Quick answer: Plan backward from a preferred double, use routes that preserve a finish after a single miss and avoid leaving bogey numbers.
Read checkout notation and limits
T means triple, D means double, S means single and Bull normally means the 50-point inner bull. T20-D20 is 60 plus 40, a two-dart checkout of 100. T20-T20-Bull is 170. The final dart must be a double or inner bull under standard double-out rules; a triple that takes the score to zero is not a legal finish.
The number of darts available matters. A route shown in three columns assumes all three remain. After a miss, calculate from the actual remainder. Never keep following a memorized sequence if the first dart lands in a different scoring bed.
Learn the finishable score bands
One dart can finish even totals from 2 through 40 by hitting the corresponding double, plus 50 with inner bull. Two darts can finish many scores through 110, though not every total has an equally practical route. Three darts can finish 170 and below except the bogey numbers. Scores above 170 cannot be checked out in one standard three-dart visit.
Knowing the bands changes setup play. If 181 remains with one dart, single 20 leaves 161, a valid three-dart finish for the next turn. Single 12 would leave 169, which is not. The current dart may not win, but it can determine whether the next visit begins with an opportunity.
Prefer routes that survive a single miss
A percentage route leaves another legal path when the intended triple lands as a single. From 121 with three darts, T20 leaves 61, but S20 leaves 101, which can still be finished with T17-Bull. Other routes may suit different preferences, but the principle is stable: evaluate the likely single result before choosing the first target.
Some misses change the segment entirely, so no chart can remove judgment. Choose an aiming line that keeps neighboring numbers manageable and pause after every dart. The scorer should state the new remainder, while the thrower owns the arithmetic.
Organize practice around doubles and anchors
Begin with favorite doubles: 40, 32, 24, 20 and 16 are common anchors. Learn the single that leaves each one. From 41, S1 leaves 40; from 49, S17 leaves 32; from 52, S20 leaves 32. These simple transitions occur more often than 160-plus finishes.
Then learn common two-dart finishes from 61 through 100 and add three-dart routes afterward. Practice by throwing at the route, not by reciting it. Record whether the first dart preserved a finish and whether the final double received a real attempt. That reveals decision quality separately from accuracy.
Use the chart without becoming dependent
Place a compact chart near the board while learning, but call the intended route before throwing. Over time, memorize families rather than isolated totals: odd scores often need an odd single to leave an even double, and many midrange finishes use a triple plus a double. The goal is immediate recognition under match pace.
If a preferred double differs from the chart, adapt. From 60, S20-D20 is natural for a double-20 player, while S12-D24 is invalid because no double 24 exists; T12-D12 is possible but narrower. Every route must obey actual board geometry as well as arithmetic.
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
What is the highest checkout in darts?
170, completed with triple 20, triple 20 and inner bull in standard double-out play.
What are bogey numbers in darts?
They are totals below 170 that cannot be finished in three darts: 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162 and 159.
Do you have to follow the checkout chart exactly?
No. A listed route is one legal option. Choose a route that preserves chances after likely misses and ends on a double you prefer.
The Throw Lab verdict
The best checkout chart teaches decisions rather than replacing them. Know which totals are finishable with one, two or three darts, avoid bogey numbers during setup and inspect the likely single before attacking a triple. Build knowledge outward from doubles you trust, because everyday finishes in the 2-to-100 range decide more legs than spectacular 170s. After every dart, abandon the printed route if the remainder changed. A chart is successful when players eventually stop looking at it, recognize the score and choose a legal route that still offers a chance after an ordinary miss.