I’m going to assume that everyone knows what to do from 40 down. If you don’t then you really need to work on your basic math (subtraction) skills.

Many of the outs above can be modified or altered to get to your favorite out shot. As I said, we will discuss some other options for many of the outs that can be changed to suit a different strategy when needed. A triple 20 is normally the preferred start for many of the outs and it is assumed that 20’s are the most prolific and practiced sector of the dart board. If you are more comfortable shooting 19’s then many of the outs above can be altered to begin with a T19 to get you to a shot you have more confidence in. This list is not the end all of outs but rather a guide for the easiest and shortest routes to end a game.

An out shot also depends on where you (and your opponent) are during the game. Obviously if you have a 300 point lead in a game, you will not want to break your out down to a Double 1. That would be unwise. The outs that most players want to leave are Double 20, D18, D16, D12 and Double 8, for obvious reasons. I want you to remember however, that they are all the same size. You may not always be left with the Double you prefer but throw confidently at whatever out you (or your partner) have remaining.

I now want to discuss some other thoughts for different outs on some regular numbers and some percentage type shots that should be employed should the game be in a situation that warrants such action.

If you have 195 left with one dart in your hand, you better be shooting at the Bull because a single or double bull leaves you an out shot on your next turn. Nothing else, short of a Triple, will leave you an out shot. If you are a competent dart player that can hit high scores then you must be thinking about where your big outs are once you cross the mid 200’s with your remaining score. If you are at 259 and throw a Ton, nice shot, BUT, you do not have an out shot on your next turn. The score of 100 was nice but you have not helped yourself be in position to end (or win) the game. If your opponent(s) were ahead of you, they will now have 2 turns to end the game before you have a chance to end the game. This is why it is of utmost importance to consider your options for outs on the way down in your scoring. If you had 259 and scored 80 points with your first 2 darts, then your third should be at Triple 19. Even a single 19 would leave you an out (160). This leaves you a game winning shot. It is unimportant whether you think you can hit the big out or not. If you never leave yourself the chance to hit it, you never will. As we all know, anybody can hit 3 consecutive darts in one turn, why not you? The more chances you give yourself, the more chances you will have to end the game and the more confidence you will gain by virtue of having tried to end the game as often and as quickly as possible.

While approaching your big out shot (a 3 dart out shot), stay with what you know. I’ve seen many good players try to shoot at the Triple 19 or the Triple 17 when they have a large number remaining thinking that it was a smart shot if they hit it to get to an even number. Thinking in that manner is not good for your game. Know what you want to hit and go get it. I know there are some players who like to shoot at the 19 regularly but if you’re not one of those, stick to the Triple 20. It is the number everyone is most familiar with and most practiced at. I’m not saying to not go with what you feel. Only you know your game and sometimes we have to do what we feel while we are in the moment. However, if you are a normal player, then the 20’s are what we shoot at to bring our score down. Why then would you not start your big out shot with the number you practice, or shoot at the most? It doesn’t make sense to not go with your strength.

So let’s talk about some other number combinations to consider when getting to an out and maybe needing a desperate shot to win the game or maybe just a different shot for strategy to win the game. Some of these will be what I call the “percentage” shots. The percentage shot is the one, in my opinion, that gives you the best chance to win the game, when the game is on the line. In other words, your opponent is sitting on a double and you’re not, and you need to take the game out with this throw. The game is on the line and you must have an out shot to win. These are the times to throw a “percentage” shot. As you study your outs more and recognize the opportunities, you may employ some of these out shots more into your regular out strategy. This will help you by practicing the dire shot on a more regular basis. Practice is very important in darts and getting comfortable with certain shots will help you in the long run.

In my opinion you should begin every out attempt below 170 with a triple 20, however, there may be some exceptions to that rule, depending on the game situation.

Let’s start with 135. I know the chart says T20 to start, however, if the game is on the line, (for reference, when I say the game is on the line, I mean to say my opponent is at or near an out already and this could be my last shot to take the game) I may try instead for a Bullseye. A single bull leaves 110, a 2 dart out with 2 darts in hand and a double bull leaves 85. Obviously if you shoot at the Triple 20 and miss, you do not have a game winning shot with 2 darts in hand. Starting with a Bullseye, does leave you a game shot with 2 darts in hand.

Next let’s look at 132. As stated above with regard to the chart, if the game is on the line, I may try again for a Bullseye. A single bull leaves 107, a 2 dart out with 2 darts in hand and a double leaves 82. Again, this is the shot to take with the game on the line. Any other shot requires two triples to have a shot at the game (unless you go with D Bull, D Bull, D 16-not many players want to go that route-not a high percentage shot).

The 2 shots above illustrate a way to hit a single number (albeit a bull) that will then require you to hit only one triple for a shot at a game winning double. Anytime you can hit a single number instead of a triple, for a game shot, that would be preferred. The idea is to get to a game shot in the easiest fashion. This is known as a “percentage shot”. In other words, hitting 2 triples is more difficult than a single (even a bull) and a triple. This concept comes into play in more shots than you might think and we will discuss some of them in this text.

Next let’s look at 130. My thought on 130 is I have 2 darts to score 4 – 20’s. Once I have 80, I have a Double Bull finish. That is 2 darts to get a triple. This is a good percentage shot (good odds) once again. There are more examples of this thought process to come.

Another game shot (“percentage shot”) strategy is required for any number in the 120’s. Let me explain the basic principle. If you have left yourself 129 and you shoot at a Triple 20 and hit a single 20, you have 109 left and no game shot with 2 darts in your hand. So at 129 my suggestion is to throw your first dart at a Triple 19 because a single 19 leaves 110, which is a 2 dart out with 2 darts in your hand. You want to have a 2 dart out shot with 2 darts in your hand. This is the basis for all percentage shots. You want to have a chance to win the game with the darts you have left in your hand. This principle applies to all of the following shots.