Carrom Rules and Tips: Queen, Fouls, Striker Placement and Aiming
Carrom is a true Indian favourite. Almost every neighbourhood has a board, and long summer afternoons have been spent flicking the striker and arguing over the queen. It is a game of touch, angles and planning, easy to learn but rich enough for national championships. This guide explains the standard Indian rules, the fouls everyone argues about, and practical aiming tips to improve your game.
The Board and Pieces
- A square wooden board with a pocket in each corner.
- 9 white coins, 9 black coins and 1 red coin, called the queen.
- A heavier, larger disc called the striker, used to hit the coins.
- Each player has a baseline in front of them: two parallel lines with a circle at each end.
At the start, the queen goes in the centre circle, surrounded by a ring of six coins, with twelve more around them in an alternating pattern. Carrom is played by two players sitting opposite each other, or four players in teams where partners sit opposite.
Basic Rules
Starting the Game
A toss decides who breaks. In standard rules, the player who breaks plays the white coins and the opponent plays black. The break is the first shot that scatters the centre group.
Placing the Striker
For every shot, the striker must be placed on your baseline. It must touch both baselines, or completely cover one of the base circles at either end.
Taking a Shot
Flick the striker with a finger (thumb shots are also allowed) to hit the coins. You may not push the striker or move your hand past the baseline while shooting. You must stay seated on your own side of the board.
Continuing Your Turn
If you pocket one of your own coins, you shoot again. Your turn continues as long as you keep pocketing your coins without committing a foul. If you pocket nothing, the turn passes to your opponent.
The Queen and Covering
The red queen is the most valuable coin on the board. The rules for it are:
- You can pocket the queen only after you have pocketed at least one of your own coins.
- After pocketing the queen, you must cover it by pocketing one of your own coins on the same shot or the very next shot.
- If you fail to cover it, the queen is taken out and placed back in the centre circle.
- If you pocket the queen and one of your own coins in the same shot, the queen is covered immediately.
- You cannot pocket your last coin while the queen is still on the board. Doing so loses the board.
Fouls and Penalties
| Foul | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Pocketing the striker | Turn ends and one of your pocketed coins is returned to the centre. If you have none yet, you owe one (a "due"). |
| Striker or coin leaving the board | Turn ends. A coin that jumps off is returned to the centre. |
| Touching coins with your hand | Foul, turn ends with a penalty coin. |
| Pocketing an opponent's coin | Not a penalty, but it counts for them and your turn ends. |
| Pocketing the opponent's last coin | You lose the board. |
If you pocket the striker along with one of your own coins, that coin comes back out as well as the penalty coin. Local rules vary a little, so agree on them before you start.
Scoring
A board (round) ends when one player pockets all their coins. The winner scores 1 point for each of the opponent's coins left on the board. If the winner also covered the queen, they get 3 bonus points, though in official rules the queen bonus stops counting once a player reaches 22 points. A match is usually played to 25 points or 8 boards, whichever comes first.
Aiming Tips
1. Master the Straight Shot
Start with coins that sit in a straight line between your striker and a pocket. Place the striker so it, the coin and the pocket line up, then hit the coin in the centre. Smooth, controlled flicks beat hard, wild shots.
2. Learn the Cut Shot
To send a coin to a pocket at an angle, imagine the spot where the striker must touch the coin: on the side of the coin opposite the pocket. Aim the striker's centre at that contact point, not at the coin's centre. Thin cuts need less power than you expect.
3. Use the Cushions
When a coin is blocked or sits behind your baseline, bounce the striker off a side cushion. The angle at which the striker leaves the cushion roughly equals the angle at which it arrives. Practise rebound shots; they open up many positions.
4. Control Your Power
Too much power makes coins bounce out of pockets and can send the striker in after them. Use only enough force to drop the coin. A gentle shot also leaves the striker in the middle of the board instead of near a pocket.
5. Plan Your Next Shot
Before shooting, look at where the striker and other coins will end up. Leave your coins near pockets for later, and avoid leaving easy shots for your opponent.
6. Deal With the Queen Smartly
Pocket the queen only when you have an easy coin ready to cover it. Pocketing the queen with no follow-up simply sends it back to the centre and wastes your turn.
Practise Solo with Carrom Challenge
Our carrom game includes a single-player Carrom Challenge mode, so you can practise without waiting for an opponent. It is the perfect place to sharpen your straight shots, cuts and rebounds, learn how much power each shot needs, and work on clearing the board efficiently before you face friends or family.
FAQ
What happens if the queen is not covered?
The queen is returned to the centre of the board, and you get no credit for pocketing it.
What is the penalty for pocketing the striker?
Your turn ends and one of your already pocketed coins is placed back in the centre. If you have not pocketed any yet, you owe one.
Can I pocket the queen first?
Not under standard rules. You must pocket at least one of your own coins before the queen.
How many points is the queen worth?
The queen gives 3 points to the board winner if they covered it, but only while their score is below 22.
Get flicking: play Carrom free on GameChakra, including the single-player Carrom Challenge. For another classic Indian board game, read our Ludo rules and strategy guide.
