Killer dart tossing game apparatus and games

Abstract

A dart throwing game apparatus including a flat, vertical planar scoring board, a plurality of score enhancing scoring areas and score detracting scoring areas with multiple score values arranged around a central bulls-eye on the scoring board with two neutral areas for receiving darts thrown by two or more players. Several dart throwing games are described utilizing a plurality of color-coded darts and a specially color-coded dart for individual or team play. The scoring areas are arranged on the game board so that some of the positions are more difficult to achieve than others. Throwing games are described in which two individual players may compete against each other, a team consisting of one or two players may compete against another team of one or two players, or three players may individually compete against each of the other two players.

1 . A method of playing a dart throwing game for individual and team play comprising the steps of:
 providing a set of darts for each player or team, each set of darts being of the same color with the respective sets to be used by each player or team being of a different color;   providing a scoring board at which the darts are thrown, the scoring board positioned a predetermined distance from the player throwing the darts;   providing a predetermined array of scoring areas on said scoring board, said scoring areas being a score enhancing, score detracting, penalty, or neutral areas;   providing a means for keeping score for said dart throwing game having numerical score indicia and markers arrayed about the periphery of the scoring board   determining which player or team throws first to start the game by throwing one dart by each player or team toward the center of the dart board with the player or team with the dart sticking closest to the center throwing first;   each player or team alternatingly throwing all of the respective darts of the sets of darts at the scoring board, the exhaustion of the supply of darts completing a round of play;   each player or team acquiring points depending upon the value assigned to each of said scoring areas at the time a dart is stuck into the scoring area;   the player or team scoring a predetermined number of points wins the dart throwing game.   
     
     
         2 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of:
 each of a first or second player or team acquiring points by sticking one or more darts in one or more score enhancing areas;   canceling the points acquired by a first player or team having a dart in a score enhancing area by having a second player or team stick a dart in the same score enhancing area in which the dart of said first player or team is stuck;   earning bonus points by a first player or team having three or more darts in the same score enhancing area without any darts of a second player or team in the same score enhancing area;   canceling the points acquired by a first player or team having a dart or darts in a score enhancing or negating area by having a second player or team stick a score negating dart in the same score enhancing or negating area in which the dart or darts of the said first player or team are stuck; and,   restoring the cancelled points of a first player or team resulting from said score negating dart of said second player or team sticking in the same scoring area by having a score negating dart of the first player or team stick in the same scoring area.   
     
     
         3 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of:
 scoring the centrally located score enhancing area by increasing the point value by +5 points upon each successive dart of either a first or second player or team sticking in the scoring area;   awarding the aggregate total of acquired points to the last player or team to stick a dart in the said centrally located score enhancing area.   
     
     
         4 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of:
 the player or team to stick a dart in the penalty area resulting in the forfeiture of the remaining throws of that player or team for that throwing round area.   
     
     
         5 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of:
 the player or team to stick a dart in the neutral area resulting in said throwing turn to be forfeit with no change in score.   
     
     
         6 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of:
 achieving a point score by a first player or team of 21 points or greater when the second player or team has acquired 0 points or has negative points at the end of a round, said first player or team being declared the winner and ending the game.   
     
     
         7 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of:
 a first player or team achieving the sticking of a dart in each of the score enhancing areas without a score negating dart being present is declared the winner automatically ending the game, even though a throwing round may not be completed.   
     
     
         8 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of:
 selecting the option for ending the throwing game selected from the group consisting of Quick Death, Slow Death and Agonizing Death.   
     
     
         9 . The method of play according to  claim 8 , wherein the Quick Death option for ending the throwing game comprising the step of:
 ending the last throwing round with all darts thrown, the player or team with the greater of 51 points or more when compared to the other player or team wins the game.   
     
     
         10 . The method of play according to  claim 8 , wherein the Slow Death option for ending the throwing game comprising the steps of:
 playing any remaining throwing rounds without any score negating darts if either player or team acquires a score in the range between 47 and 50 points; and,   ending the last throwing round with all darts thrown, the player or team that has achieved a score of exactly 51 points, without exceeding that total, wins the game.   
     
     
         11 . The method of play according to  claim 8 , wherein the Agonizing Death option for ending the throwing game comprising the steps of:
 prohibiting either player or team from finishing a throwing round with a score of 50 points resulting in the forfeiture of points for that throwing round with said player or team reverting to the score at the end of the immediately preceding throwing round;   continuing to use the score negating darts until a winning score is achieved; and,   ending the last throwing round with all darts thrown, the player or team that has achieved a score of exactly 51 points, without exceeding that total, wins the game.   
     
     
         12 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional step of:
 In the event that scoring of the throwing game results in the same score for a first player or team and a second player or team, deciding the winner of the game with one last throwing round with the player or team scoring the higher score declared the winner and ending the throwing game.   
     
     
         13 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of:
 awarding lead thrower to the player or team throwing a dart closest to the center of the scoring board with the other player or team becoming the trailing thrower;   acquiring points by the lead thrower by sticking a dart in a selected one of the score enhancing areas;   matching the acquired points of the lead thrower by the trailing thrower sticking a dart in the same selected one of the score enhancing areas canceling the acquired points of the lead thrower;   failing to match the acquired points of the lead thrower by the trailing thrower resulting in the lead thrower uncontestedly acquiring the points associated with the selected score enhancing area;   alternating lead and trailing thrower according to the player or team earning the lesser number of points in a throwing round; and,   ending the last throwing round with all darts thrown, the player or team with the greater of 31 points or more when compared to the other player or team wins the game.   
     
     
         14 . The method of play according to  claim 13 , comprising the additional steps of:
 failing to stick a dart in a score enhancing area by the lead thrower during the course of a throwing round results in the trailing thrower becoming the lead thrower for the remainder of the throwing round;   sticking a dart into a score negating area by the lead thrower during the course of a throwing round results in the trailing thrower becoming the lead thrower for the remainder of the throwing round; and,   sticking a dart into a neutral area by the lead thrower during the course of a throwing round results in the trailing thrower becoming the lead thrower for the remainder of the throwing round.   
     
     
         15 . The method of play according to  claim 13 , comprising the additional steps of:
 sticking a dart into a penalty area or missing the scoring board with a thrown dart by the lead thrower during the course of a throwing round results in the trailing thrower becoming the lead thrower and the former lead thrower forfeiting the remaining throws for the remainder of the throwing round.   
     
     
         16 . The method of play according to  claim 11 , comprising the additional step of:
 requiring throws to only the centrally located score enhancing area by designating said score enhancing area as a special target by the lead thrower once per throwing round.   
     
     
         17 . The method of play according to  claim 16 , comprising the additional steps of:
 missing or failing to stick a dart into the centrally located score enhancing area by both the lead thrower and by the trailing thrower results only in a loss of dart for that round with both players or teams retaining the same throwing turn as before;   missing or failing to stick a dart into the centrally located score enhancing area by the lead thrower with the trailing thrower sticking a dart into the centrally located score enhancing area results in the trailing thrower becoming the lead thrower and acquiring the +5 points for sticking the dart into the centrally located score enhancing area.   
     
     
         18 . The method of play according to  claim 13 , comprising the additional step of:
 requiring the score negating dart of both the lead thrower and the trailing thrower to be used during each throwing round.   
     
     
         19 . The method of play according to  claim 13 , comprising the additional step of:
 achieving a point score by a first player or team of 21 points or greater when the second player or team has acquired 0 points or has negative points at the end of a round, said first player or team being declared the winner and ending the game.   
     
     
         20 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of:
 awarding lead thrower to the player or team throwing a dart closest to the center of the scoring board with the other player or team becoming the trailing thrower;   the lead thrower declaring the number of points to be earned in the throwing round;   the trailing thrower deciding to declare a greater number of points to be earned during the throwing round or accepting the declaration of the lead thrower and passing;   alternating turns in the throwing round until all darts are thrown and scoring the throwing round by the lead thrower earning the point value of the score enhancing or score detracting areas in which the lead thrower's darts are located, without canceling for any darts of the trailing thrower, provided that score negating darts of the trailing thrower shall negate the point value of any of the lead thrower's darts in the same scoring target area;   the lead thrower earning the point value scored only in the event that the total point value of the lead thrower's darts equals or exceeds the declared point total nullifying the scoring of points for the trailing thrower, and in the event that the lead thrower's point total is not equal to or greater than the declared point total, points are earned by the trailing thrower;   transferring the lead thrower status to the player earning the greater point total in the throwing round; and,   ending the last throwing round with all darts thrown, the player or team with the greater of 51 points or more when compared to the other player or team wins the game.   
     
     
         21 . The method of play according to  claim 20 , comprising the additional step of:
 earning bonus points by the lead thrower having three or more darts in the same score enhancing area in excess of any darts of the trailing thrower in the same score enhancing area.   
     
     
         22 . The method of play according to  claim 20 , comprising the additional step of:
 failing to earn points by the lead thrower or the trailing thrower by sticking a dart in the penalty or neutral areas.   
     
     
         23 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of:
 alternating turns in the throwing round by a first player or team throwing until all darts are thrown by said first player or team followed by a second player or team throwing until all darts are thrown by said second player or team, both players or teams throwing their darts in a sequence beginning with the lowest point value score enhancing area and ending with the highest value point enhancing area;   scoring the throwing round by each player or team earning the point value of the score enhancing or score detracting areas in which the darts are located, without canceling for any darts of the other player or team; and,   ending the last throwing round with all darts thrown, the player or team with the greater of 51 points or more when compared to the other player or team wins the game.   
     
     
         24 . The method of play according to  claim 24 , further comprising the additional step of:
 the player or team to stick a dart in the neutral or penalty areas resulting in said throwing turn to be forfeited.   
     
     
         25 . The method of play according to  claim 24 , comprising the additional step of:
 earning five bonus points by the player or team sticking darts in five ascending value score enhancing areas and sticking any remaining darts in one or more of the same score enhancing areas.   
     
     
         26 . The method of play according to  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of:
 having first, second and third players or teams for throwing against each other;   each of the first, second or third player or team acquiring points by sticking one or more darts in one or more score enhancing areas;   canceling the points acquired by a first player or team having a dart in a score enhancing area by having a second player or team stick a dart in the same score enhancing area in which the dart of said first player or team is stuck;   canceling the points acquired by a first player or team having a dart or darts in a score enhancing or negating area by having a second player or team sticking a score negating dart in the same score enhancing or negating area in which the dart or darts of the said first player or team are stuck;   restoring the cancelled points of a first player or team resulting from said score negating dart of said second player or team sticking in the same scoring area by having a score negating dart of the first player or team stick in the same scoring area;   
       permitting only two different color scoring darts of either the first, second or third player or team in any score enhancing area during one throwing round, the third different color dart of the last player or team to stick said dart in the same score enhancing area is removed and said throwing turn forfeited;
 permitting all three different color scoring darts of the first, second and third player or team in the centrally located score enhancing area and in the score detracting area; and, 
 ending the last throwing round with all darts thrown, the player or team with the greater of 51 points or more when compared to the other player or team wins the game. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of play according to  claim 26 , comprising the additional steps of:
 scoring the centrally located score enhancing area by increasing the point value by +5 points upon each successive dart of either a first, second or third player or team sticking a dart in the score enhancing area;   awarding the aggregate total of acquired points to the last player or team to stick a dart in the said centrally located score enhancing area.   
     
     
         28 . The method of play according to  claim 26 , further comprising the additional step of:
 earning bonus points by one of the first, second or third players or teams having three or more darts in the same score enhancing area in excess of any darts of the other players or teams in the same score enhancing area;   
     
     
         29 . The method of play according to  claim 26 , comprising the additional step of:
 the player or team to stick a dart in the penalty area resulting in the forfeiture of the remaining throws of that player or team for that throwing round area.   
     
     
         30 . The method of play according to  claim 26 , comprising the additional step of:
 the player or team to stick a dart in the neutral area resulting in said throwing turn to be forfeited.   
     
     
         31 . The method of play according to  claim 26 , comprising the additional steps of:
 scoring the centrally located score enhancing area by increasing the point value by +5 points upon each successive dart of either a first or second player or team sticking in the scoring area;   awarding the aggregate total of acquired points to the last player or team to stick a dart in the said centrally located score enhancing area.   
     
     
         32 . The method of play according to  claim 26 , comprising the additional step of:
 In the event that scoring of the throwing game results in the same score for one or more players or teams, deciding the winner of the game with one last throwing round with the player or team scoring the highest score declared the winner and ending the throwing game.