In darts, being “in the madhouse” means you’re left needing a double 1 (that is, you have 2 points remaining).
Here’s why it’s called that:
- To win a leg, you must finish on a double.
- When you have 2 points left, the only possible checkout is Double 1 — the narrowest and most nerve-wracking target on the board.
- If you miss and hit a single 1, your score goes to 1, which means you can’t finish until your next turn (since you can’t score half a point). You’ll have to “bust” your score and start the leg again from 2.
It’s often considered a difficult and nerve-wracking shot because if you miss, the dart can land outside the scoring area, and if you hit a single 1, you still need to hit double 1 to finish. The name “madhouse” reflects the frustration and tension players often feel when they’re left with this checkout.
In short – “In the madhouse” = needing Double 1 (2 points left) — a small target that drives players crazy!
Watch a madhouse leg in darts
Credit: SportsAllRounder
Buy darts tickets and be there live – hopefully no madhouse finishes for you!