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Every pub where darts is played can benefit by having a ladder, which serves as a leader
board, and a launch pad for challenges. It let’s everyone in the pub know at a glance who the big dogs are, and invites challenges from players new to
the pub. I cobbled one together for my pub with a few pieces of strapping and some nails, never losing sight of the fact that it’s supposed to resemble a
ladder. The idea is to have rungs that can be moved up or down the ladder as matches are played and positions have been established.
 The first ladder installed in my pub was greeted with such
enthusiasm that I was compelled to build a second one. Thus our pub had “A” flight and “B” flight ladders, each with ten positions.
To get on the ladder, a player first purchased a rung – a wooden block that slides in and
out of the ladder. One of the unanticipated pleasures of the ladder was the way players took to personalizing their rungs, or blocks with paint, carving, and
ornamentation.
All players throwing 15 darts for score determined the initial ranking. Then players could
challenge one or two positions above their own. If the challenger won, he exchanged positions on the ladder with his defeated opponent. If the
challenger lost, he exchanged places with the player below, who thereby climbs a rung without playing. Our challenge match consisted of best of 5
games, the first game being 301 (double in double out), the second Cricket, the third 501 (straight start, double out), the fourth (if necessary) Golf, and the
fifth (if necessary) Double Down.
Players on the ladder were required to play at least one match a month, and
any challenge had to be defended within one week. Each player had a contact number or an e-mail address on the back of his block to facilitate
challenges.
The player issuing the challenge buys a match scorecard at the bar for $1.00.
The money collected is used to make pay outs for special achievements. A Ton-80 is worth $10, ditto a Nine Mark in Cricket, $5 for a 140 or a Bull’s-Eye
finish in ’01, three bulls in Cricket, any on in ’01 over 120 and any close over 120. The amount of payouts can be adjusted up or down to match the
income from challenges, or tailored to suit the level of play in a given pub.
To keep the ladder running and healthy, someone has to keep records, make
payouts and enforce the rules, which is really no trouble at all. If you have
rules posted, and update a weekly ladder report, the level of participation is apt to be high, and the ladder will practically govern itself.
A House Ladder is a great format for beginning players who are looking to
improve. They can start at the bottom of the ladder where the competition is not apt to be quite as fierce as it is at the top. Matches for the top positions
often draw spectators. Even so, a ladder match in our pub proved to be more relaxed than league play. The addition of Golf and Double Down were a
refreshing change of pace for most.
The nice thing about the ladder and the ladder match format is that it can be
tailored to suit the play in any given pub. All that’s needed is a little imagination and a dash of enthusiasm.
Captain Fred Everson is author of A Dart Player’s Guide to Winning Darts,
which is available from Bull’s-Eye News, PO Box 321, Pickerington, OH 43147 or right here online  for $13.95 plus $5.95 for shipping and
handling. Or you can call 1.800.688.3278 and use your Mastercard or Visa to order your copy.
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