The numbers on a dartboard have an unusual pattern but there is a good reason for the specific ordering.
While there was a time where professionals played on the 'Quadro' board - giving darts stars the chance to achieve a maximum score of 240 as quadruples were possible through an extra ring, a standard dartboard typically sees single number 20, treble and double in the most central area.
The bullseye and outer bull area are then positioned just below. But the number 20 is near to five and one and then on the opposite side you have 19, three or seven - meaning if you go for the big trebles and miss you could well end up scoring low.
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When you think of it, the order of the numbers on a standard dartboard don't actually make a great deal of sense. There's no link between odd and even numbers as they aren't different colours
However, it turns out that there is a complex and interesting an explanation for the arrangement.
The man responsible for the numbering is commonly credited to be carpenter Brian Gamlin, in 1896 in Lancashire.
As per DartHelp.com, there was huge debate as to whether whether darts was a game which revolved around skill or was based on chance. With gambling laws that were in place at the time, darts had to be on one side and not somewhere in between.
The website states that the number of ways you can arrange all 20 numbers on the board is a ridiculous 2.43 quintillion.
The design from Gamlin was created to basically even out the probability of any one number being singled out and in turn made darts an unbelievable test of skill.
While for years it has been synonymous with pub culture, the amount of practice required is not to be taken lightly and there is little margin for error in getting around the board.
That's why the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler should be held in such high regard for what they are able to do on the oche.
The higher numbers being between the smaller digits, such as the treble 18 slotting in the middle of one and four - is said to have been done on purpose to increase margin of error when going for a big number
Topics: Darts
Josh Lawless