271: The first time I heard of the 501-point rule

Ma Yuxuan and the others first registered with the waiter.

Then each of them received three darts and waited in line at the dart lane.

Li Qinghe had never heard of the so-called 501 scoring rules before.

After all, it was his first time encountering the dart competition lane.

Originally, he thought that darts were simply about who could hit the bullseye to win, and he could just throw a few ten-ring scores in one go to win.

But after seeing the colorful dartboard and hearing Ma Yuxuan's introduction, he realized that it represented completely different rules.

Dartboard

To make a long story short, with the 501 rule, everyone starts with 501 points.

The numbers marked on the outer ring of the board represent the score for that color block, and the red and green areas intersecting with the color block represent different multipliers.

The outermost red and green areas represent double points, and the middle red and green areas represent triple points.

The red center point represents 50 points, and the green ring outside the red dot represents 30 points.

The most challenging part of this rule is that you have to reduce 501 points to 0, but the last dart must hit a double-score area.

The international rule states that you cannot exceed 15 rounds, totaling 45 darts, to reduce the score to 0, with three darts per round.

However, the Big Lobster Bar's requirement is set according to the world's top dart players.

That is, 501 points must be reduced to 0 within three rounds, a total of 9 darts.

This tests not only eyesight and arm strength but also arithmetic.

Fortunately, the distance isn't too far; traditional dart distance is 2.37 meters, and the furthest is no more than 2.44 meters.

As for how to clear 501 points with 9 darts...

Ma Yuxuan had just told Li Qinghe the well-known best way to achieve it.

It's very simple: the first two rounds: throw 180 points per round (3 × 60, i.e., continuously hitting the triple 20-point area with darts), reducing a total of 360 points.

Third round: The remaining 141 points (501-360) need to be completed with 60 (triple 20) + 57 (triple 19) + 24 (double 12).

The last dart needs to hit double 12.

The method seems very simple, but the thrower must hit the corresponding score with every dart, without any mistakes.

If the target is not hit in the first two rounds, then the combination of scores for the subsequent round must be adjusted.

No wonder for Westerners, dart throwing is also a high-IQ activity.

Most people really can't calculate the scores, let alone adjust the subsequent hitting score combinations temporarily based on the scores hit.

Li Qinghe and Vu Linh Huong stood by, watching the excitement.

He felt that throwing these darts wasn't too difficult.

Because he once won a card-throwing skill in a lottery, even with ultra-thin playing cards, he could throw them wherever he wanted, and even use the sharp edges of new playing cards to kill people.

Heavier darts would be even easier; if not hitting the bullseye every time, then ninety-nine out of a hundred times.

Following behind Ma Yuxuan and his group, several Westerners also signed up.

Under the organization of the bar staff, a queue of over a dozen people lined up.

The dart area and the customer area were separated by a fine net.

As these contestants took the stage, the atmosphere of the entire bar instantly became lively.

This place isn't like those electronic music bars, with DJs and flashing disco balls.

If it weren't for the packed customers and the somewhat lively atmosphere...

This place would look no different from a small restaurant.

No wonder the owner specifically set up a dart area.

More importantly, the owner installed two cameras in the dart area.

One specifically films the dart thrower, and the other films the dartboard.

The dart-throwing process is projected onto the large screen in the middle of the bar.

It's evident that the layout here was specially designed; normally, this big screen is also used for watching ball games.

Now, the entire large screen is divided into two: one half shows the focused contestants, and the other half shows the dartboard.

No wonder Ma Yuxuan and his friends love to come here to play darts.

Regardless of whether they succeed in the challenge, every time they throw darts, they receive attention from everyone in the bar, like celebrities.

For them, after the monotonous training every day, this is a very relaxing way to unwind.

As a bar predominantly frequented by Westerners and Russians, you never know when some blonde girl or handsome blonde guy might take an interest.

In a bar with a majority of Caucasians, Vu Linh Huong's delicate, porcelain-like skin was also very striking here.

Many Westerners' eyes lit up when they first saw Vu Linh Huong, but after seeing her arm-in-arm with Li Qinghe, they rationally dismissed their thoughts.

Not all Westerners are 2 meters tall with 8-pack abs.

When facing an Asian man who was clearly capable of fighting, they also knew how to suppress their rampant hormones.

As the first to sign up, Ma Yuxuan and his group were at the very front.

Lin Yutong and Lin Yuman also followed behind, swaying with their tanned, dark wheat-colored skin.

Therefore, the sisters also attracted a lot of attention from Westerners.

Among Westerners who admire tanning, their skin tone is considered very healthy.

Ma Yuxuan shed his cool image from being a coach on the beach today, blowing kisses and flexing his muscles at the bar's camera.

He was met with a wave of loud cheers.

Regrettably, his dart skills did not match his bragging.

His three darts flew far from the ideal 180 points, meaning he would have to recalculate his score for the next two rounds.

So, as he returned to the end of the line, he mumbled to himself.

“Qinghe, have you ever played this?” Vu Linh Huong and Li Qinghe leaned together on the bar's tall railing.

“I'm hearing the rules for the first time.”

Li Qinghe frankly admitted that he had not played before.

“You should sign up for the next round. I think you have a chance to win that bottle of whiskey.”

Vu Linh Huong didn't know why she had so much confidence in Li Qinghe.

Perhaps this was that legendary sixth sense, intuition.

Li Qinghe, who had not originally intended to participate, decided to satisfy her when he saw Vu Linh Huong's enjoyment of the activity and her confidence in him, so he went to the waiter and signed up.

From the dart scene, one could see the difference between Asians and Westerners.

Asians were very cautious with each dart, carefully calculating their current score and the score they needed to achieve next.

Westerners, however, were much more carefree. They would throw all three darts first, then go back to the side and slowly calculate.

Therefore, different perceptions lead to different ideologies; this is the importance of cultural heritage.

Amidst the lively atmosphere of the bar, the contestants threw darts one after another at the dartboard.

Every dart that hit the target score caused a cheer from the crowd.

It was very regrettable, however, that none of the contestants in this round managed to reach the target, meaning, to reduce 501 points to 0 within three rounds of darts.

“Oh, just a little bit more. If my dart hadn't gone crooked, I would have achieved the goal today.”

Ma Yuxuan, walking out of the dart area, had a sense of regret, as if he could almost reach it if he just stretched a little.

“Old Ma, put away that pretentious expression, and we'll still be good friends. Was that 'a little bit' off? It was miles off, okay?”

The fierce Lin Yuman slapped Ma Yuxuan hard on the shoulder, making the bragging straight man grimace.

“Qinghe, hurry up, it's your turn!” Vu Linh Huong cheered, pushing Li Qinghe forward. Before he entered the dart area, she gave him a passionate kiss.