Carrom Board Game

Carrom is a tabletop game that originated in South Asia. The game is immensely popular in India, and it goes by many different names in different languages. Many clubs and cafés in South Asia organize competitions regularly. The Carrom board game is a popular board game among families, especially children, and at social gatherings. Different areas have different standards and carrom board rules. During the early twentieth century, it became extremely popular in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

History of Carrom Board Games

The carrom game has been played in its current form for about 200 years, while games of a similar sort have been played for thousands of years under various names.
Some say it came from India, while others say it came from Portugal or possibly Burma.
Carrom is spelled in a variety of ways, including carom, carum, karom, and kairam.
While this may be confusing, it just reflects the game's underlying tendency and nature, in which tradition and history reveal variation and differences.
Although no one knows when the first game of carrom in the style we know today was played, we do know when the word "carrom" was first used.

How Did Carrom Get Its Name?

The word "carrom" is thought to have originated in Timor, Southeast Asia.
It then traveled with the Portuguese, who thought it to be a useful description of India's Malabar coast.
It's also the name of a delectable fruit (star fruit), and by the late eighteenth century, the English-speaking world had heard of it about "carrom billiards," a game played on a snooker-style table with no pockets.
After a little more time passes, the word "carrom" comes to mean "striking one thing onto another" in English, thanks to the growing popularity of billiards.
With time, the word "carrom" gets replaced by the now-familiar "canon" in English usage.
By the time the word "canon" entered the English language, "carom" had been the traditional name for several games that would later provide the foundation of the modern version of the game.

Carrom Board Equipments

A netted pocket in each corner of a square plywood board with a wooden frame to play an outdoor or indoor game carrom.
A square plywood board with screen-printed lines and patterns is used as the playing surface, which is polished for smooth, low friction, and long-lasting finish.
74 cm × 74 cm, or 29′′ square, is the usual playing area.
Smaller sizes are appropriate for children, while larger sizes are ideal for those who are already familiar with the game and want to try something new, if unconventional.
Border frame widths range from 1.25′′ (32 mm) to 3.00′′ (75 mm), with the thicker and heavier boards being more expensive and significantly better to play on because of the better rebound or cannon effect generated.
Nets are placed beneath the four pockets or holes, one in each corner of the board, to retain the pocketed carrom men or striker.

Bracings

Underneath the board's surface, wooden bracing supports are fastened to both the plywood board and the border frame, reinforcing the playing surface and preventing warping.

Carrom Men

Carrom men are a set of nineteen light wooden or acrylic discs or coins - nine white, nine black, and one red, known as the Queen.
While traditional wooden carrom men are still used, newer acrylic or plastic counterparts are lighter and less abrasive, allowing for a faster game.
It takes some getting accustomed to the acrylic ones if you've always played with wooden ones — it's almost like driving an automatic car after years of driving a manual!

Carrom Striker

To "strike" the coins, an acrylic disc, bigger and heavier than the coins were utilized.
Because there are so many different types of strikers, choosing one based on physical appearance is a personal decision.
They are available in a variety of colors, ranging from ivory to black, and feature varied pictures, engravings, and other details.
Because a mediocre striker can completely detract from the game, it's critical to choose high-quality strikers with a smooth surface for low friction and maximum impact.

Carrom Powder

To reduce friction, carrom powder is sprinkled on the board's surface, allowing for
smoother and faster play.
Carrom powder can be divided into two sorts in general.
The conventional powder, which is based on boric acid, is effective at reducing friction.
In addition, a new type of Telfon-based extremely fine or "Disco" powder, typically sold in small plastic bottles, that greatly improves performance is currently available at a few outlets.
It is vital to note that the "Disco" powder is made up of microspheres that act as rollers, whereas the boric-based powder reduces friction.
Although the latter significantly boosts speed, it is abrasive and can harm the board surface over time.
If you are a carrom lover, the best of carrom tricks is to spray a tiny amount of boric powder on your board before each game for best performance and board longevity, and never use two different types of powders at the same time.
If you want to move from one powder to another, wipe off the old powder entirely using a soft cloth before applying the new powder.

Carrom Game Variants

Carrom is a popular board game in India, and it is unlikely that anyone hasn't seen or heard of it. For years, carrom was an essential component of summer vacations, family reunions, and social activities. With the passage of time and technological improvements, the carrom game has evolved into a popular online gaming platform with a variety of carrom board game versions. While the rules and action in online carrom differ drastically, the games nevertheless guarantee to be entertaining.

Carrom, also known as Karrom, is a popular game in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, with many players competing in carrom competitions. Despite its popularity, many of you may not be familiar with the various carrom game varieties.

Total Point Carrom.
Family Point Carrom.
Point Carrom.
Duboo.
Professional Carrom.
Tokyu-Ban.

Let us have a look at the carrom board variations in detail below.

Carrom Board Game Variations

While the ICF, the regulatory organization of carrom, has established standard rules and regulations, some regions do not adhere to all of the ICF's carrom rules and laws, resulting in various variations. Here are some fascinating game versions.

Total Point Carrom

When you play carrom on a real board in India, you are playing the total point variation of the game.
Total point is a game in which players are allowed to pocket any pucks or carrom men for fun and entertainment.
Each black carrom man is worth 5 points, whereas each white carrom man is worth 10 points.
The red queen is worth 50 points, and it must be covered by a carrom man immediately after it is pocketed.
All nine white and black carrom men are piled up in the center of the board at the start of the game, with the queen on top.
If he pockets the carrom men, a player continues to strike them.
The turn is passed to the next player if a player fails to pocket a carrom man.
As per the carrom board rules, the round is won by the player who scores the most points depending on the carrom men he or she has potted.
In the next round, the player with the fewest carrom men must place all the carrom men on the board.
The other players must match the carrom on the board's score and place an equal number of carrom on the board.
The players keep playing until one of them wins all the carrom men on the board.

Family-Point Carrom

The Family-Point Carrom, also known as the Simple-Point Carrom, is a carrom game variation that is popular among young and old, as well as when playing with an odd number of participants.
In many parts of South Asia, this variety is quite popular.
A player can pocket any carrom men, regardless of color, in this form as well.
The goal of the game is like that of traditional carrom: flick the striker and pocket the carrom men in any of the four pockets.
While most of the rules are like classic carrom, there are a few differences in this variation:

Each of the black carrom men is worth 5 points, the white carrom men are for 10 points, and the queen is worth 25 points.
To obtain the queen's points, the player must pocket carrom men of any color after pocketing the queen.
If the player does not cover the queen, she is returned to the board.
The player with the most points wins in the end.

Carrom Point

The Point Carrom variation is popular with youngsters and is widely played throughout East Asia. While the gameplay is identical to family-point carrom, some of the rules of this carrom game version are as follows:

Pucks of any color can be pocketed by players.
The black pucks each have one point, the white pucks have one point, and the queen has three points.
If a player pockets a queen, he or she must cover the queen with a puck in the next attack.
The first player to score 21 points is the winner.
If none of the players can score a total of 21 points, the person with the most points wins.
If the score is tied, the players must play a tie-breaker round, in which the tied players choose a color and pocket carrom men of a different hue.

Duboo

Duboo is a carrom variant that is primarily played in Karachi, Pakistan's largest metropolis.
The only distinctions in this sort of version are that the board is usually larger than a standard carrom board, and the striker is slid rather than flicked to hit the pucks

Professional Carrom

Each player is assigned a color in the Professional Carrom version, and they can only pocket pucks of that color. This variant's rules are generally followed in the United Kingdom and India, and some of them are identical to those of the online carrom game on various online gaming platforms. Here are some of the rules that this version follows:

The game has a total of 29 points, but if a player's score is already 21, he or she cannot score any more points for covering the queen.
The queen can be pocketed at any point during the game, but it must be done before the final puck. The queen and cover, on the other hand, cannot be pocketed in the same pocket.
For each of the opponent's pucks on the board, the game-winner receives one point, and three points if the winner covers the queen.
To pocket the pucks, players can use any striking style they like.
A player loses one puck when he or she steals a striker.
The queen is immediately covered if a queen and allocated puck are pocketed in the same shot.
A player must incur a penalty if he or she touches the last puck directly before the queen.

Tokyu-Ban

Carrom was first brought to Japan in the early twentieth century.
Tokyu-ban was the name of the game that became famous during the Showa period.
Tokyu-ban refers to either a throw ball or a combat ball board.
Carrom, on the other hand, is still popular in Hikone, Shiga.
The carrom game varieties listed here are those that are widely played in various countries and the Carrom variant.

How to Play Carrom Board Game?

Find below how to play carrom board.

The goal is to flick your Striker at the Carrom Men / Coins with your finger, causing them to fall into one of the four corner pockets. The winner is the player who collects all coins and the queen first.

Setting up the Carrom Board

Place your Carrom Board 60-70cm off the floor on a level surface.
Dust the Board lightly with Carrom Powder and set the Queen in the center circle in the middle.
Arrange the Carrom Men/Coins in a circle around the Queen, alternating dark and light pieces.
Decide who will take the first turn.
You might toss a coin or estimate which hand your opponent is holding their striker in to do this.

The First Move in Carrom: How to Break

The opening shot of the game is referred to as breaking.
The goal is to spread the Carrom Men around the Board and away from the Queen, like Billiards.
By flicking your Striker between the rectangular baselines, you can take the break shot.
Both baselines must be touched by the Striker, however, none of the diagonal lines must be touched.
If a player fails to get the Striker to cross both baselines when breaking, they can try again up to three times before the turn is passed to the opposition.
To guarantee that your striker glides smoothly across the board, use a high-quality Carrom Powder.
If a player pots a Coin in the break, they can play for that color again and take another shot.
A player's Coin pot entitles them to an extra shot after each pot.
It is possible to win the game without firing a single shot at your opponent.
If a player fails to pot his or her color coin in a shot, the Striker is passed to the opposing player or team.

Carrom Men

The following regulations, or Carrom Laws as they are more often known, control the potting of the Carrom Men.
The Striker can hit Carrom Men who are not touching the player's baseline or who is behind the baseline.
Only a Striker that has bounced off the side of the Carrom Board or another Carrom piece can hit the Carrom Men if they are touching or in front of the baseline.
You will be penalized if you strike your last piece just before the Queen.
If a Carrom piece is knocked off the board during a player's turn, it is restored to the center of the board.
Any pieces that overlap or stay on their edges are left alone.
If a piece is already in the center of the board, it should be returned so that it touches as much of the red center circle as feasible.
If the center circle is entirely covered, the piece is placed behind the red circle facing the player who will strike next.
If a player strikes their last Carrom man on the board before the Queen, they will be penalized.
A player loses their turn if they pot their opponent's color Carrom piece.
If a player sinks their opponent's last piece, the player loses the board and loses three points.
If a player pots his or her last Carrom piece before the Queen, the board is lost and three points are subtracted from their overall score.
The Carrom men, if correctly pocketed, stay in the pocket unless they are owing to the other player.

How to Cover the Queen Effortlessly

A player must first pocket and cover their color Coin before pocketing and covering the Queen.
Then pocket the Queen on their next turn.

If a player pockets a Queen on their first turn, the Queen is returned to the board's center.
The board will be won by the person who sinks all of their Coins after a player has pocketed and appropriately covered the Queen.

Making use of Your Striker

Each shot must be taken with the player's Striker.
The Striker must sit precisely in front of the player, between the baselines.
If the Striker fails to cross both lines, the player has three chances before losing their turn.
The Striker must cross the front baseline forwards; no flicking backward or horizontally is permitted.
If the Striker is pocketed accidentally during a turn, the player owes the opposition a Carrom Coin and must restore one of their colors to the board's center.
If a player has not yet pocketed any Carrom Coins in the game, they will owe the other player a Coin, which they must repay as soon as they do.

Foul

In Carrom, what is a foul?

The following actions are all considered fouls:

If a player pockets an opponent's piece, it is known as pocketing the striker.
If a piece falls off the board, the game is over.
If a player pockets his or her final piece before the Queen has been covered, the game is ended.
Before taking a shot, the player places the striker wrongly.
A player's arm crosses the board's diagonal foul line.
If a player fails to break correctly on his or her first three attempts, the game is over.
In a game of Carrom, the goal is to score as many points as possible.

Scoring System

The points are tallied at the end of the game, and the player with the most wins.
One point is awarded for each Carrom Coin.
For each of their opponent's pieces left on the board, the player who has won the board receives an additional point.
A bonus of 5 points is awarded to the player who appropriately covered the Queen
A total of 29 points are scored in each game.
After having a look at how to play a carrom board game, let us have a look at the carrom rules.

Carrom Rules

To get started with the game, most casual players will find the following simplified carrom rules very helpful.
However, if needed, the International Carrom Federation's formal professional Carrom Laws are also available.

Players

Carrom can be played by two to four persons in most cases.
When there are two players, they sit opposite each other, whereas when there are four players, the opposite two are partners.

Gameplay

However, you can play three players against each other for points as an exemption.
Arrange the carrom men on the carrom board's center circle, with the red 'queen' in the center, as shown in the illustration.
The whites should be arranged in a "Y" shape, with two sides pointing directly at the corner pockets.
Each player takes a seat on one side of the board and can only strike from there.
The contestant who is playing white 'breaks' or plays first, which is determined by a coin flip.
The goal of carrom is to sink all of your carrom men in any of the pockets before your opponent, using the heavier striker.
Your turn will continue as long as you keep sinking your carrom men — all combinations are allowed, and luck shots count.

Rules for Using the Striker

The striker must touch both 'base lines' when it is placed on the board to shoot, either completely covering the end circle or not touching it at all.
The striker is not allowed to make contact with the diagonal arrow line.
Shooting styles vary; whatever 'grip' works best for you as long as you 'flick' the striker and don't force it is fine.
In general, it's preferable to arrange your body such that you can see your target line while shooting comfortably; you can't shift or get out of your chair.
You can utilize your index finger, middle finger, or even the 'scissors' shot for forwarding shots.
Before shooting, make sure the striker is in line by touching it with your fingernail. This will help you increase your accuracy and precision.
You can only use your thumb or the scissors technique for 'back-shots.'
Except for your hand, no part of your body is allowed to cross the imaginary diagonal line, nor is your elbow allowed to protrude over the frame in front of you.
You may not even leave your region with your feet or knees.
You can pocket the red 'queen' at any time after the first piece.
However, it must be sunk before the last one. After pocketing the queen, you must sink one of your carrom men into any pocket in the following shot.
You have to cover the queen with one more successful shot, or the queen will be returned to the center The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
The first player to clear all of their carrom men after the queen is covered wins the 'board.' After the queen is covered, the first player to clear all of their carrom men wins the 'board.'
The winner of a board receives one point for each of the opponent's remaining carrom men at the end of the game, as well as three points if the queen is covered by the winner, if covered by the loser, no one gets those points.
After your score hits 22, no more points are collected for the queen.
A game is made up of 25 points or less.
A game is made up of either 25 points or eight boards, depending on which comes first.
You lose one piece and your turn if you sink the striker. If you sink a piece in the same shot, though, two more rise up and you have to fire again.
Your opponent places the due piece(s) within the center circle after sinking the striker.
You owe one if you haven't already sunk one.
If you sink one of your carrom men while aiming for the queen, the queen is automatically covered, regardless of who went first.
A piece that jumps off the board is placed in the center.
If pieces rest on their ends or overlap, they are left alone.
When replacing the queen or a jumped piece, if the central location is partially covered, the piece should cover as much red as feasible.
If the piece is completely covered, it is placed behind the red spot opposite the next player.
You lose your turn if you sink your opponent's piece.
You lose the board and three points if you sink their final piece.
You lose the board, three points, and one point for each of your opponent's pieces remaining if you sink your last piece before the queen.
Continue if the striker does not exit both lines.
Before losing your turn, you have three chances to break.

Poker Vs Carrom

Carrom is enjoyed by the majority of the Indian folks. It is a common game in India. On the other hand, Poker is a game that is popular in the West. It is gaining popularity in India. Carrom is a board game, whereas poker is a card game.

Carrom games are mainly played for fun. There are many real money carrom board online games too. Poker is a real money game and casino game. Players compete with their opponents to win the prize pool in online poker. Indians are now choosing online poker games to earn real money and have a thrilling experience.

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Carrom Game FAQs

1.) What is the rules of carrom?

A player wins if they are the first to collect all of the pieces of their selected color.

2.) Is it Carroms or carrom?

The spelling ‘carrom’ is internationally accepted.

3.) Is carrom a good game?

Yes. Carrom is a good game.

4.) Which country invented carrom?

Carrom originated in India.

5.) Which carrom board is best?

When placed horizontally, a decent carrom board should not wobble and should not have sharp edges, protruding nails, or pinheads underneath. Other criteria include a smooth feel, a well-finished appearance, and flawlessly round edges.