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Compendia’s Rules to Carrom
General
The object of the game is to flick a
striker to hit and pocket a playing piece. The pieces can be pocketed
into any pocket. Depending on which game is being played, either
some or all of the playing pieces are legitimate targets.
Essential Equipment
1 Carrom board
9 white pieces
9 black pieces
1 red piece (the queen)
1 striker
Play Preparation
Set up the playing pieces in the centre of
the board, as above.
Players must stay seated throughout the game.
Decide which player is to take the first shot (or break). The break
then alternates or rotates from player to player.
The Striker
The striker is larger than the playing pieces
but must be able to fit in the pockets.
The striker is used to strike the playing pieces.
Most often, you will want to strike a playing piece into one of
the pockets but you may want to make your opponents next shot more
difficult.
Position the striker on the double line immediately in front of
you (this is the carrom bed or the baseline). The striker must be
touching both lines.
The striker must be flicked, usually using the index finger, middle
finger or thumb. Moving the hand is not allowed so the striker must
not be pushed.
After a shot, when all of the pieces have stopped moving the player
who is next to shoot retrieves the striker from wherever it is and
positions it on his/hers carrom bed. A strike may only be taken
from the carrom bed.
Remember to keep your finger really close to the striker, then it
will not hurt when you flick it and all of the power of your flick
will go into the striker!
Money Carrom
Number of Players: 2,3 or 4 Duration: 20 mins
Players Aged: 7+
This is the easiest of carrom games
to learn. It is particularly good for new players because all of
the playing pieces are potential targets.
After the break, play passes in a clockwise
direction. If several games are to be played, the breaking shot
should also rotate in a clockwise direction.
To win simply pocket as many pieces
as you can to accumulate the highest score:
a white piece = 1 point
a black piece = 2 points
the red piece = 5 points
After you
pocket a piece either:
-
collect
that piece and hold on to it until the end of the game
-
keep score using pencil and paper
-
keep score using a score board
-
try
to remember the score (not recommended)If you pocket a piece
you get another go and you keep going until you fail to pocket
a piece.
If you pocket the striker then you miss a turn.You
can apply penalties for a number of foul shots but these should
be agreed before starting a game. Apply these with due consideration
to the players age, experience and whether the game is being played
for fun or real money. See “foul shots” under the club
carrom rules below. When
all playing pieces have been pocketed, shake hands with all of your
opponents, calculate the final score and offer the winner your heartiest
congratulations.
Club
Carrom
Number of Players: 2 or 4 Duration: 20 mins
Players Aged: 10+
In club carrom
you are required to pocket only pieces of your colour, either
black or white.
Two players sit opposite each other. Four players play as two
teams each sitting opposite your partner.
White always breaks.
Pieces may be pocketed in any pocket.
The striker must be played forward from the carrom bed. Pieces
on or behind the baseline may only be played indirectly, by rebounding
the striker off one or more sides of the frame. (See Back Shots
below.) The Queen
In club carrom the red playing piece, the queen, has additional
rules and restrictions.
-
The
queen cannot be the first piece to be pocketed, you must have
pocketed at least one piece before you can go for the queen.
-
Either
player may pocket the queen
-
After
you pocket the queen you must pocket one of your own pieces
into any pocket on the next shot. This is called “covering
the queen”.
-
If you fail to cover the queen it is returned to the centre
spot and becomes available for either player to pocket.
-
The queen cannot be left until last
-
The
queen is worth 5 bonus points (the queens premium) but to earn
these points you must: pocket the queen; cover the queen and
win the game.
Carrom
Scores
A game is usually played to 29 points. With
a maximum of 14 points on the table, a game may require the board
to be set up at least three times, often more.
-
The
score is only counted at the end of a “board”
-
Only the winner of that “board” scores any points
-
The winner scores one point for each of the opponents pieces
left on the board
-
The
winner scores a 5 point bonus (the queens premium) if s/he pocketed
and covered the queen.
Foul shots
Foul shots can result from accidental, reckless
or vindictive play and involves payment of a penalty if they occur.
There are a number of foul shots for which penalties may be applied:
-
pocketing the striker
-
pocketing
an opponents piece
-
pocketing the last piece before the queen
-
pocketing an opponents last piece before the queen
-
making any piece or striker leave the table.
The
penalty for any of these events is for one piece already pocketed
to be returned to play. The fouling piece is also returned to play
with the opponent being able to place any returned or penalty pieces
anywhere in the central circle.
If a foul shot occurs before any pieces have been pocketed then
a “due” is owed and must be paid as soon as possible.
Other
illegal shots
Other shots that may be deemed illegal and could incur a penalty
or even worse, disqualification are:
-
pushing the striker
-
striking with any part of the body straddling a “foul
line”
-
striking from an illegal position - (also see “Cut Moon”);
-
standing up
-
striking backwards from the carrom bed (see “Back shots”)
Back
shots
Many versions of the game allow back shots.
This usually makes for a quicker game. Back shots are best executed
using the thumb which keeps the body within the foul lines.
Cut
Moon
The circles at each end of the carrom bed may
not be partially covered. The striker must cover it completely or
not at all.
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