How many legs are in a darts match?
B · Beginner · The game · 4 of 4A leg is the basic unit: one player wins it by checking out. A match, or a set, is the best of an odd number of legs, so the first to win a majority wins and any legs left are not played. Longer matches are made of an odd number of sets, each won by most legs.
How it works
- Leg: the smallest part of a match with a winner and a loser.
- Odd numbers: legs in a set and sets in a match must be odd.
- Best of: the first to a majority of legs wins the match or set; the rest are not played.
- Sets: a set is won by most legs; a match in sets is won by most sets.
- A one-leg match: a leg is a match when the match is not divided.
- Who throws first: the winner of the bull throw throws first in odd-numbered legs, including a deciding leg, and in odd-numbered sets.
- Formats: singles, pairs and teams, set out by each event.
The glossary has the leg, the set, the best of legs, the match (darts), the whitewash and the bull throw.
Tricky cases
A match is best of seven legs and a player leads 4-0. Are the other legs played?
No. Four is a majority, so the match is over.
Who throws first in the deciding leg?
The winner of the bull throw, since the deciding leg is odd-numbered.
Can a set have an even number of legs?
No. The number of legs in a set must be odd.
What is a whitewash?
Winning without losing a leg (or set). It is a common term, not a rule.
Why the rule exists
Odd numbers mean a match cannot be tied. Alternating the first throw between legs shares the advantage of throwing first.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Legs and sets | Odd numbers, best of | WDF Definition, 2.10, 2.11 |
| Order of throw | Bull-throw winner throws first in odd legs and sets | WDF 12.02 |
| Event formats | Singles, pairs, teams, youth | WDF 7.01 |
From the rule book
World Darts Federation, Playing and Tournament Rules (twentieth revised edition, 28 February 2018), Definition and Rules 2.10, 2.11, 7.01 and 12.02. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the WDF Playing and Tournament Rules.