What Carrom Is
Carrom is a tabletop game in which players flick a striker across a square board to knock small discs, called carrom men or coins, into pockets at the corners. It is widely played in South Asia and is generally traced to India, though its exact origins are not certain. It is played as singles or as doubles with partners.
Equipment
- A square wooden board with a pocket in each corner and a smooth surface.
- 9 white coins, 9 black coins and 1 red coin called the queen.
- One striker per player, a slightly larger disc used to hit the coins.
- Fine powder to keep the surface slick.
Setup
The coins are arranged in the center of the board in a set pattern with the queen in the middle, surrounded by coins that alternate colors. Players are assigned a color: commonly one player takes white and the other black. In many rule sets, the player with white goes first (the break), and the players take turns after that. Board and arrangement details can differ slightly between rule sets.
Taking Your Turn
- Place the striker on your baseline, the line in front of you, within the marked area.
- Flick the striker with your finger to hit the coins. You may not push it.
- Aim to pocket coins of your own color.
- If you pocket one of your coins, you shoot again. If not, play passes to your opponent.
The Queen and Covering
The queen is worth the most. Typically, you may pocket the queen and must then “cover” it by pocketing one of your own coins on the same turn, immediately afterward. If you fail to cover the queen, it is placed back at the center. Some rule sets also say the queen cannot be pocketed before you have pocketed one of your own coins. Check your local rules.
Fouls and Penalties
Fouls are often called dues. Common ones include:
- Pocketing the striker, which usually means one of your already pocketed coins is returned to the board.
- Pocketing an opponent’s coin, which typically means you lose your turn, and in many rule sets the coin stays pocketed.
- Placing the striker incorrectly on the baseline or touching coins before the shot.
- Failing to cover the queen.
Penalties differ between informal and tournament rules, so decide before you start.
Scoring and Winning
A round ends when one player has pocketed all of their coins. Common scoring is one point for each of the opponent’s coins left on the board, with the queen worth additional points if it was properly covered by that player. A match is generally played to a target score across multiple boards. Tournament rules set specific totals, so check them if you are playing formally.
Common Shots
- Direct shot: striking a coin straight into a pocket.
- Rebound shot: bouncing the striker or coin off the side of the board.
- Cut shot: hitting a coin on its side to send it at an angle.
- Break: the opening shot that scatters the cluster in the center.
FAQ
Which country invented carrom? India is the country most often credited, but the history is not fully documented.
Is carrom haram in Islam? Opinions on games can differ between scholars and communities, and a definitive answer is best sought from a trusted religious authority.
Can we take the queen first? Rules vary. In many rule sets you can pocket it early, but you must cover it. Others require you to pocket one of your own coins first.
If you like carrom, you may enjoy crokinole, another finger-flicking game on a round board.