Quick answer: Hit 1 through 20 in order, advancing only after landing the current target. Add the bull as a final target for a tougher finish.
Choose the sequence and starting order
Use a standard board and decide whether the finish is 20 or 20 followed by bull. Determine order with a closest-to-bull dart. Each player throws three darts per turn and begins on 1. After hitting the current number, the next dart immediately attempts the following number. A player can therefore advance as many as three positions in one turn.
Record each player's current target rather than a conventional point total. If a player starts a visit needing 5, hits 5, misses 6 and then hits 6, the turn ends with 7 as the next target. A dart at 7 before the 6 lands does nothing.
Define how rings affect advancement
In the beginner version, any single, double or triple area of the active wedge counts as one hit and advances exactly one number. Triple 4 does not move the player to 7; it simply completes 4. Bulls count only if included as the final target. This rule keeps attention on board navigation instead of arithmetic.
Popular variants reward rings differently. One version allows a double to advance two positions and a triple three, while another requires single 1 through single 20. Because these versions produce different tactics and game lengths, identify them clearly rather than changing mid-game.
Handle misses, bounce-outs and blocked targets
A miss consumes a dart without changing the target. Bounce-outs also consume the dart in standard play. If the point remains in the wrong segment, it scores no progress. Darts should stay in the board until the turn is called, then be removed before the next player.
A dart can physically obscure a narrow double or triple but rarely blocks an entire single wedge. Beginners should switch to the other large single bed rather than trying to squeeze beside the first dart. The objective is target completion, not tight grouping at any cost.
Use the game as deliberate practice
Aim at the widest, cleanest area of each required wedge. Note repeated stalls—perhaps 6 at the lower right or 11 at the upper left—because those are useful targets for the next practice session. The sequence forces a player to rotate around the board and reset visual alignment rather than throwing three darts at 20.
Advanced players can play Doubles Around the Clock, requiring double 1 through double 20, or Trebles Around the Clock. A practical intermediate version targets 1 through 20 but requires the final bull. Timed solo runs make improvement measurable, although accuracy and completed darts are better metrics than frantic throwing.
Balance mixed abilities without confusion
Let beginners count any bed while experienced players must hit a single, or give the beginner a lower finishing number. Another option is to let beginners start at 5 while others start at 1. Keep handicaps visible so everyone knows the race.
For teams, alternate throwers while sharing one current target. This rewards communication and keeps every dart relevant. If two players finish during the same round, the one who completed the sequence first wins; equal turns are not required unless the group deliberately uses a round-completion house rule.
Turn the answer into a better game
Use the relevant tool or playing guide next instead of leaving the answer on the screen. You can play the Road to the Crown darts game, measure a lane with the setup calculator, or return to our dart boards homepage to compare board types and plan a complete setup.
Frequently asked questions
Do doubles and triples skip numbers in Around the Clock?
Not in the standard beginner version. Any bed in the current wedge advances one number. Skipping is an optional variation.
Do you have to hit the bull to win?
Only if that finish was selected before play. Many games end at 20; adding bull creates a tougher ending.
Can one player advance three numbers in one turn?
Yes. If each dart hits the next required target in order, the player advances three positions.
The Throw Lab verdict
Around the Clock needs almost no arithmetic, yet it develops complete-board confidence. State the finish and ring rule, record each current target and require hits in order. Beginners can aim at generous single beds; stronger players can add a bull finish or progress to doubles-only and triples-only versions. The most useful result is not merely winning. It is discovering the numbers where alignment repeatedly breaks down. Those stalls turn a casual game into a focused practice map, while the simple race structure remains easy for a new player to follow.