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The Monday night dart tournament has begun at Lucky Devils.  This tournament is a 10 week tournament with a $1,000 gauranteed payout. 

In my experience there are a couple of strategies one can use to win a cricket game.  I will call them “close out”, “point up” and “combination” for lack of official terms. 

In the “close out” method, a player would try to close all their cricket numbers before an opponent closes theirs.  Once all numbers are closed; then you would go back and point until you win the game, as your opponent is unable to point on any closed number.  This strategy is very effective if you are good at hitting ALL the cricket numbers.   However, if you are bad at any one number (including the bulls eye) then you are leaving your opponent a window of opportunity.

In the “point up” strategy you close a number and then point until you are about 50 - 100 points ahead of your opponent.  This makes them have to hit additional bulls eyes at the end of the match in order to catch up in points.  However, while you are trying to get ahead in points your opponent may be closing their other numbers, so look out for the sneak up and take the win by surprise. 

 In the “combination” strategy, you would do a combination of both.  Close a number.  If you close it with one dart hitting a triple; then go back and point on it.  If you don’t close a number, continue to try to close a number (any number) and then point.  I usually suggest throw two darts to close and one dart to point, unless the opponent has  a lot of points; then do the reverse.  Throw two darts to point and one to close.

 I have also found that it throws people off a bit if you close the cricket numbers in reverse.  If you feel like messing with a person’s head; try closing the numbers starting with the bulls eye!  

Last night was the last night of the Monday night tournament that I have been playing in.  Every Monday night we would go to our local pub “Lucky Devils” and play in a tournament.  The bar offered a $1,000 payout to the players whose number was drawn at the end of the weekly tournament. 

 Since I was there playing almost every Monday night, I had my name (and my partner’s name) on several of the outs, which is the number that wins the game in the 01 games.  The rule was that you had to be present to win.  They drew the first number and only one party was present, so they gave him $500 and then drew a second number, which was a number I had my name on!!  Needless to say, I walked away with $250 for playing in an on-going tournament and having fun.      

FYI -

The Monday night tournaments at Lucky Devil’s in Houston is coming to an end.   It was scheduled to end April 2, but many people will be at the Astros (GO ‘STROS) opening game that evening, so it is being pushed back a week.  THe last week of the Monday night tournament will be April 9, 2007.

Keep checking for updates for the next tournament to start.    

Diddling - This is where all players throw one dart at the bulls eye.  Usually this (or a coin toss) will determine who goes first in a game. 

I have seen on another dart site blogs about whether one should remove a dart from the bulls eye when it is obstructing the opposents shot or not.   I personally, heve never seen a person remove their dart so the opponent has a better shot at the bull.   We (my friends and I) have always played where you change your stance in order to throw at the bull, but never have I removed my dart (or an oppenents) to diddle.  PERIOD. 

I suppose there are some who feel that it’s more fair to give them the same chance to hit the bull.  However, I think that one should be able to throw around the dart.  If you miss; you miss. 

I have an answer to the question: “Why are dartboards numbered that way?” 

Dart boards originally had various  designs, and regional variations remain in some parts.   The dart board may get its origin from the cross section of a tree.  There are some historical records that suggest the first standard dartboards were the bottoms of wine casks.   As the wood from the casts dried and cracked “sections” would develop naturally in the wood.  Regional standards began to emerge, as wood workers would fabricate dart boards in exchange for their bar tabs.

A great many configurations have been used throughout the years in various geographical locations across the globe, but the most common numbering plan, has a 20 on the top.  From what I have read online, the purpose of this numbering design is to reduce the element of chance or “lucky shots”.  The numbers are placed strategically to encourage accuracy.  The game would not be as challenging if the large numbers were all together.  The placing of small numbers either side of large numbers (e.g. 1 and 5 either side of 20, 7 and 3 either side of the 19, 4 and 1 either side of 18, and 3 and 2 either side of 17), in essence punishes players for inaccuracy.  The left-hand side of the dart board, around the 14, is preferred by beginners because it has a concentration of larger numbers on that side.

The man who is credited with the numbering sequence of the modern standard dartboard is Brian Gamlin.  He came up with the sequence in 1896.  There are 121,645,100,408,832,000 different possible arrangements of the 20 segments on a standard dartboard.  Gamlin’s arrangement of the numbers is perfect for dart games.

Last night was the second night of league play and we lost…again.  Week one, I wasn’t playing my best, but I thought for sure we (the team) would redeem ourselves last night.  We all played well.  The opposing team just played better. 

 I find that I do alright during league, but I usually play better after.  I am not sure if it’s because I have warmed up or because the alcohol takes away the inhibitions? 

I was reading some forums and found one that I thought was pretty interesting.  SEWA is offering a flight school thanks to George Siberzahn, the author of ‘How to Master the Sport of Darts’.  Flight School will be a tutorial via email that will guide enrollees through a process of problem identification and corrrective regimens.

For more details go to http://www.sewa-darts.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=735.  

The local bar I play darts out of for league is running a Monday night tournament.   It ends the beginning of April.  I believe the pot is up to $1,200 for the Mystery out.  If your in Houston or the surrounding areas, come by Lucky Devils and check it out. 

A new event is coming in November that will bridge the divide between two rival dart bodies.  This event will have top players from the Professional Darts Corporation and from British Darts Organisation competing for a £60,000 first prize.   The event will take place in Wolverhampton Civic Halls from November 17-25; however, all the details have not been worked out.   Go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/6382621.stm for more details.