Darts checkouts
Double-out strategy: which double to leave
In 501 and 301 the leg only ends when you land a double. Smart finishing isn't about hitting harder — it's about leaving doubles you can recover from when the first dart misses.
- D20 40
- D16 32
- D8 16
- D4 8
Leave the halving doubles
The strongest doubles to leave are the ones that halve cleanly: miss the double and you're left with another even number that's still a double.
That chain runs 40 → 32 → 16 → 8 (D20 → D16 → D8 → D4). Land just inside on a single 20 from 40 and you have 20 left — D10, still even. This is why pros aim to leave 32 or 40 above almost anything else.
Avoid the awkward odd leaves
Odd numbers force an extra dart: from 9 you must throw a single 1 to leave D4, so a missed first dart can waste the visit. When you have a choice, score to leave an even number, and keep 2 (D1) off the table when you can — leaving exactly 1 is a bust.
Recover after a miss
Plan the next dart before you throw. From 40, a missed D20 that lands single 20 leaves 20 (D10); from 32, a single 16 leaves 16 (D8). Knowing the fallback double keeps you calm and stops a single miss from becoming three.
Use the checkout calculator to see the best route and the safest double for any score.
Know the bogey numbers
Seven scores — 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162 and 159 — have no three-dart finish at all. If a score leaves you on one of these, don't try to finish: score down to a comfortable leave like 40 or 32. See the bogey numbers guide.
Double-out strategy — questions answered
What is the best double to aim for in darts?
Why do players leave even numbers?
What happens if I go below zero or leave 1?
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