Shanghai: The Game With an Instant Win
Your first two darts find the single 5 and the treble 5, and suddenly the whole room is watching. You need the double for a Shanghai — the instant win — and your third dart smacks the wire and drops.
That one-turn knockout is what separates Shanghai from every other numbers game on a dartboard. Here's how to play it, score it, and chase the finish that ends a match on the spot.
What Is Shanghai Darts?
Shanghai is a popular darts game played worldwide, built around numbered rounds. In round one everyone aims at the 1 segment, in round two the 2, and so on up the board.
It takes its name from its signature move. Hit the single, double, and triple of the round's number in one turn — a "Shanghai" — and you win the game outright, no matter the score.
What You Need
Any standard setup works: a bristle board with steel-tip darts or an electronic board with soft tips. Bristle boards pack sisal fibers behind the wires, while electronic boards read hits through plastic segments — our dartboard comparison breaks down the differences.
Darts vary in weight and material, commonly brass, nickel-silver, or tungsten. Tungsten's density lets barrels stay slim for tighter grouping, which is why it dominates — see our guide to brass vs. nickel vs. tungsten darts.
Rules and Scoring
Each player throws three darts per round, and only the current round's number counts. A single scores face value, a double scores twice that, and a triple scores three times — everything else scores zero.
Rounds move through the numbers in order. Many groups play 1 through 7 for a quick game, while others run the full board to 20.
If nobody hits a Shanghai, the highest running total after the final round wins. It's a fast game with a built-in clock, so nobody sits idle for long.
A Worked Example Turn
Say it's round 4, so only 4s count. Your first dart lands in the fat single 4 for 4 points, and your second finds the treble 4 for 12.
Your third dart drifts into the 18 — worth nothing this round. You bank 16 points and hand over the darts, one double short of glory.
The Shanghai: The Instant Win
Landing single, double, and triple of the round's number in one turn ends the game immediately. It demands precision and dart control, since you're threading three different bed sizes on the same wedge.
There's no fixed order required — you just need all three in one visit. For the term itself and where else it shows up, our explainer on what a Shanghai is in darts covers the ground.
Strategy and Skill Building
Skill beats luck in Shanghai more than in most casual games. When you're playing for points, aim at the treble — it's the highest-value bed on every number.
Consistency matters more than hero throws. Groove a repeatable throwing motion, keep your eyes on the exact bed you want, and practice on the awkward numbers before they come up in rotation.
Dart choice plays a quiet role too. A weight and barrel design that feels comfortable in your hand will tighten your grouping faster than any tip or trick.
- Front-weighted barrels support a comfortable and controlled three-point grip
- Deep grooves and triple-milled surfaces provide a secure grip for more consistent throws
- The included storage box keeps up to 12 darts and spare parts organized and protected
Chalk up rounds 1 through 7 tonight and see who lands the first Shanghai.