
- BGG rank
- BGG #43
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Crokinole
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1876

Rules assistance for American Carrom
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
American Carrom is a board game released in 1892 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Henry Haskell.
American Carrom, attributed to American Sunday school teacher Henry Haskell, is a derivative of Carrom. American Carrom differs from Carrom in the board construction, particularly the larger size of the pockets and the striker (shooter) being the same size as the other pieces. American Carrom can also be played with a cue, and the board is patterned with checkers, chess or other board motifs, allowing a variety of other games to be played. Many American Carrom boards also double as Crokinole boards. In American Carrom the object is to flick to strike the Carrom men into the pockets in a similar fashion to pool or billiards. Sometimes a cue is used rather than flicking. Due to the larger pocket size American Carrom lacks some of the strategy and skill required of the 'proper' version of the game. Also noteworthy is the fact that American Carrom uses rings for game pieces whereas Carrom game pieces are solid discs. European games in a similar vein: Korona and H-ring spel.
American Carrom supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for American Carrom is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists American Carrom for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
American Carrom has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
American Carrom belongs to these categories: Action / Dexterity. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed American Carrom and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of American Carrom are: Henry Haskell. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists American Carrom as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.