- BGG rank
- BGG #43
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Crokinole
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 1876
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,172
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Carrom
Rules assistance for Carrom
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Carrom
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Carrom is a board game for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. Its main mechanics are Team-Based Game and Flicking.
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About the game
Carrom is most easily described as "finger pool". On a 29" x 29" wooden board, players flick a large weighted disc (the striker) at smaller wooden discs (the carrom-men). The goal is to sink your 9 carrom-men (black or white), as well as the red Queen, in the four corner pockets. The first player or team to accomplish this collects points for the round (commonly called a "board"). A standard game of Carrom continues until one player has 25 points or 8 boards have been completed. Carrom is typically played with powder, and some variations of the game use cues. The most widely played form of 'proper' Carrom is supported by a world wide set of rules known as The Laws of Carrom, and are available from the International Carrom Federation. Carrom bears similarities to Pool and Crokinole, but is a fascinating game in its own right with varied strategies and techniques. No one knows exactly where the game originated. It could have come from Bangladesh, Burma, Egypt, or Ethiopia, but most believe it originated in India. The Oxford English Dictionary notes the first use of the word Carrom in English was in the late 1770's - corresponding to the expansion of the British in India through the East India Company. Also see American Carrom and the European games in a similar vein, Korona and H-ring spel.
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- (Unknown)
- ASS Altenburger Spielkarten
- Funskool Games
- (Public Domain)
- Queen Games
- IKEA
- Mitra
- ABRA
- Pin International
- Carrom Company
- Carrom Art
- Philos
- Mespi
- Olympic
Questions and answers
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 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 Carrom for ages 6 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.
Carrom has a complexity rating of 1.5 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.
Carrom belongs to these categories: Action / Dexterity. Its main mechanics are Team-Based Game and Flicking. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists 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.