What is a shanghai in darts?

A single, a double and a treble of the same number with three darts. In the game of Shanghai it wins outright, whatever the scores are. In other games it is just a satisfying visit, and on the 20 it is worth 120.

How many rounds are there in Shanghai darts?

Seven, one at each number from 1 to 7, in the most common version. Some play nine rounds, and some play the high numbers instead, 15 up to 20 and then the bull. Agree it before the first dart because the scores are not comparable between versions.

Is Shanghai a good game for beginners?

Yes. It is short, everyone throws at the same target so nobody is left behind, and playing at the low numbers puts you in the parts of the board that 501 never makes you visit. The instant win also keeps a losing player interested to the last dart.

Shanghai darts

Seven rounds, seven numbers, and one visit that can end the whole thing regardless of the score.

Play it now

Seven rounds or all twenty. The board keeps the round card and watches the instant win for you, so when two of the three rings are in and a dart is still in hand, it says so before the throw.

You
0
on round 1
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6
7. 7
Player 2
0
on round 1
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6
7. 7

Round 1 of 7. You throw at the 1. Nothing else scores.

—

What is a shanghai?

A single, a double and a treble of the same number, all in one visit. In this game it wins outright no matter what the scores are. Elsewhere it is simply a good three darts, and a shanghai on the 20 is worth 120.

How a game goes

Round one is the 1, round two is the 2, and so on to the 7. Everyone throws three darts at the round number, and only that number scores anything at all.

A single is worth the number, a double is worth twice it, a treble three times. So the most you can take in round three is 18, and in round seven it is 42. Scores stay small early and the last two rounds decide almost everything.

Highest total after the seventh round wins. Unless somebody shanghais first, in which case the game stops there.

Round	Single	Double	Treble	Shanghai
1	1	2	3	6
2	2	4	6	12
3	3	6	9	18
4	4	8	12	24
5	5	10	15	30
6	6	12	18	36
7	7	14	21	42

A shanghai is all three in one visit, so it scores six times the number as well as winning the game.

The variants

1 to 7: The standard, and the shortest. Seven rounds, low numbers, quick game.
1 to 9: Two more rounds and rather more scoring. The usual choice if seven rounds feels too short.
15 to 20 and the bull: Played at the numbers you actually use in a game of 501, which makes it practice as well as a game. Scores are much higher.
Shanghai must be called: Some houses require you to announce you are going for it before you throw, which stops an accidental win.

Worth knowing

Go for the treble every time in the early rounds. A treble 2 is worth six points, which is nothing, but you are not really playing for points yet and the practice at hitting a specific small target is the whole value of the game.

From round five, count what your opponent needs. If they cannot catch you on points, they will go for the shanghai, and a player throwing for a shanghai is easy to spot because they stop aiming at the treble first.

If you have already hit a single and a double of the round number, throw the last dart at the treble whatever the score is. It is free.