How to Play Carrom
Welcome to the exciting world of Carrom Board, a classic tabletop game that mixes elements of pool and checkers, offering a fun and enjoyable experience for players of all levels. Whether you're a newcomer or have some experience, this guide will help you navigate the basics and make the most of your Elite Carrom Board Set.
Overview
Carrom is played by 2 to 4 players on a square wooden board with four corner pockets. The objective is to skillfully shoot the striker at the coins, aiming to pocket all assigned coins to score the most points. Players take turns shooting the striker from their designated area by flicking their fingers, adhering to the baselines and foul lines. Victory goes to the player or team with the highest score at the game's conclusion.
Initial Setup
Game Board Placement: Begin by positioning the Carrom Board on a flat surface, such as a table, ensuring it is above ground level. Each player should sit in front of their designated side.
Game Pieces Configuration: In a standard game, the setup includes 9 white pieces, 9 black pieces, and 1 red piece. Arrange them in the center of the board with the red piece in the middle and the other pieces alternating by color around the red piece as shown below.
Gameplay
Starting a Game: Determine First Player: Decide which player or team takes the first turn. The first player targets the white pieces, while the opposing player or team targets the black pieces.
Initial Break: The player targeting the white pieces "breaks" the central group in the middle, similar to pool. If they successfully sink any white piece, their turn continues. If no white pieces are sunk, it becomes the next player's turn.
Player Positioning: Each player must sit in front of their designated side, positioning the striker anywhere on the baseline or on one of the two circles at either end.
The striker cannot be positioned halfway on the circle and halfway on the baseline; it must be entirely on the circle or entirely between the baselines without crossing foul lines.
Shooting:
Players use their fingers to skillfully flick the striker from their designated play area towards the carrom disks on the board, aiming to pocket their color. Much like in pool, your turn continues if you successfully sink a piece, and ends when you fail to do so or accidentally pocket an opponent's piece.
Different shooting techniques come into play depending on the placement of the pieces you're targeting.
"Thumb technique" for targeting pieces under the baseline
Scoring:
Winning a Round: After pocketing all their pieces, the winner accumulates one point for every opponent's piece left on the board at the round's conclusion.
Objective: The goal is to be the first to reach 29 points to win the match.
Covering the Red Piece: If the winner successfully "covers" the red piece, they get an extra 3 points per round. The maximum points attainable in a single round is 12 (1 point for each of the 9 pieces + 3 points for covering the red piece).
Covering the Red Piece:
To pocket the red piece successfully, it must be "covered" by the winning player. Covering the red piece means pocketing one of the player's own pieces immediately after pocketing the red piece or within the same turn. If the red piece is pocketed but not covered, it is promptly returned to the center of the board, back in play. The winner receives an additional 3 points each round for pocketing and covering the red piece until their total score reaches 24 points, after which the red piece contributes no further points. If the loser of the round covers the red piece, no one scores the extra points.
Rules, Game Variations, and More
Off-Board Pieces: If a piece jumps off the board, place it at the center of the board. Pieces landing on their sides or overlapping are played as is. If the center spot is occupied, position the piece behind the obstructing one, opposite the next player.
Determining First Player: To decide who goes first, one player conceals a piece in their hand, and the other player guesses whether it's black or white. Alternatively, a coin toss can be used.
Game Variations:
Free For All Carrom: In this variation, players can shoot at carrom pieces of any color. Black pieces score 5 points, white pieces score 10 points, and the red piece is worth 25 points. The game starts by setting up two towers of alternating colors with reds on top. The player with the most points at the end wins. Suitable for 2, 3, or 4 players.
Point Carrom: Similar to Free For All Carrom, players shoot at any color piece, but each white and black piece is worth 1 point, and the red piece is worth 3 points.
Overview
Carrom is played by 2 to 4 players on a square wooden board with four corner pockets. The objective is to skillfully shoot the striker at the coins, aiming to pocket all assigned coins to score the most points. Players take turns shooting the striker from their designated area by flicking their fingers, adhering to the baselines and foul lines. Victory goes to the player or team with the highest score at the game's conclusion.
Game Pieces and Table Lines
Initial Setup
Game Board Placement: Begin by positioning the Carrom Board on a flat surface, such as a table, ensuring it is above ground level. Each player should sit in front of their designated side.
Game Pieces Configuration: In a standard game, the setup includes 9 white pieces, 9 black pieces, and 1 red piece. Arrange them in the center of the board with the red piece in the middle and the other pieces alternating by color around the red piece as shown below.
Starting Formation
Gameplay
Starting a Game: Determine First Player: Decide which player or team takes the first turn. The first player targets the white pieces, while the opposing player or team targets the black pieces.
Initial Break: The player targeting the white pieces "breaks" the central group in the middle, similar to pool. If they successfully sink any white piece, their turn continues. If no white pieces are sunk, it becomes the next player's turn.
Player Positioning: Each player must sit in front of their designated side, positioning the striker anywhere on the baseline or on one of the two circles at either end.
The striker cannot be positioned halfway on the circle and halfway on the baseline; it must be entirely on the circle or entirely between the baselines without crossing foul lines.
Shooting:
Players use their fingers to skillfully flick the striker from their designated play area towards the carrom disks on the board, aiming to pocket their color. Much like in pool, your turn continues if you successfully sink a piece, and ends when you fail to do so or accidentally pocket an opponent's piece.
Different shooting techniques come into play depending on the placement of the pieces you're targeting.
"Thumb technique" for targeting pieces under the baseline
Scoring:
Winning a Round: After pocketing all their pieces, the winner accumulates one point for every opponent's piece left on the board at the round's conclusion.
Objective: The goal is to be the first to reach 29 points to win the match.
Covering the Red Piece: If the winner successfully "covers" the red piece, they get an extra 3 points per round. The maximum points attainable in a single round is 12 (1 point for each of the 9 pieces + 3 points for covering the red piece).
Covering the Red Piece:
To pocket the red piece successfully, it must be "covered" by the winning player. Covering the red piece means pocketing one of the player's own pieces immediately after pocketing the red piece or within the same turn. If the red piece is pocketed but not covered, it is promptly returned to the center of the board, back in play. The winner receives an additional 3 points each round for pocketing and covering the red piece until their total score reaches 24 points, after which the red piece contributes no further points. If the loser of the round covers the red piece, no one scores the extra points.
Rules, Game Variations, and More
Off-Board Pieces: If a piece jumps off the board, place it at the center of the board. Pieces landing on their sides or overlapping are played as is. If the center spot is occupied, position the piece behind the obstructing one, opposite the next player.
Determining First Player: To decide who goes first, one player conceals a piece in their hand, and the other player guesses whether it's black or white. Alternatively, a coin toss can be used.
Game Variations:
Free For All Carrom: In this variation, players can shoot at carrom pieces of any color. Black pieces score 5 points, white pieces score 10 points, and the red piece is worth 25 points. The game starts by setting up two towers of alternating colors with reds on top. The player with the most points at the end wins. Suitable for 2, 3, or 4 players.
Point Carrom: Similar to Free For All Carrom, players shoot at any color piece, but each white and black piece is worth 1 point, and the red piece is worth 3 points.
Explore our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@EliteCarrom for additional tips, strategies, and thrilling Carrom Board action.
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Happy Playing!