Carrom Rules for Beginners: Scoring, Fouls and Covering the Queen
Learn carrom: the board and pieces, how to strike, pocketing and covering the queen, fouls and penalties, board scoring to 25 points, and aiming tips.
Carrom is the flicking game that fills verandas, clubs and cafés all over South Asia. You use a heavy disc called the striker to knock lighter pieces into the four corner pockets. It's easy to start and very hard to master. Here are the official-style rules, explained simply, plus a few aiming tips.
The board and pieces
- A square board with a pocket in each corner and a baseline in front of each player.
- 19 carrom men: 9 white, 9 black and 1 red queen.
- One striker per player, larger and heavier than the pieces.
- Pieces start in a tight circle in the centre with the queen in the middle.
Players and turns
Carrom is played by two players (opposite each other) or four players in two teams, partners sitting opposite. One side plays white, the other black. The player breaking first usually takes white.
On your turn, place the striker on your baseline and flick it with your finger. If you pocket one of your own pieces, you shoot again. If you pocket nothing, your turn ends.
The queen: pocket it, then cover it
The red queen is the most valuable piece, but it has a special rule:
- You can pocket the queen at any time after pocketing at least one of your own pieces (common rule).
- After pocketing the queen, you must cover it by pocketing one of your own pieces on the same turn or your next shot.
- If you fail to cover it, the queen is returned to the centre.
Fouls
Common fouls and their penalties:
| Foul | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Pocketing the striker | One of your pocketed pieces goes back to the centre; turn ends |
| Pocketing an opponent's piece | It stays pocketed (credited to them); turn ends |
| Striker not touching both baselines, or touching the diagonal arrow line | Re-take or lose your turn (club rules vary) |
| Pocketing your last piece while the queen is still on the board | Foul; in many rules the board is lost |
Scoring
A board ends when one side pockets all its pieces. The winner of the board scores:
- 1 point for each opponent piece still on the board, plus
- 3 points for the queen if they covered it (many rules stop counting the queen once a side reaches 22 points).
The first side to 25 points wins the game. Wikipedia's carrom article describes the International Carrom Federation rules in more detail.
5 aiming tips
- Use straight shots first. Pieces lined up with a pocket are free points; take them before trying anything fancy.
- Learn the cut shot. Hit a piece off-centre and it goes off at an angle. Aim the striker at the ghost point where the two edges would touch.
- Use the rebound. Bouncing the striker off the side cushion opens up pieces that are behind you.
- Control your power. Too hard and the striker follows the piece into the pocket, which is a foul.
- Leave the board tough. If you can't pocket, play a shot that leaves your opponent's pieces close to the cushions.
Play carrom anywhere
A good carrom app needs real physics so rebounds and cuts behave like the real board. Board Adda: Ludo Carrom Chess lets you play carrom offline against the computer, alongside Ludo and chess. Next, pick up some Ludo tips or learn a few quick chess traps.
FAQ
How many coins are there in carrom?
There are 19 pieces: 9 white, 9 black and 1 red queen, plus the striker.
What does it mean to cover the queen?
After you pocket the queen, you must pocket one of your own pieces straight after it. That "covers" the queen and keeps it pocketed.
How many points is the queen worth?
The queen is worth 3 points to the side that covers it and wins the board. In many rules it stops counting once a side reaches 22 points.
How many points do you need to win carrom?
A standard game is played to 25 points.
Board Adda: Ludo Carrom Chess
Ludo, carrom, chess and 10 more board games. Free, offline, on Android.
