Carrom is one of the world’s favorite indoor board games. The game is believed to have originated hundreds of years ago. Although the precise region where carrom originated is unknown, it is thought that it was first played in either India or Asia. Carrom is a game that requires skill, practice and determination. It can be played at all ages and its popularity is steadily growing.
Although carrom is classified as an indoor game, it requires elements of both physical and mental skill. It is more similar to marbles or air hockey than it is to other board games such as Monopoly. It is a portable game, and because of its size, it can be played almost anywhere. Carrom’s popularity has grown so much that there are tournaments held by federations all over the world.
Carrom can be played by two, three or four players. If there are two players, then they sit opposite each other. In a game with four players, the players form teams. If there are three players, they are able to play against each other.
Carrom is played on a wooden board with four pockets. The board has a rectangular line around the perimeter, which is the base line from which players make their shots. The game pieces involved, coins, are flicked by the striker, similar to the cue ball that is shot in pool. The object of the game is to sink all of your pieces before your opponent manages to sink theirs. Your turn to shoot continues as long as you keep sinking your pieces.
All combinations of shots count in the game. Points are counted at the end of each round. Both skill and luck are big elements of this game. A game consists of eight boards or 25 points, whichever comes first.
There are a few basic guidelines to remember when playing carrom. Sinking your striker will cost you your turn and one piece, and if a piece jumps off of the board it is placed on the center spot. If a piece lands on its end or overlaps, it is left that way. If you sink your opponent’s piece, you lose your turn, and if you sink their last piece, you lose the board and three points. There are many more rules and laws to carrom, as adopted by the International Carrom Federation. Once you have learned the rules and practiced enough, you will find the game easy to play and a lot of fun.