Kairam

Introduction

Carrom is known by many names around the world, including carrum, couronne, carum, karam, karom, karum, fatta (Punjabi) and finger billiards. The game was started in India   Carrom (or Kairam) is a popular tabletop game played with small discs on a smooth board. Here’s a step-by-step guide to play it:

Objective

The goal is to score points by sinking your assigned color discs (carrom men) into the corner pockets using a striker. The player/team with the highest points wins.

Equipment

  1. Carrom Board
  2. Carrom Men: 9 black, 9 white, and 1 red (queen).
  3. Striker: A heavier disc used to hit the carrom men.

  4. Powder: Applied on the board for smooth movement.

Setup

  1. Arrange the carrom men in the center circle in a compact formation.
  2. Place the red piece (queen) at the center of the circle.
  3. Alternate black and white pieces around the queen.

Gameplay

  1. Decide Turns

Toss a coin to decide who goes first.

The first player chooses their color (black or white).

  1. Striking

Place the striker on the base line of your side.

Flick the striker using your fingers to hit the carrom men.

  1. Pocketing Pieces

Players must pocket their chosen color (black or white).

The red queen can be pocketed by any player but must be “covered” by pocketing one of your own pieces immediately afterward.

  1. Rules

Foul:

Pocketing the striker incurs a penalty (return a pocketed piece to the board). Pocketing the opponent’s pieces benefits them.

Queen: Must be covered; otherwise, it’s returned to the center.

  1. Turn Rotation

A player’s turn continues until they fail to pocket a piece.

If no piece is pocketed, the turn passes to the next player.

Scoring

  1. Each carrom man is worth 1 point.
  2. The queen is worth 3 points but only if covered.
  3. The first player/team to reach the agreed score (e.g., 25 or 29) wins.

Tips

Use controlled strikes to avoid fouls.

Plan shots to set up future moves.

Master positioning to control the board.

Carrom is often associated with community and family gatherings. It is a staple in homes, schools, clubs, and community centers across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan.

It has evolved into a recreational activity and a competitive sport.