Carrom Laws

These Carrom laws are a summary of the full rules of carrom as defined by the Carrom Association International. These rules are based on the NO backshots policy of the Carrom Association International. If you wish to use these laws online please link to this page as a courtesy. Feel free to print them out (for personal use).

(A) For 2 - 4 (2 teams) Players

(B) 1 Carrom board
The Pieces: 9 White pieces (Carrom men) & 9 Black pieces (Carrom men).
1 Red piece (Queen).
1 Acrylic striker (personal strikers may be used if preferred).

Place your carrom striker between the two striking lines (baseline) of your sides. You may also place your striker within the two circles situated at either end of your baseline.

(D) Object of carrom
To be the first player to pocket your carrom pieces and the queen.

(E) How to play the game
The first player breaks by using his/her index finger. Player one flicks the striker in a forward direction (shooting backwards is not allowed at any point in the game) at the centre formation of Carrom men.

The first player to pot a carrom piece will carry on potting the same colour for the duration of the game. If the player pots a carrom piece he/ she plays again, having replaced the carrom striker between his/her baseline. This continues until he/ she fails to pot one of his/ her pieces, then it is the opponents turn.

Carrom pieces can only be struck directly if it is not touching the player's baseline or situated behind the base line. If this is the case the player must hit the carrom piece by rebounding the carrom striker off any side of the carrom board or any other carrom piece on the carrom board

Note: This must be in the forward direction.

(F) The red piece (Queen)The queen may be 'pocketed' at any point after the first piece has been pocketed but before the last carrom piece is pocketed.

If the red piece is pocketed the player must then pocket one of his/ her own carrom pieces straight after. If the player fails to pocket, then the queen must be replaced in the centre of the carrom board.

(G) The winner

The winner is the first player to pocket all of his/ her carrom pieces (and the queen if not already pocketed).

If you require full and detailed rules, a copy of the Carrom Association Rulebook (which includes specifications, diagrams and is in colour) is available from our catalogue.

Carrom Laws

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