Postal Darts

(aka 171)
4 players
9 turns

Postal Darts is a multi-player game based on a standard dartboard. 4 players play on a league basis, each game takes 3 rounds (i.e. 3 darts). The game therefore takes some 9 turns to complete.

Round 1

Each player announces the target section of the dartboard for his/her first dart. There are a total of 62 sections (Treble, Double and Single of each number from 1 to 20 plus inner and outer bull).

For the purpose of this game each Treble region can only hold ONE dart. Each Double region can hold 2 darts and each single region can hold 3 darts. Outer bull counts as Single 25 and Inner Bull as Double 25 for the purpose of the game.

It should be emphasised that all 4 players are aiming at the SAME dartboard.

If the number of darts aimed at a given section in round one exceeds that regions holding capacity then none of the darts score for that round.

In subsequent rounds if the TOTAL number of darts which are already IN that region PLUS the number of darts aimed AT that region exceed the holding capacity then all the NEWLY aimed darts fail to score but those already scored are "safe".

Each player plays one game against each opponent in turn. The sum of 3 darts' score determines the outcome of the match. A match victory scores 2 points, a tie 1 point each. If players are equal on League Points then the total scores of the 9 darts will be taken into consideration. If a player NMR's their dart is aimed at the highest scoring region that is not already fully occupied, moving clockwise from 20 in the event that this does not give a unique target.

by Tony Reeves

Postal Darts - 301 Variant

The rules of Postal Darts apply* except as amended below.

The game may be played by between 2 and 6 players.

Each round players will throw 3 darts at the board, specifying the area they are aiming for with their first, second and third darts.

For the first dart, only one area may be specified,

For the second dart players may specify an alternative area to be aimed for if their first choice is full after all first darts have been thrown.

For the third dart, players may specify two alternative areas.

If a dart successfully hits an area, it can not be dislodged by later darts thrown at the same area. If too many darts are aimed at an area and fail to score, darts thrown later in the round may be aimed at the same area.

The winner of the game will be the first player to score exactly 301, finishing on a double. For this purpose, the double 1 space is not subject to any restrictions on the number of darts it can contain.

Allan Stagg

*Basically one dart only in each treble bed, two in each double bed, and three in each single bed. Although it is not stated above, all darts are removed from the board at the end of each round, to be re-used for the next round. (It might be interesting to try a 'hedgehog' variation, with darts remaining in the board, so that scoring spaces are gradually closed down, but this might be considered an unrealistic simulation).