As an amateur darts player you know these darts rules but even the professionals sometimes make these mistakes. Watch and learn to prevent you from making the same mistakes as they do.
We are dealing here with a psychological game that comes into play. We’re not talking about unsportsmanlike tactics to throw your opponent off their game, but rather about decisions that impact not only your own game and score but also that of your opponent. And this happens more often than you might initially think. When it comes to calculations, it’s crucial to ensure you set yourself up for a possible finish, avoiding scores like 166 or 169. This awareness begins with the new generation of players, who, even when standing around 300 points, start switching to other triples and aiming for the bullseye to reach a finish. Moreover, just having a finish isn’t enough; players also aim to reach the most favorable finish possible—156 instead of 158, for instance.
Here, they also make use of switching to different triples and the single bull to achieve this. For example, with a score of 121 and one dart left, it’s common to go for the single bull, leaving 96. For amateur players, this may seem a bit advanced, but there are situations and moments where you need to be aware that your choice can affect your opponent’s next turn. When you have one dart left and 50 points remaining, it’s typical to consider your opponent’s score. If they aren’t on a finish, you’re free to set yourself up with a double 16 by hitting a single 18, or double 20 by hitting a single 10, for example. However, if your opponent is on a finish, it’s customary to go for the bullseye finish.
If you choose not to go for the bullseye while your opponent is on a finish, you’re essentially signaling, “I don’t believe you can hit your finish.” This can have consequences. It may anger your opponent, disrupting their concentration and causing them to miss the finish, which can be seen as a form of disrespect that not every opponent appreciates. On the other hand, it could also sharpen your opponent’s focus, giving them a bit of extra motivation that helps them regain their concentration and get back into their game. If they find the strength to hit their, often very high, finish, they’ll land a psychological blow on you. We see this dynamic even among professionals from time to time, with the PDC World Championship being no exception, as evidenced by the footage above.