Snooker Darts blends the strategic play of snooker with the accessible fun of darts, requiring no complicated math or perfect treble shots. The game revolves around a simple ‘Red, then Colour’ sequence. Players first clear 15 ‘Red’ numbers (1-15), each followed by a chosen ‘Colour’ (2-7) for bonus points. Once all Reds are gone, the game shifts to the ‘Clearance’ phase, where players must hit the ‘Colours’ in ascending order (2 to 7). The player with the highest total score at the end, after the final ‘Black’ (7) is hit, wins. It’s a straightforward, engaging game perfect for dart enthusiasts of all skill levels.
What is Snooker Darts?
Imagine snooker, but instead of cueing balls on a green table, you’re throwing darts at a dartboard. That’s Snooker Darts in a nutshell! This brilliant game simplifies darts, making it accessible and incredibly fun. You don’t need to be a darts champion hitting treble 20s every time; the entire segment of a number counts, making it perfect for casual play and seasoned pros alike.
The “Balls” on Your Dartboard
In Snooker Darts, the numbers on your dartboard transform into snooker balls:
- Reds: Numbers 1 through 15. Each Red hit is worth 1 point. There are 15 Reds in total.
- Colours: Numbers 2 through 7, each with its own point value:
- 2 = Yellow (2 points)
- 3 = Green (3 points)
- 4 = Brown (4 points)
- 5 = Blue (5 points)
- 6 = Pink (6 points)
- 7 = Black (7 points)
How to Play: The Red Phase
The game kicks off with the Red Phase, where your main goal is to “sink” all 15 Red numbers. The gameplay follows a simple, repeating cycle:
The Red-Then-Colour Cycle:
- Hit a Red: Your first dart must aim for any unhit number from 1 to 15. Successfully hitting it earns you 1 point.
- Hit a Colour: After hitting a Red, your next dart must target any of the Colour numbers (2 through 7). You can choose any Colour you like! Most players aim for the 7 (Black) as it offers the highest points (7 points).
- Return to Red: If you successfully hit both a Red and then a Colour, your turn continues! You then go back to aiming for another unhit Red.
This “Red, then Colour, then Red, then Colour” sequence continues until you either miss your target or all 15 Reds have been cleared. If you miss, your turn ends immediately, and it’s the next player’s turn to try and hit an available Red.
Pro Tip: Keep a simple scorecard! Note which Red numbers have been hit and what the current score is. This helps everyone track the game.
The Clearance Phase: The Grand Finale
Once all 15 Red numbers have been successfully cleared from the board, the game enters its thrilling final stage: the Clearance Phase.
In this phase, the rules change significantly:
- No More Reds: You no longer alternate between Reds and Colours.
- Colours in Order: You must now hit the Colours in a specific, ascending order, from the lowest value to the highest:
- Yellow (2)
- Green (3)
- Brown (4)
- Blue (5)
- Pink (6)
- Black (7)
- Precision is Key: If you are aiming for, say, the Green (3) and accidentally hit the Brown (4), your turn is over. The next player then steps up and must hit the Colour you missed (the Green 3 in this example).
Winning the Game
The game concludes the moment someone successfully hits the Black (7), provided all previous Colours (2 through 6) have been cleared in order. Once the final dart is thrown for the Black, all players tally their scores. The person with the highest total score wins the game!
Simplified Scoring & Rules
One of the best features of Snooker Darts is its simplicity:
- Any Hit Counts: You don’t need to aim for the small ‘double’ or ‘treble’ rings. Hitting any part of the numbered segment – whether the fat part or even the thin wire – counts as a successful hit for that number. This makes it much more forgiving and enjoyable for all skill levels.
- Incorrect Target: If you aim for a Red but hit a Colour (or vice-versa when not allowed), you simply don’t get points for that dart, and your turn ends.
Snooker Darts offers a refreshing twist on traditional darts, combining strategy with straightforward play. It’s easy to learn, difficult to master, and incredibly popular for a reason!
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
