KNOW YOUR NUMBERS
Doubling out is the key to success in the "01" games as you are well aware.
Getting to a good double, by knowing the number combinations, will give you
an advantage over an unaware shooter. Here is an easy technique to learn
combinations for two-dart outs less than 100 to doubles 20, 18, and 16.
That may give you an edge when facing stiff competition.
Once you are at or below 100, start planning your combination.
Here are some examples:
You have just left yourself with a 97. Subtracting 40 leaves 57 or a
triple 19, so your 2-dart out is triple 19, double 20. You throw for the
triple 19 and miss with a single 7 so your score is now 90.
There are some numbers that you should recognize as natural outs.
There are also certain numbers that are nice "leaves".
There are, of course numerous combinations that will bring you down to
doubles less than 32. Not being the greatest double shooter, I try to give
myself as many doubling-out opportunities as possible, so I don't like to
blow the larger numbers to reach the smaller ones. So I've included only
combinations to double 20, 18 and 16. And if your not a double 18 shooter,
learn to be!
We all should know the cricket triples, and these can be very important for
setting up a good two-dart out. There are a few more on the following list
that are less well known, but very important.
These provide you with a few other "naturals", such as:
Using the "subtract 40" method outlined above, you figure out the following:
Tackle the three-dart outs once you have the two-dart outs learned.
This is a bit unusual, as we usually have enough trouble hitting a single
double to get out. But, you will sometimes arrive at a situation like 72.
Subtracting 40 is a 32 (for Double top), which is not a triple.
Add 4 (or 36) is a Triple 12, for a Double 18out, and adding four more
yields 40 for a Double 16 out. If you check your dart board carefully,
you'll note that the double and triple rings are the same width, yet the
double for any given number is more than two-thirds greater (actually 72%)
than the triple according to my calculations. The point here is that you
might rather shoot for a double 20, double 16 to take out that 72 (or the
reverse), as opposed to the Triple 12, Double 18, which the above discussion
leads you.
For many years, I saw a 70 as a "natural" - Triple 10, Double Top. Then in a
game once, I found myself behind but at 70, and decided to go for the larger
Double 15, then Double 20 out. I hit them both for a come-from-behind win
(which let's face it is one of the best wins). An additional benefit is that
if you miss the first double inside, you merely have to hit a second single
to get to the required number of points to get you to your double. So keep
this in mind...that double is much bigger than a triple.
And though listed as a "natural", 80 (Triple 16, Double 16) also lends itself
to the double-double strategy (Double 20, Double 20). You can think of it as
having a "practice" turn at the Double 20 out, and can concentrate at the
same point on the board.
You will sometimes find yourself in a situation where you either throw an
errant dart to screw up a good double, or perhaps you hit a triple of a
number that you only wanted the single, and it leaves you with a rotten leave
(defined here as one which blows by the ideal doubles like 20,16,8). Don't
be tempted to try to turn shit to gold, especially if you are a turn or two
ahead. Bust it and try once again to give yourself (or your 401 teammates) a
good double to go out on. Leaving yourself a lousy double (19, 17, 7,and
especially Double 3) only puts you in an unfavorable position for the next
round. Never, never aim to leave yourself with Double 3.
I put this "system" together several years ago while Captain of the Stout
Shooters, but kept it within our team because it gave us a "competitive edge"
against tough competition. If you ever played against SS, you will remember
that even the new guys on the team knew their outs....and they did not
memorize that boring chart. There are a surprising number of good dart
shooters in TDI that do not know their two-dart combinations. With a little
practice, best done when you are watching a match rather than throwing, you
can learn this "system" and improve your game.
Mike Testa
Subtract 40 from 90 which leaves a 50, which is not a triple. Now add 4
(or 54) which brings you what you need for a double 18, meaning a triple 18
(54) will give you a double 18 out.
Instead of the triple 18, you come up short and hit a single 4, which
brings your score down to 86. Subtracting 40 leaves 46, which is not a
triple; adding 4 gives 50 which is not a triple, but adding 4 more gives 54,
which is triple 18 on your third dart, you'll leave yourself with a 32 or
double 16 on your next round.THE NATURALS
95 is a triple 19, double 19
90 is a triple 18, double 18
80 is a triple 16, double 16
76 is a triple 20, double 8
48 for it is 8,x20 or 16,x16 (8 and 16 being adjacent)
46 for it is 6,x18 or 10,x18 (6 and 10 being adjacent)
42 for it is 6,x18 or 10,x16 (6 nad 10 being adjacent)
35 for it is 3,x16 or 19,x8 (3 and 19 being adjacent)
IMPORTANT TRIPLES
Learn them, and more importantly, practice throwing them.
ODDS EVENS
19 x 3 = 57 18 x 3 = 54
17 x 3 = 51 16 x 3 = 48
15 x 3 = 45 14 x 3 = 42 (a good one to know)
13 x 3 = 39 12 x 3 = 36
11 x 3 = 33
97 (-40 is 57) so triple 19, double 20
94 (-40 is 54) so triple 18, double 20
93 (-40 is 53, + 4 is 57) so triple 19, double 18
91 (-40 is 51) so triple 17, double 20
89 (-40 is 49, + 4 is 53, + 4 is 57) so triple 19, double 16
88 is a triple 16, double 20 (you work the subtraction)
87 is a triple 17, double 18
86 is a triple 18, double 16
85 is a triple 15, double 20
84 is a triple 16, double 18
83 is a triple 17, double 16
82 is a triple 14, double 20
81 is a triple 15, double 18
79 is a triple 13, double 20
78 is a triple ___, double ___?
77 is a triple ___, double ___?
75 is a triple ___, double ___?
(that's easier than bull, double bull!)
74 is a triple ___, double ___?
73 is a triple ___, double ___?
71 is a triple ___, double ___?
69 is a triple ___, double ___?
68 is a triple ___, double ___?
DOUBLE DOUBLES
STRATEGIC BUSTS
FINAL COMMENTS
