Scram: One Scores, One Sabotages
You bury a gorgeous treble 20 exactly where you aimed it — and it's worth nothing, because the 20 died two turns ago. That's Scram punishing you for not watching the wall go up.
Scram is a two-player game with opposite jobs each half: one player blocks numbers, the other races to score on whatever's still open. It's cricket's scrappier cousin, and it plays fast.
The Basic Rules
The game uses the numbers 1 through 20 plus the bullseye — 21 targets in all. Players alternate three-dart turns, but their goals point in opposite directions.
The blocker (sometimes called the stopper) tries to close numbers. Any number the blocker hits is dead, and the scorer can never score on it again.
The scorer throws at anything still open, banking the face value of every dart. Singles, doubles, and trebles all count in full, so an open treble 20 is gold.
Rounds and Winning
The round ends when the blocker has closed all 21 targets. The scorer's total goes on the chalkboard, and the players swap roles for round two.
- Purpose-made layout tracks Cricket and 01 games at a glance
- Smooth surface works with any dry erase marker, and one comes included
- Mounting hardware is included for easy setup on a wall or cabinet door
Once both players have had a turn as scorer, the higher total wins. That's one complete game of Scram.
Strategy for the Blocker
Kill the big numbers first. Every turn the 20 survives, the scorer can bank 60 points with a single dart.
The standard blocking order runs 20, 19, 18, then down the ladder — the same value logic behind why players target the 19. Save the 1, 2, and 3 for last, since they barely feed the scorer.
Strategy for the Scorer
Score greedy, but score smart. Hammer the highest open number, and when the 20 dies, slide straight to the 19 without sulking.
Trebles are worth the risk early, while the fat numbers are still alive. Once only small numbers remain, take clean singles instead of spraying darts at trebles you don't need.
Common Mistakes
- Blocking low numbers early — you're spending darts to save the scorer pennies.
- As scorer, chasing a closed number's neighbor and donating misses to dead segments.
- Forgetting the bullseye is a target; an open bull pays 25 or 50 on every dart.
- Losing track of which numbers are dead — mark closures clearly on the chalkboard.
Why Scram Is Worth Playing
Scram is a genuine accuracy drill dressed up as a game. Blocking demands you hit called numbers on command — the same skill built by Around the Clock.
It also handicaps naturally. Put the stronger player on blocking duty against a weaker scorer and the game stays close without anyone faking it.
Quick Answers
Can more than two people play?
Yes — run it in teams of two, with partners alternating throws in each role. Scoring works exactly the same.
How is Scram different from cricket?
In cricket darts, both players score and close on the same seven numbers. Scram splits the jobs entirely and uses the whole board, so each round feels like a race against a shrinking clock.
Flip a coin for first blocker, and make every closed number hurt.