A SHANGHAI finish is most probably the tidiest checkout there is in darts, aside from maybe three bullseyes or a ‘big fish’ 170.
Here we take a look at what a Shanghai finish involves and all the possible variations.
A Shanghai finish in darts is a unique and challenging scoring achievement that involves hitting all three scoring sections of a single number in one turn to win the game: the single, double and treble.
While most often associated with the 120-point finish using the 20, a Shanghai finish can actually occur on any number.
The most classic example of a Shanghai finish is the 120-point checkout, which involves:
However, other numbers can also be used to produce a Shanghai finish, such as:
In some dart games, particularly electronic dart machines, there’s a specific game called “Shanghai”.
This involves players aiming for different numbers in sequence while going around the whole board.
In these games, achieving an actual Shanghai — single, treble and double — can result in an automatic win.
The term “Shanghai” has intriguing origins.
Some theories suggest it comes from nautical slang, referencing the practice of unexpectedly interrupting someone’s plans by “Shanghaiing” them into service.
Another contends it originated from “Shanghai Rummy” — a card game where the object is to get three of a kind or three sets of three cards.
Cribbage boards were even used as an early scoring device for games of 301.
Sailors and soldiers playing darts in pubs are believed to have popularised the term.
Shanghai finishes are relatively rare in professional play, especially on the 20.
They are more generally discussed as a theoretical or practice achievement rather than frequently occurring in high-stakes matches.
In professional darts, players typically aim for the most efficient checkout routes, which rarely involve intentionally hitting a single when a treble is available.
This makes genuine Shanghai finishes in top-level competition quite uncommon.
