Hello - I'm new here.. Love the DARTS! Quick, Fun & Competitive!!

I have played about 20 games so far.. and it seems many people don't understand the proper strategy for winning cricket. Cricket is a game that you can beat a better opponent if you know the proper tactics.

A) The first 2 turns are key to winning the game.. all you want to do is CLOSE OUT! Hit that Triple 20, Triple 19, Triple 18 if you can. 

B) On your 3rd turn, if you have fewer numbers closed out than your opponent, keep trying to close out (unless he has already started pointing (see below) (GOTO: E)

If you have more numbers closed out, I like to get a few points here - maybe throw 2 darts at triple 20/19 (whatever highest points).. then the 3rd dart go for triple 16/17. If you have less than 50 points, and are still ahead in total marks, use the same strategy for turn 4.

C) Once you have a 51+ point lead (3 bulls) close out the rest. If you opponent is not using TACTICS and is not trying to catch up on points, you will win easy.. just close the numbers one at a time, ending with bulls. If you opponent is trying to point, always close whatever they are targeting first. Continue to point with 1/2 darts if u fall below 51+.

D) If your opponent passes you in points mid-game - dedicate ALL 3 darts to pointing until you have a 1 point lead when your turn starts. Many people want to close the spot the opponent is pointing, but he will then use his next turn to close your point spot! (If u have 2 point spots, throwing 1/2 darts to close his is fine - but you are probably winning anyway)

E) If you are behind in marks and points, the only way to win is to have MORE POINTS! That means if your opponent has closed 20/19/18 with 57 points and he is working on 17 - you need to attack 15/16/BULL until you have more points than your opponent. You CANNOT win if you chase him around the board trying to close the numbers he already has closed!!!

SOME NOTES:
* Never throw a 3rd dart into a crowd - the likelyhood of a bounce off is not worth it - throw for another target (1 15 is better than missing going for another 19)

* You can't close & point in same throw - meaning if you have two 20 marks, throwing a triple 20 gets you the same thing as a single 20, but also blocks the triple. Throw a single in the fat part first, then consider aiming for the triple if you need points.

* I can't stress enough, if you are down early - POINT POINT POINT .. Cricket is a very hard game to make a comeback in, but you certainly won't win trying to close out numbers your opponent has already closed if you have less points than him. It is also much easier to point 15 while your opponent's focus is elsewhere than it is to point a crowded bullseye when everything else is closed!


... Last.. DON'T QUIT! It is psychologically bad for you and can lead to you being more willing to quit/give up in important real life things - seriously.. your brain is stronger than you are - it learns things even when you don't realize it... Instead if you are down - PRACTICE - the game will be over in less than 2-3 minutes anyway, throw some Triple 20's and Bulls to get ready for your next game.