What is carrom?
The carrom game is played on a square board with a pocket in each corner. Two players, or two teams, take turns flicking a striker to knock their own coins into the pockets. The first side to clear all of its coins wins the board.
Carrom is popular across South Asia, where it has been a family favourite in homes, clubs and community halls for generations. It is commonly traced back to India, although its exact origin is hard to pin down. The International Carrom Federation was formed in Chennai in 1988 and publishes standard rules for tournament play, while casual players often follow simpler house rules.
People enjoy carrom because it needs very little space, makes almost no noise, and mixes steady aim with a bit of planning. Children, parents and grandparents can sit around the same board and all take part.
The board and equipment
A carrom set is simple. Knowing the name of each part makes the rules much easier to follow.
- Board
- A flat, smooth wooden square with a raised frame around it. Pockets sit in the four corners.
- Pockets
- Net or cup pockets just wider than the striker, so a well-aimed coin drops in.
- Baselines
- Four narrow rectangles, one in front of each player, with a red circle at each end. The striker is placed here.
- Centre circle
- A small circle with a larger ring around it. The queen starts on the centre spot.
- Carrom men
- 9 white and 9 black coins, each about 3 cm wide. Each player or team owns one colour.
- Queen
- One red coin, worth extra in scoring and subject to special rules.
- Striker
- A slightly larger and heavier disc, about 4.1 cm wide and 15 g, used to hit the coins.
- Powder
- A pinch of fine boric powder spread on the surface so the coins glide.
Carrom board size
Tournament boards have a playing surface of about 74 cm (29 inches) on each side. Smaller boards are common at home and are perfectly fine for learning. Whatever the size, place the board on a steady table so it does not shake, and sit around it at a comfortable height.
Carrom board setup
A tidy setup makes every carrom game smoother and fairer. It takes about two minutes once you know the layout.
- Place the board. Put it on a steady table with a person on each side. Official rules ask players to stay seated while playing.
- Add powder. Sprinkle a little fine powder and spread it evenly with your palm so coins slide easily.
- Put the queen on the centre spot. The red coin goes exactly in the middle of the centre circle.
- Build the inner ring. Place six coins touching the queen, alternating white and black.
- Build the outer ring. Place the remaining twelve coins around the inner ring, again alternating colours.
- Choose colours. Toss to decide who opens. The opening player commonly takes white and the other player takes black.
How to play carrom
Each turn follows the same pattern. Once you have done it a few times it becomes automatic.
- Place the striker. Rest it on your baseline so it touches both lines of the baseline. It may fully cover a red circle or stay clear of it, but it should not touch the diagonal line.
- Aim. Choose a coin that you can send into a pocket and decide the path the striker will take.
- Flick. Use one finger to flick the striker. Do not push or drag it along the board.
- Check the result. If you pocketed one of your own coins, you take another turn. If not, the turn passes to your opponent.
- Repeat. Keep taking turns until one side has cleared all of its coins.
Carrom rules
These are the main rules used in most games. Local clubs and families sometimes change small details, so agree on the rules before you begin.
Taking turns
- You keep playing as long as you pocket one of your own coins on each strike.
- If you pocket an opponent's coin, it stays in the pocket in most versions and your turn ends.
- Sit down for the whole game and keep your hands off the coins except when placing the striker.
The queen and the cover
- In most versions you should pocket one of your own coins before you go for the queen.
- After pocketing the queen you must cover it by pocketing one of your own coins on your next strike.
- The queen and its cover cannot go in during the same strike.
- If you fail to cover the queen, it returns to the centre spot.
Common fouls
- Striker in a pocket. You lose your turn and one pocketed coin goes back onto the board.
- Coin off the board. The coin is replaced on or near the centre spot and your turn ends.
- Touching coins by hand. Moving any coin other than with the striker is a foul.
- Wrong striker position. If the striker is not properly on the baseline, the shot may be cancelled.
Official tournament rules are published by the International Carrom Federation and national federations. Check them if you plan to play in competitions.
Scoring in carrom
Scoring is simple. You play a board, count points, then start a new board until someone reaches the target.
| Situation | Points |
|---|---|
| You clear all your coins first | 1 point for each opposing coin still on the board |
| You also covered the queen | A bonus for the winner, commonly 3 points under official rules |
| Target to win the game | Often 25 points, or the best total after a set number of boards |
Casual groups often use their own totals, such as playing three boards and adding up the scores. That is fine as long as everyone agrees first.
Carrom shots every beginner should learn
Three shots cover most situations. Practise each one slowly before adding speed.
Direct shot
Line up the striker, the coin and the pocket. Flick straight through the middle of the coin so it follows the line into the pocket.
Cut shot
Hit the side of the coin instead of the centre. The coin moves off at an angle while the striker carries on a different way.
Rebound shot
Bounce the striker off a side wall to reach a coin that is blocked. The angle in is roughly the same as the angle out.
Holding and flicking
Rest your hand on the board edge or your baseline and keep your wrist loose. Curl the index or middle finger behind the striker and release it quickly. A smooth, short flick is more accurate than a hard swing.
Carrom tips for beginners
A carrom game rewards patience more than power. These habits help new players improve quickly.
- Start gently. Soft, controlled shots keep the coins close and avoid sending them off the board.
- Break the cluster early. Opening the centre makes pocketing easier for everyone, so use your first turns to create clear shots.
- Look one shot ahead. Think about where the striker will stop, not only where the coin will go.
- Protect your queen cover. Do not take the queen unless you have a safe coin to cover it with straight away.
- Use the whole baseline. Sliding the striker left or right changes the angle without changing your aim.
- Keep the board clean. Dust and damp slow the coins and make shots unpredictable.
- Watch your opponent's coins. Sometimes blocking a shot is better than playing your own.
- Practise alone. Set a single coin near a pocket and repeat the same shot ten times to build a steady flick.
Singles and doubles
In singles, two players sit opposite each other. In doubles, four players form two teams with partners sitting across from each other, and turns move around the board. Doubles adds teamwork, because you can leave a coin for your partner to pocket.
Looking after your board
Keep the board dry, store it flat and cover it when not in use. Wipe away old powder before adding fresh powder, and keep the striker and coins in a small bag so they do not get scratched.
Frequently asked questions
How many coins are used in carrom?
A standard set has 19 coins: 9 white, 9 black and 1 red queen. A separate, slightly larger striker is used to hit them.
Who plays first?
Players usually toss to decide. The player who opens commonly plays the white coins and the opponent plays black, but families can agree on their own rule.
Can I pocket the queen at any time?
In most versions you should first pocket one of your own coins. After pocketing the queen you must cover it by pocketing one of your own coins on your very next strike, otherwise the queen goes back to the centre.
What happens if the striker falls into a pocket?
It counts as a foul. You lose your turn and one of your pocketed coins goes back to the board. Check the exact penalty with your group before starting.
Is carrom hard to learn?
No. The rules fit on one page and most beginners can play a full board in their first session. Accuracy with the flick improves with regular practice.
What size is a standard board?
Tournament boards have a playing surface of about 74 cm (29 inches) on each side. Smaller boards are common at home and work well for learning.
Ready to play
Learn the board, keep the setup tidy and practise a few basic shots, and the carrom game becomes easy to enjoy with friends and family. Start with a slow practice round and add the rules one at a time.