Around the Clock is a race around the dartboard. Hit 1, then 2, and so on up to 20, then finish on the bull. Beginners use it to learn where the numbers are, and experienced players use it to warm up.
Also known as: Round the Clock, Round the Board, Around the Board, Clock Tower, or 1 to 20.
For a quicker version with one hit per number and a simple bull finish, see Round the World.
How to play
Take turns throwing 3 darts.
Everyone starts on 1. Any part of the number counts, whether single, double, or triple.
As soon as you hit your number, aim your next dart at the next one. A good turn can move you on 3 numbers.
A miss leaves you on the same number. Pick up where you left off on your next turn.
After 20, hit the bull to finish.
There are no points. Keep track of the number each player needs next.
How to win
The first player to hit every number from 1 to 20 and then the bull wins. Either the outer bull or the bullseye counts, though some groups insist on the bullseye.
Custom rule options
There are many ways to play Around the Clock. If you use DartsOn, you can play with the following options:
Setting
Choices
App Default (Standard)
Variant
Standard
Doubles Only
Triples Only
Standard
Hits per target
1, 2, or 3 hits before advancing
1
Order
1 to 20
20 to 1
Random
1 to 20
Doubles & Triples
Off or On
When On, doubles advance 2 targets and triples advance 3.
Off
Finish sequence
Standard bull
Any numbered double, any numbered triple, outer bull, then bullseye
Standard bull
Bonus turns
Off or On
Hit with all 3 darts to earn another turn.
Off
Bullseye playoff
Off or On
When On, the bull needs , and players who finish in the same round throw at to decide it.
Off
Off or On
When On, remaining players can complete the round.
Off
1, 3, 5
3, 5, 7
Custom counts from 1 to 99.
3
1, 3, 5
3, 5, 7
Custom counts from 1 to 99.
1
Standard accepts singles, doubles, and triples on the target number, and either bull to finish. Doubles Only and Triples Only require their named ring on numbers 1 to 20, then to finish. The extended finish and Bullseye playoff also end on .
With multiple hits per target, each dart counts as 1 hit. Doubles & Triples determines how far the final required hit advances you. With Doubles Only or Triples Only, it moves you 2 or 3 numbers when you complete the required hits on a target. A double or triple on your last number can skip the any-double and any-triple steps, but never the outer bull or . In the standard finish it never skips the bull.
Bonus turns continue until the first miss. Hits toward an unfinished multi-hit target still count toward earning a bonus turn.
With Allow Finish Round, the finisher who used the fewest darts wins; equal dart counts tie. Bullseye playoff replaces that tiebreak and always lets the remaining players finish the round. If several finish, each throws 1 dart at . A sole hit wins, multiple hitters continue, and an all-miss round is repeated.
Stats tracked in DartsOn
At the end of each leg, DartsOn shows these stats for each player:
Stat
What it shows
Darts
Darts thrown in the leg, including any bullseye playoff.
Rounds
Turns taken, including bonus turns.
Targets Hit
Darts that hit your current target.
Hit Rate
Targets Hit as a share of darts thrown.
Heat map
Where each player's darts landed. Tap it for a full-screen view of every landing.
Shown when darts are scored with the camera.
In a game of several legs, the end-of-game summary adds up every leg and shows how many legs each player won.
Around the Clock FAQ
Do doubles and triples count in Around the Clock?
Yes, in standard Around the Clock, any part of the current number counts as a hit and moves you to the next number. In a strict singles-only drill, doubles and triples count as misses instead. Another house rule lets doubles advance 2 targets and triples advance 3. Agree on the version before starting; DartsOn's Standard variant accepts all 3 scoring areas.
Do you need the bullseye to finish Around the Clock?
You finish on the bull after 20. In the standard game, the outer bull and the bullseye both count. Some groups insist on the bullseye, so agree before you start.
Do you keep throwing after you hit your number?
Yes. Aim your next dart at the next number in the sequence, so a good turn can move you on 3 numbers.
Is Round the World the same as Around the Clock?
Many players use the names interchangeably, but DartsOn treats them as separate modes. Round the World is the simpler one: each number needs 1 hit in any ring, and either bull finishes. Round the Clock and Round the Board are other names for Around the Clock.
How do you make Around the Clock harder?
Count only doubles or only triples, require 2 or 3 hits on each number before moving on, or shuffle the order. A doubles-only round is good finishing practice for 501.
Do you play Around the Clock in number order or board order?
The usual order is 1, 2, 3, and so on through 20, then the bull. You do not follow the numbers clockwise around the board. Playing in physical board order is a separate variation. DartsOn offers 1 to 20, 20 to 1, or random order.
Why play Around the Clock with DartsOn?
DartsOn shows each player's next target, so nobody loses count halfway round the board. Choose a harder variant, a random order, or bonus turns, and play against friends or bots, or use camera auto-scoring.
Open Around the Clock in DartsOn and work your way from 1 to the bull. Follow your next target on screen as you learn the board or warm up for a match.
