Dart Killer Rule: how to play?

Are there three, four, or more of you looking for a fun game of darts where everyone competes against each other?

Killer is THE ultimate elimination game. Each player is assigned a number, becomes a “killer,” and then tries to eliminate the others by taking away their lives. The last survivor wins.

In this beginner’s guide, you’ll learn everything you need to play your first game tonight, even if you’ve never held a dart before.

The Killer in a nutshell: the goal of the game

The concept is simple: each player is assigned a number on the dartboard. To attack, you must first “become the killer” by hitting your own number. Once you’re the killer, you aim for your opponents’ numbers to take away their lives. When a player runs out of lives, they’re eliminated. The last player standing wins the game.

What you need to play

No special equipment is required:

• A standard dartboard set up correctly (at the proper distance and height)

• 3 darts per player

• Something to keep score: a chalkboard, a sheet of paper, or an app

• At least 3 players

Good news: Killer also works great on an electronic dartboard.

Step 1: Assign numbers (throwing with your non-dominant hand)

Before starting, each player must receive a number. To do this, throw a dart with your non-dominant hand: a right-hander throws with the left hand, a left-hander with the right. The number you hit becomes your number for the entire game.

Why the non-dominant hand? Simply to make the assignment random. If everyone threw with their usual hand, everyone would aim for 20! The non-dominant hand shuffles the deck.

If two players land on the same number, the second player throws again until they get a different one.

Example:

• Marie (right-handed) rolls with her left hand and lands on 7: her number is 7.

• Paul lands on 19. Lea also lands on 7 → she rolls again and gets 12.

• Everyone now has their number: Marie has 7, Paul has 19, and Lea has 12.

Step 2: Become a “killer” (hit your double)

Until you become a killer, you can’t attack anyone. To become one, you must hit the double of your own number.

A quick reminder for beginners: on a dartboard, each number has several zones. The double is the thin ring located right at the outer edge of the board.

Example: Marie aims for the double 7 (the small outer ring on the 7 segment). On her second turn, she hits it: Marie is now a killer. She can start eliminating the others.

Step 3: Eliminate opponents (take away lives)

Each player starts the game with 3 lives.

Once you become the killer, you aim for the double of an opponent’s number. If you hit it, that opponent loses a life. When they reach zero lives, they are eliminated and out of the game.

Important note for beginners: you attack other players’ numbers, never your own. And the thrill of the game is that an opponent who becomes the killer in turn can very well target you in return: no one is ever safe.

Example:

• Marie (killer) targets Paul’s double 19 and hits it → Paul goes from 3 to 2 lives.

• Paul’s turn: he isn’t a killer yet, so he must first claim his double 19 before he can retaliate.

End of the game: who wins?

The game continues until only one player remains with at least one life. This last survivor wins the game.

How to start your first game (summary)

You have everything you need. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

• 1. Set up the target correctly

• 2. Gather at least 3 players

• 3. Each player rolls with their non-dominant hand to get their number

• 4. Hit double your number to become the killer

• 5. Aim for the double of the others to take away their lives

• 6. The last player still alive wins

That's it! Give it a try: you learn by playing.

Variations of Killer

Once you’ve mastered the classic version, you can spice up your games:

• More or fewer lives: play with 5 lives for longer games, or just 1 life for quick duels.

• Killer in singles: for groups of beginners, you can allow singles (rather than doubles) to become the killer and take lives. Easier, faster.