146 Finish
Use this 146 checkout guide to pick the best route, manage first-dart misses, and keep your finish decisions calm in real matchplay.
- Exact double-out finish Protect familiar doubles to keep finishes repeatable under pressure.
- Standard and safer routes Choose route risk by miss coverage, pressure, and opponent position.
- Missed-dart recovery Have a clear recovery branch before dart one to avoid panic lines.
- Setup-first decision support When direct routes break, convert quickly to your best next leave.
🎯 Quick answer
Best route
T20 → T18 → D16
Safer route
T18 → T20 → D16
Key risk
Treble dependency: missing the first big treble usually turns this visit into setup mode.
🗺️ Finish flow diagram
Read this finish as a simple sequence: choose the route, react to dart one, then close on a legal double.
Start with 146 remaining.
Dart 1: aim T20.
Dart 2: aim T18.
Dart 3: aim D16.
Reach exactly 0 with a valid double to close the leg.
Standard line
T20 → T18 → D16
If dart 1 misses
Switch to the safer continuation: T18 → T20 → D16. If no clean finish remains, set up a preferred double for next visit.
📸 Finish board example
141–160 visual example: three darts grouped on pressure sectors.
Standard line on this score: T20 → T18 → D16
- Use board landmarks around your first target before throwing dart one.
- If dart one misses, switch to the safer continuation instead of forcing the original route.
- When no clean close remains, use dart three to leave a preferred double for next visit.
🎬 PDC finish example
Official PDC examples from the 141–160 high-pressure checkout zone.
Best checkouts post-Christmas (2023)
- Official PDC compilation with high-pressure finishing moments.
- Useful for score-band pattern recognition.
- Shows different player preferences on similar totals.
🎯 Main route
| Dart | Target | Points | Score left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T20 | 60 | 86 |
| 2 | T18 | 54 | 32 |
| 3 | D16 | 32 | Checkout |
🛡️ Safer route
| Dart | Target | Points | Score left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T18 | 54 | 92 |
| 2 | T20 | 60 | 32 |
| 3 | D16 | 32 | Checkout |
↪️ If you miss the first dart
- If T20 lands as 20, 126 remains: use dart two to leave a preferred double for next visit.
- If dart one scores 0, 146 remains: abandon forced finish attempts and prioritize a clean setup leave.
- Call the new total out loud after dart one so your second and third darts follow a valid route.
🎯 Bull decision
- Bull is optional here, not mandatory. Use it only if your bull grouping is strong under pressure.
- Standard double routes are often cleaner for repeatable checkout percentage.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Mistake 1
Forcing low-percentage recovery darts from 146 instead of switching to setup when the first route breaks.
Mistake 2
Ignoring bogey and awkward leaves after dart two.
Mistake 3
Rushing arithmetic and throwing dart three before confirming the legal finish.
🧩 Setup and preferred leaves
- If 146 cannot be finished after dart one, use dart two to protect a clean double (40, 32, 24, or 16).
- Prefer leaves that match your strongest finishing double rather than chasing maximum points blindly.
- Avoid leaving 1 in double-out formats; plan setup darts to keep even finish options.
🔁 Neighbor finishes
❓ 146 Finish FAQ
What is the standard 146 finish route?
A common route is T20 → T18 → D16. Route choice can still vary by preferred doubles and miss coverage.
Is there a safer 146 checkout option?
A safer alternative is T18 → T20 → D16, especially when you want cleaner backup options after a miss.
Should I force the finish from 146 if dart one misses?
Not always. If a high-probability two-dart close is gone, switch to setup mode and leave your best double for next visit.
Does bull matter on 146?
Bull can appear in valid routes, but only use it when the hit and miss outcomes both stay practical.
Build the full skill around this route
Checkout execution improves faster when rules, setup, and route choices work together.
🔎 Sources and Editorial Review
Written by
The Darts Fan editorial team
Reviewed against
WDF Playing Rules and PDC Rules of Darts
Last reviewed
March 2026
How this page was built
This guide combines official rules, standard matchplay conventions, and beginner-focused checkout explanations.
Editorial note
Routes can vary by player preference, but all examples here respect standard double-out logic.