Carrom Rules

  • The tournament will be conducted as a Double Elimination format
  • The match will be awarded if opponent fails to show up within a reasonable time once their name is called.  (Exception: The opponent is engaged in playing another tournament match). The decision of the carrom coordinators would be final.
  • Since time is of essence, players would be limited to a maximum of 3 minute practice time before each match
  • Queen carries 5 points.  Standard carrom rules (29 point match) apply.
  • Max 4 boards per match: If a score of 29 is not reached at the end of 4 boards, the player with the higher score will win. If after 4 boards, the score is tied, tiebreaker described below will be applied.
  • If a match does not finish after 45 minutes, the board being played will be completed and considered as the last board. The player with the higher score after that board will win. If the score is tied, tiebreaker described below will be applied.
  • If after 3 boards, the outcome of the match is already decided (one player leads by 15 or more points); fourth board would not be played.

Tiebreaker rules

  • Pocketing the queen placed at the center of the board would be used as a tiebreaker.
  • This will be conducted in a format same as the soccer penalty shootout (Players take alternative turns with a minimum of 5 turns each). Please contact carrom coordinators in case of any confusion.

Rules of the game

A few items of contention that arise somewhat regularly are addressed below. Apart from these, generally accepted carrom rules will be followed. Decision of the referees will be final.

  • Thumbs are allowed
  • Use of both hands is permitted.
  • You cannot move your chair once you start your turn. You can move the chair once your turn is over or before you play your first shot.
  • No body part including hands and elbows can go outside the two diagonals going through your thumb pockets.
  • When there is an opportunity to place a coin on the board due to a due or a double due (or jumped coin or queen not covered or some other reason), you cannot place the coin(s) to create a “cannon” or a “set sequence shot”.
  • Rules related to inadvertent moving of a coin — In the spirit of fun and this being a friendly event, penalty will not be severe. An opponent always has an option to Not enforce the penalty.
  • If a player inadvertently moves a coin before hitting with the striker or while placing the striker, the opponent points out that the coin was moved and the coin is moved back to where it was.
  • If a player moves the coin while hitting the striker
    • If the player ends up not taking any coin, the opponent points out that the coin was moved and the coin is moved back to where it was.
    • If the player ends up taking any of his own coin(s) or the queen, and if the opponent objects, the player loses his/her turn and the coin(s) that were taken come back up. If any opponent coin(s) were taken, they will also come back out. The coin that was moved would be placed back where it was.
    • If the player ends up taking only the opponents coin(s), those coins can stay in the pockets and the coin that was moved would be placed back where it was.
  • If a player does A and/or B very frequently and if the situation cannot be resolved among the two players, referee can get involved and the referee at his/her discretion may penalize the offending player with a loss of turn for the next violation.