86 Finish
Use this 86 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
T18 → D16
Safer route
Bull → D18
Key risk
Route discipline: chasing a low-percentage recovery dart often costs more than a controlled setup leave.
🗺️ 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 86 remaining.
Dart 1: aim T18.
Dart 2: aim D16.
Reach exactly 0 with a valid double to close the leg.
Standard line
T18 → D16
If dart 1 misses
Switch to the safer continuation: Bull → D18. If no clean finish remains, set up a preferred double for next visit.
📸 Finish board example
81–100 visual example: practical checkout grouping reference.
Standard line on this score: 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 practical 81–100 finishing situations.
Best checkouts from the 2019/20 World Championship
- Official PDC highlight pack with popular finish moments.
- Includes mixed route types and pressure situations.
- Good all-around visual reference for checkout habits.
🎯 Main route
| Dart | Target | Points | Score left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T18 | 54 | 32 |
| 2 | D16 | 32 | Checkout |
🛡️ Safer route
| Dart | Target | Points | Score left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bull | 50 | 36 |
| 2 | D18 | 36 | Checkout |
↪️ If you miss the first dart
- If T18 lands as 18, 68 remains: switch to T12 → D16.
- If dart one scores 0, 86 remains: re-enter with T18 → D16 rather than forcing a panic treble.
- Call the new total out loud after dart one so your second and third darts follow a valid route.
🎯 Bull decision
- Bull is viable on this score, but only when it keeps the best miss coverage for the remaining darts.
- Before aiming bull, confirm what happens if you hit 25 instead of 50.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Mistake 1
Forcing low-percentage recovery darts from 86 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 86 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
❓ 86 Finish FAQ
What is the standard 86 finish route?
A common route is T18 → D16. Route choice can still vary by preferred doubles and miss coverage.
Is there a safer 86 checkout option?
A safer alternative is Bull → D18, especially when you want cleaner backup options after a miss.
Should I force the finish from 86 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 86?
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.