The game 121 is one of the most popular training games for professionals and hobby players . However, there are many hobby players who don't really know the game yet, but have just heard the term somewhere.
In this blog post we explain what this training game is all about and why the dart game 121 is so popular. With 121 you not only train the triple 20, but also cover all the aspects that are needed to win a game under pressure .
In our opinion, 121 is the best method to test with friends whether you are able to withstand pressure situations on the oche .
Dart game 121 – what is it and what are the basic rules
The dart game 121 has established itself as an efficient training game for ambitious hobby players who have been playing for a long time. The rules are actually relatively easy to understand.
In 121, two players compete against each other and start with a remaining score of 121. The players have to bring these 121 points to 0 in a total of three shots, i.e. with 9 darts .
If a player manages to get 121 to 0 with 9 darts or even less, then he moves up one point . So in the next round you try to check 122 points.
As in the normal game, checkout takes place via one of the double fields. If a player doesn't manage to check the 122 points, he falls back to a remaining score of 121 in the next round. However, 121 is always the lowest “starting finish” throughout the course.
An additional rule that many players use over and over again in the regular game variant is the “safehouse” . So if you manage to check your remaining points with just 3 darts as a high finish , you can no longer fall back from your newly achieved finish in the next round.
At the end of this article we have put together a few calculation examples for you.
What variants of the 121 Darts Game are there?
But with the 121 Training Game, as with almost all other dart games, there are certain deviations, adjustments and variants .
The basic rules are now clear: 9 darts, 121 points remaining . If you check, you move up, if not, you fall back one point, up to 121.
Variant 1: Dart game 121
Another variant of the game, which is particularly suitable for beginners, is the option of initially only playing your way up. Especially as a newbie to darts, you will notice that playing the “ 9 darter ” at 121 can be quite a challenge .
You will need some time to play your way up to, say, 130 points. But see for yourself.
Variant 2: Rules like a pro
With darts game 121 you can of course also try to make the game a little more challenging . Admittedly, this is the most difficult of all variants. In this variant you only have three darts available to end a leg and bring the 121 points to zero.
If you succeed in this, you will move up 10 points instead of just one. If you check 121 with three darts, your next finish will be 131. From this point on, however, you will fall back one point if you don't check your finish with three darts.
Variant 3: Vary as desired
The third variant is basically the free design of the game. Of course you can also play the finish with 6 darts instead of 9 or 3 darts . A cool variant in which the rules adapt dynamically is the following:
- You start at 121 and have (up to 130 points) 3 darts to check
- If you check it, you already have 6 darts for your finish from 131
- If you manage to play your way up to 150, you now have 9 darts for the finish
In order to play your way up, you are forced to check the 121 or more points as a high finish at least once. In this way you will learn to deal with pressure situations in darts in the long term.
What exactly is the focus of Dart Training 121?
Now the question arises as to what exactly you are training in Dart Training 121. The answer is actually really simple: you train the entire board !
In the end, of course, the focus is on checking. And depending on how you throw yourself down from 121, you often have a different double remaining. So you get to know the different double fields better and also practice throwing fields that you don't usually play by setting them.
This is exactly why 121 training is so popular with experienced players. You build up a pressure situation in the 121 game and learn to check when it counts.
The bottom three numbers that you are trying to check show how variable the game is.
- 121 points remaining: here you normally start on the 20-point field
- 122 points remaining: here you normally start on the 18-point field
- 123 points remaining: here you normally start on the 19-point field
And depending on how many points you score with the first shot, you have completely different ways to ultimately check the points .
A calculation example for the dart game 121
Finally, we would like to use a calculation example to show how the 121 dart game can go. As always, you start at 121 points. Here we'll start with the basic variant , where you have 9 darts for each finish.
- Now you hit the first three arrows 20, 17, 20
- A remaining score of 64 remains
- You can check these via the 16 (16, 16, D16)
This example already shows you how important it is to calculate early . Because at the beginning you have two ways to check 121 with three darts. That's what your game is designed for.
An example of the 121 checkout
Way 1: T20, T11, D14 -> if you only hit the T20: T20, 11, Bull
Path 2: 20, T17, Bull
Now in the example I hit the 20 with the first arrow. So I still have 101 points left. I could theoretically check these with a hit on the T17 and Bulls Eye with two darts.
But if I only hit the easy 17 here, I have to do the math to give myself an easy finish on the next shot. Therefore the last dart follows the 20 again to leave 64 points standing (or in the case of a T20) 24 remaining.
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