DartScore.ukShanghai Darts: Rules, Scoring and Tips
Last updated 10 November 2026
Shanghai takes you around the board one number at a time. It is simple enough for beginners, but it has a twist that can end the game in one turn: the Shanghai itself.
The rules
- There are 20 rounds. In round 1 the target is the 1, in round 2 the 2, and so on up to the 20.
- Each player throws three darts per round. Only darts that hit the round's number score.
- A single scores the number, a double twice the number and a treble three times the number.
- Hit a single, a double and a treble of the target in the same turn, in any order, and you have scored a Shanghai. You win immediately.
- If nobody scores a Shanghai, the highest total after round 20 wins.
The instant win is on by default on the DartScore.uk scoreboard. Switch it off on the setup screen to play all 20 rounds for points only.
A worked example
It is round 7. You throw single 7, treble 7 and a miss. You score 7 + 21 = 28 points.
If the third dart had landed in double 7, you would have a single, double and treble of 7 in one turn. That is a Shanghai, and the game is over regardless of the scores.
Scores to aim for
| Turn | Points in round n | Example: round 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Three singles | 3 × n | 60 |
| Shanghai (single, double, treble) | 6 × n, and the game ends | 120 |
| Three trebles | 9 × n | 180 |
Three singles every round adds up to 630 over the game. The theoretical maximum, with three trebles every round, is 1,890.
Tips
- The later rounds matter most. Round 20 is worth twenty times round 1, so a slow start is easy to recover from.
- Behind late on? Chase the Shanghai. If you can't catch up on points, a Shanghai is your only way back. Aim for whichever of the single, double or treble you still need.
- Ahead? Play safe. Aim at the big single area and keep adding points.
- Watch your opponent's turn. If they hit the treble and the double with their first two darts, they are one single away from winning.
Common house rules
- Shorter games: play only 1 to 9, or 1 to 7.
- Must score: a player who fails to score in a round is eliminated.
- Bull round: add a final round on the bull.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Shanghai in darts?
Hitting a single, a double and a treble of the current target number in the same turn of three darts. In the standard game it wins immediately.
Does the order of the single, double and treble matter?
No. Any order counts, as long as all three are on the round's target number within one turn.
What is the highest possible score in Shanghai?
Three trebles in all 20 rounds totals 1,890. That can never include a Shanghai, because a Shanghai needs a single and a double as well.