The idea
A house game — everyone against everyone, five lives each. One target is live at a time, and if you cannot hit it, you lose a life.
Getting started
Pick everybody, throw one dart each at the bull, then tap the names closest-first — that is the throwing order. The opening target is FAT 6: the fat outer single of the 6.
Your turn
You get three darts to hit the live target. Hit it, and the next dart that hits the board sets the next target — tap wherever it landed and that is what the player after you has to hit. If the last of your three darts does not hit the board, you lose a life.
A target can be any of these: a FAT single (outside the triple ring), a SKINNY single (inside it), any double, any triple, or a bull. Fat 20 and skinny 20 are different targets, so aim carefully.
Missing
Never hit the target with your three? Press 💔 Lose a life. Same story if you hit the target but that last dart misses the board — no new target, so it costs you a life.
Either way the target stays live for the next player — and it is still sitting there when it comes back around to you.
Getting knocked out
Lose all five and lightning takes your name off the board. Play carries on with everyone left.
Winning
Last player standing. Set something nasty and you can bleed the whole table dry.
How to win at Fat 6
The target you set is your weapon. After you hit the live target, your next dart that lands sets what the player after you must hit. A skinny single, a small double or the bull is far harder than a fat single.
But you have to hit it yourself. If your setting dart lands somewhere nasty, you still have to hit your own targets on later turns. A target you can hit reliably and your opponent cannot is the sweet spot.
Protect your last dart. If your final dart misses the board, you lose a life even if you hit the target earlier. Near the end, a safe setting dart beats a clever one.
Variations and house rules
Fat 6 is a house game, so rules drift from bar to bar. Dart Keeper plays five lives each, opening on the fat 6, with fat and skinny singles counted as different targets. Common changes:
More or fewer lives. Three lives for a quick game, or more for a long night.
Opening target. Some groups open on the bull or on a random number.
Fat 6 questions
What is the "fat" part of a dart number?
The large single area between the outer double ring and the treble ring. The "skinny" single is the narrow band between the treble ring and the bull.
How do you lose a life in Fat 6?
Miss the live target with all three darts, or hit it but have your last dart miss the board so no new target is set.
How do you win Fat 6?
Be the last player with lives remaining.
DART KEEPER
