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Carrom

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  • Carrom is one of the most favored and popular indoor games the world.
  • It consists of the square board (known as the carrom board).
  • 9 white discs, 9 black discs (collectively known as the carrom men), 1 red disc (known as the queen) and 1 acrylic disc (known as striker).
  • This game is for 2 or 4 (two teams) players.
  • The player or the team that pockets all his carrom pieces (carrom men) is the winner.
  • It is not mandatory for the winner to pocket the queen.

Equipments:
Carrom Board

•    The playing surface of the Carrom Board should be of plywood or of any other wood equally smooth.
•    It should not be less than 8mm in thickness and of a minimum of 73.5 cm and maximum of 74 cm square.

Centre Circle

•    Exactly in the centre of the Carrom Board there shall be a circle of 3.18 cm in diameter drawn black in colour with admissible variation of 0.16 cm.

Outer Circle

•    A circle of 17.00 cm in diameter with the centre point of the Carrom Board.  

Carrommen

•    The diameter of a Carrommen shall not be more than3.18 cm and not less than 3.02 cm.
•    There shall be of not less than 0.70 cm and not more than 0.90 cm in Carromman thickness.

Striker

•    The Striker shall be smooth and round in diameter of not more than 4.13cm and weight not more than 15.00 grams.
 
Rules

  • The queen is placed at the center of the carrom board with six pieces encircling the queen; in alternate white and black order.
  • On the outer side of the circle, the remaining 12 pieces are placed, again in the alternate white and black order.
  • The pattern should be made such that the white pieces form a 'Y' with the queen as the center and the two upper segments directing to the pockets.
  • In a single game, rival participants sit opposite to each other; whereas in a doubles game, players of the same team sit opposite to each other.
  • The striker is used to shoot the other pieces in the game. In order to shoot the carrom men, the striker should be placed on the base lines (the parallel lines on every side of the board) such that it should touch both the lines.
  • If the striker is placed on the red circle at the end of the base lines; the striker should either completely cover the circle or not touch it at all.
  • The single player or the team has to strike only pieces of one single color throughout the game and pocket them as early as possible.
  • Every player has a single chance in a round. But, if he pockets a piece, he gets another consecutive chance.
  • The queen can be potted at any time at the game, after pocketing the first piece.
  • Once the queen is pocketed, the respective player should immediately pocket one of his carrom men to 'cover' the queen.
  • Failing to do so, the queen is put back on the board on the center spot. 

Regulations

  • If the striker goes into the pocket, the player loses a chance and one of his pocketed pieces.
  • If a piece and the striker goes into the pocket at the same time, then player loses two of his pocketed pieces, but gets a chance to shoot again.
  • The player is not allowed to move or get up from his chair while shooting.
  • If a piece falls off from the carrom board, it should be placed at the center.
  • Only the players' wrist is allowed to touch the carrom board and not any other part of the body or hand.
  • Players are not allowed to change sides once the game has begun.
  • If the striker fails to leave both the lines, i.e. does not move in a single strike, the player gets 3 chances before he loses his turn.
  • The thumb can be used for backward shots or the player can make use of rebound shots to strike the pieces touching the player's baseline.

Score

  • A game comprises of 25 points or 8 boards (whichever comes first).
  • Once a player or the team pockets all the pieces, he is awarded points equal to the number of pieces of the opponent's team that are still left on the board.
  • If the winning player or team has pocketed the queen, they get an extra 3 points.
  • On the other hand, if the player pockets the opponent's last piece, he loses the board and also loses 3 points.
  • Similarly, if a player pockets his last piece before the queen, he loses the board, 3 points and also all the points that are equal to the number of his opponent's pieces left on the board.

Governing Body

  • International Carrom Federation
  • All India Carrom Federation(for India)

Major Championship

  • World Cup Carrom
  • Swiss League
  • US Open
  • Euro Cup

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