented because of the Chinese city alone.
Still, history and slang move through spoken use. Unless a term has a clear documented first use, it is sensible to describe the origin as likely rather than guaranteed. The darts meaning is certain; the language path is less clean.
Common misunderstandings
- It is not just any 120: a Shanghai on 20s is single 20, double 20 and treble 20.
- It is not three trebles: three treble 20s is 180, not Shanghai.
- It is not always an automatic win: that depends on the game variant.
- It is not always order-specific: local rules decide whether order matters.
- It is not only 20s: Shanghai can be made on any nominated number.
How to practise Shanghai
Pick one number and throw three darts trying to hit the single, double and treble in any order. Start with 20s if you want the classic version, but use 16s or 18s if those doubles are more useful to your finishing practice.
A good beginner drill is ten visits on one number. Score one point for hitting the single, two for the double and three for the treble. Award a bonus if you complete all three. This teaches target control without needing a full match.
For checkout practice, use 120 on 20s. Try routes that end on double 20. Record how often you get at least two parts of the Shanghai and how often you leave a sensible follow-up.
Beginner route versus advanced route
A beginner can use the single first because it is the largest target. That builds confidence and leaves two darts to chase the treble and double. The risk is that the hardest targets are left until later in the visit.
A stronger player may attack the treble first. If the treble lands, the checkout route becomes clearer. If it misses into the single, the player can still adjust. On 120, many players think in terms of T20 first because it keeps the standard checkout alive.
For a practice game, either approach is valid. For a checkout, the final double controls the route. If you are on 120 and want a Shanghai finish, the visit must end on double 20.
What Shanghai teaches about the board
Shanghai practice makes the board feel three-dimensional in a scoring sense. The same number has a large single bed, a narrow treble bed and a narrow double bed. A player has to adjust height, confidence and follow-through without changing the number.
That is useful because real legs often require quick target changes. You may need to score, correct a miss and leave a finish in the same visit. Shanghai practice builds that habit in a simple format.
Equipment and setup links
Shanghai practice works best on a board with clear wires and a stable throw line. Use a quality dartboard, protect the area with dartboard surrounds, and use darts accessories for spare flights, stems and floor setup items.
If your current darts feel inconsistent, compare darts and dart sets, but do not change gear every session. Shanghai practice needs repeatable feedback across the single, double and treble beds.
When to use Shanghai practice
Use Shanghai practice when you want more than simple scoring. It builds movement between beds on the same number, improves double awareness and makes you think about how one dart changes the next target.
It is also useful for players who avoid doubles in practice. Because the Shanghai pattern requires the double, the drill forces finishing discipline while still keeping a scoring element involved.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
Related reading
For more darts language and scoring context, read the highest score in darts, the highest one-dart score, the hardest checkout in darts, the simple rules of darts and how to practise dart accuracy.
Sources used
- Patrick Chaplin on the darts language of Shanghai.
- Sky Sports darts jargon glossary.
- GLD Products guide to playing Shanghai darts.
- Boardroom Darts glossary.
- PDC rules of darts.
Why the name works as a memory aid
The term Shanghai is useful because it makes a specific scoring pattern memorable: single, double and treble of the same number. Whether players are learning the round-the-board game or hearing the phrase during a match, the name gives a compact label to a difficult but satisfying combination.
Bottom line
Shanghai in darts means hitting the single, double and treble of the same number in one visit. It is called Shanghai most plausibly because of older slang about being suddenly caught or taken by surprise, which fits the way a Shanghai can instantly change or win a game.
FAQ
What does Shanghai mean in darts?
It means hitting a single, double and treble of the same number in one three-dart visit.
Why is it called Shanghai?
The name is commonly linked to older slang about being suddenly caught or taken by surprise, though the exact language path is not completely settled.
Is Shanghai always 120?
No. Shanghai can be made on any nominated number. Shanghai on 20s scores 120 and is the best-known version.
Does a Shanghai win the game?
In some Shanghai game variants, yes. In standard 501, it only wins if it is also a legal checkout with the final dart on a double or bull.
