Our house rules at Play Carrom:
#1: rack 'em up!!!!
First things first, set up your carrom board. Place your carrom coins in the center in a spiral, with the queen in the middle. Make sure the striker is ready for action on the baseline of the player who will go first.
#2: break the ice
Just like in pool, you start with a break shot. The goal? Sink as many coins (of your color) as you can into the corner pockets. Whatever color your pocket first is yours for the game.
#3: yas queen
Ah, the queen — a true diva, a girl’s girl!! You can pocket her at any time, as long as you pocket one of your own coins immediately afterward. If you don’t, the queen goes back to the center of the board and your turn ends.
#4: no pocket, no party :(
To win, you have to be the first player to pocket all your carrom coins. (It doesn’t matter who pocketed the queen).
#5: fouls!
If you pocket your striker, you will have to put one of your pocketed coins back onto the board! No fouls for knocking the striker off the board (but maybe it's time for a little self-reflection on your flicking technique).
ready, set, flick!
That's it! Now that you've got the lowdown on carrom's rules, it's time to gather your friends, set up your board, and unleash your inner carrom KING.
For other ways to play carrom, check out these resources: