301 is played like 501, only shorter: each player starts on 301, subtracts the score of every visit of up to three darts, and wins the leg by reaching exactly zero with the last dart in a double or the bull. A visit that scores too much, leaves 1 or reaches zero without a double is a bust and does not count. Some games add double in: your darts only start to score once you hit a double.
| Rule | 301 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Start score | 301 | ADO, NDA (both list 301 as a game) |
| Start | straight in by default; double in as a variant | WDF 2.01, DDV §5(1), PDC |
| Darts per visit | up to 3 | WDF 1.03 |
| Finish | a double or the bull, to exactly zero | WDF 2.02, DDV §5(1) |
| Bull | 50, counts as double 25 | WDF 2.03, 2.04, DDV §5(2) |
| Bust | too many points, 1 left, or zero without a double | WDF 2.05 |
| Fewest darts to finish | 6, with or without double in | our calculation |
How to play 301, step by step
- Agree the rules. Straight in or double in, and double out or another finish rule. The rule books default to straight in and double out (WDF 2.01, 2.02; DDV §5(1): "straight in und double out" unless stated otherwise), so say so before the first dart if you play double in.
- Decide who throws first, for example by throwing one dart each at the bull.
- Throw a visit of three darts and add them up: a single counts its number, the double ring twice, the treble ring three times, the outer bull 25, the bull 50.
- Subtract the total from 301 or from what you have left. In double in, darts before your opening double score nothing.
- Finish on a double. On 40 that is double 20, on 50 the bull.
- Stop after the winning dart. A dart thrown after finishing does not count (WDF 2.09).
The official rule books have no separate chapter for 301. The rules are the same as for 501: WDF 3.01 lets each event set "a fixed odd number, such as 501, 701, or 1001", and the ADO names 301 next to 501, 701 and 1001 as a leg. The full detail, from who throws first to which darts count, is in our 501 darts rules.
Double in, explained with examples
In double in, "all darts thrown before hitting a double" do not count (Wikipedia, "Darts"). The opening double itself scores, and from then on every dart counts as usual. The bull counts as a double for this as well: "the inner bull counts as a double when doubling in or out" (same source).
| Visit | Darts | Scored | Left | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20, 5, 1 | 0 | 301 | No double yet, nothing counts |
| 2 | 19, D16, T20 | 92 | 209 | You are in with D16 (32), T20 adds 60; the 19 before it counts nothing |
| 3 | T20, 20, 5 | 85 | 124 | Scoring as usual |
Things people get wrong with double in:
- Only darts after the opening double score. In visit 2 above, the single 19 is lost even though the same visit opens.
- Each player opens separately. Your opponent's double does not open your game.
- Every leg starts closed again. You need a new opening double in each leg.
- You cannot bust before you are in, because nothing has been subtracted yet.
Where double in is played
- PDC World Grand Prix: the PDC's rules page says "The World Grand Prix uses the 'double in, double out' rule." It calls it a "double start".
- DDV ranking tournaments: the German federation's rules list "Best-of-7-Legs Double in/out" as one of the formats for the knockout rounds (DDV §22(1) a3 and b1).
- US soft tip: the NDA runs "Masters '01 Double In, Double Out events", while its standard '01 game is open in, open out.
Double out, master out and straight out in 301
The finish rule is set separately from the start rule:
- Double out: the last dart must hit a double or the bull (the standard).
- Master out: a double, a triple or the bull finishes. The German soft tip league DSAB plays "301 Master out" in its B league (DSAB league rules 1.1).
- Straight out (single out): any segment finishes. The DSAB C league plays "301 Single out".
All three, with bust rules and example finishes, are explained in double out, master out and straight out.
The fewest darts to finish 301
We tested every combination of darts, and 301 cannot be finished in fewer than 6 darts, with or without double in:
| Rule | Visit 1 | Visit 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Straight in, double out | T20, T20, T20 (180, 121 left) | T20, T11, D14 (121) |
| Double in, double out | Bull, T20, T20 (170, 131 left) | T20, T13, D16 (131) |
| Double in, double out | D20, T20, T20 (160, 141 left) | T20, T19, D12 (141) |
So in the best case double in costs no extra darts. In practice it adds darts every time your first darts miss the doubles.
The bust rule in 301
The same bust rule applies as in 501: if a visit "scores more points than remain", reaches zero "without finishing on a double", or "leaves a score of one", it does not count and your score goes back to what it was (WDF 2.05).
| You have left | You throw | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | T20 | Bust: 60 is more than 36. Back to 36. |
| 36 | 18, then 17 | Bust: leaves 1. Back to 36. |
| 36 | 18, then D9 | Checkout. |
Playing 301 in Darts Counter
In the X01 setup choose Points: 301, Checkout Mode: Double Out and a Starting Mode: Straight In or Double In. A fresh install is set to Straight Out, so change the Checkout Mode if you want the standard finish. We checked in the app's code how Double In works:
- A dart only opens your game if it is a double with points: tap Double, then the number. For the bull, tap Double, then 25 (50).
- Darts before your opening double score nothing but count as darts thrown, so they lower your 3-dart average.
- The opening double scores, and every dart after it scores normally.
- Each player opens separately, and every new leg starts closed again.
- Master In also exists: a double or a triple opens.
- From 170 down, the checkout suggestions are double out routes.
Darts Counter keeps track of who is in, busts automatically and keeps your average for every leg.
Sources
Written by FLAME Apps, maker of Darts Counter since 2015. Checked 2026-09-25.
- WDF Playing and Tournament Rules, 20th revised edition, rules 1.03, 2.01 to 2.09 and 3.01
- DDV Sport- und Wettkampfordnung, §5 and §22 (German)
- PDC: Rules of darts ("Double Start Format", fetched 2026-09-25)
- NDA Rules (Rules of Play, '01 games)
- ADO Tournament Rules Booklet (definition of a leg: 301/501/701/1001)
- DSAB-Liga-Regeln 2016, rule 1.1 (German)
- Wikipedia: Darts (double in)
- Darts Counter app code, X01 start and finish modes (read 2026-09-25)
- Keep reading: 501 darts rules, darts rules, how to keep score in darts
