Checkout Strategy
Professional darts is not just about scoring. The way a player plans their finish - the route from a remaining score to zero via a double - is where matches are won and lost. This guide explains the logic behind checkout routes, preferred doubles, and leave strategy.
The basics of finishing
- Double-out rule
- The final dart of a leg must land in a double (or the bullseye, which counts as double 25). No other finish is legal.
- Highest checkout
- 170: T20-T20-Bull. Called the "big fish". The highest possible three-dart finish.
- Lowest checkout
- 2: D1. One dart at double one.
- Impossible finishes
- 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162 and 159 are impossible in three darts. Any odd number below 40 is a one-dart finish on a specific double (e.g. 7 is impossible but 6 = D3, 8 = D4).
Preferred doubles
Professionals do not treat all doubles equally. The layout of the dartboard means some doubles offer better "cover" - if you miss, the dart lands in a neighbouring segment that still leaves a useful number.
| Double | Value | Why professionals like it |
|---|---|---|
| D20 (double top) | 40 | Most-practised double. Missing inside leaves single 20, which sets up D10. Missing outside leaves 20. |
| D16 | 32 | Very popular. Missing inside leaves S16, setting up D8. Then D4, then D2, then D1 - a clean halving sequence all the way down. |
| D10 | 20 | Part of the D20 halving chain. Same logic as D16. |
| D8 | 16 | Part of the D16 chain. Reliable fallback. |
| Bull (D25) | 50 | Used by some top players (Taylor was famous for bull finishes). Higher risk but rewarding on big checkouts like 170. |
Leave strategy
When a player cannot check out in the current visit, they aim to "leave" a number that gives them the best chance next visit. The ideal leave is a number that allows a one-dart or two-dart finish on a preferred double.
- Leaving 40 (D20)
- The single most popular leave. One dart at double top to win.
- Leaving 32 (D16)
- Second-most popular. One dart at D16 with the halving chain as backup.
- Leaving an even number
- Always preferred over an odd number. An odd remaining score requires a single or treble to set up a double, adding an extra dart of risk.
- Avoiding the madhouse
- D1 (double one, score of 2) is dreaded. The target is tiny and there is no fallback. Players plan routes specifically to avoid being left on 2.
Common checkout routes
| Score left | Standard route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 170 | T20 - T20 - Bull | The big fish. Maximum checkout. |
| 141 | T20 - T19 - D12 | The nine-darter finish route. |
| 120 | T20 - S20 - D20 | Clean route to double top. |
| 100 | T20 - D20 | Two darts. Clean and fast. |
| 80 | T20 - D10 | Two darts via the halving chain. |
| 60 | S20 - D20 | Two darts. Leave on double top. |
| 40 | D20 | One dart at double top. |
| 32 | D16 | One dart. Halving chain backup. |
See the full checkout chart for every out-shot from 170 down to 2.
Bogey numbers
Some remaining scores are significantly harder to finish than others. The most feared:
- 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162
- Impossible to finish in three darts. The player must score to leave a lower number.
- 159
- Also impossible in three darts despite being below 170.
- Odd numbers below 40
- Require a single to leave an even double. E.g. 25 left = S9-D8 or S17-D4. Extra dart required compared to an even leave.