There are several games with similar characteristics that are grouped under the category of Carrom. The Carrom I am reviewing is the variation found most frequently in South Asia.

Carrom is a game that resembles Pool or Snooker but is much more accessible to the entire family. In South Asia you are likely to find it in many homes and might even spot it being played on the streets by the neighbourhood kids. It's origins are not certain but over time this game has travelled and is slowly gaining popularity around the world. Competitive Carrom tournaments are now held regularly by the International Carrom Association but it still remains a game for families and friends to enjoy at home, in university dorms or anywhere the mood strikes you.

Players
Carrom is played by 2 or 4 people, often with an avid audience. When played by 2 players, they sit across from each other. When playing with 4, the players are paired up into teams and you sit across from your partner. Each player has their assigned side and makes all their plays from there.

Equipment
Carrom uses a smooth, square, wooden game board with four netted corner pockets and a thick black frame that rises above the game surface. The board is 29" x 29", sturdy and braced at the bottom with wood strips. There are 2 concentric circles in the centre of the board, usually with some kind of design. This is where the pieces are arranged at the beginning of the game. There are lines along the diagonal that are essentially foul lines and indicate the legal edges of each playing quarter. Each quarter also has 2 parallel lines capped by red circles on each end. This is called the baseline and each player makes their plays from the baseline in their quarter.

There are 9 white/beige and 9 black pieces or 'carrommen' and an additional red 'queen'. They are made of light wood and shaped like little ice hockey pucks with concentric engraved patterns on the faces. They usually come in a little cardboard box but many people keep them in tins or custom wooden boxes.

The 'striker' is made of acrylic, bone or ivory and is larger in diameter, slighter slimmer and about 3 times heavier than the carrommen. All players can share one striker or each can have their own. Strikers can be bought individually with their own case and have unique patterns on them.

Carrom powder consists of powdered potato starch or talc used to buff the board before each game to ensure the carrommen glide across the board without scratching the surface. If you don't have any proper carrom powder, baby powder will do in a pinch. Sprinkle the board all over lightly with the powder and then spread it around with a cloth. A little bit goes a long way so don't overdo it and try not to breathe it in. The ‘speed’ of the board is essential to good game play and I would not suggest playing without powder on the board.

Objective
The goal is to sink your nine carrommen, plus the red queen, in the pockets first to win the board. Players take turns flicking the striker at the carrommen from their baseline, using rebounds against the black frame to their advantage.

Technique
There are several methods of flicking the striker but the most common are the 'index finger flick' and the 'scissor flick'. A 'thumb flick' is used for aiming at any piece that falls behind the player's parallel black baselines. The key to a good flick is to support your hand with the rest of your fingers to keep it steady. Make sure your finger will impact the striker in the right place to propel it in the direction you want it to go and vary the strength of the flick when needed. This gets easier with practice.

Game Play
1. Players take their seats around the board and decide who will go first. The first player plays for the white carrommen and the opponent, black.
2. Begin by placing the queen in the centre and then surround her with 6 carrommen, alternating the colours. Add a white piece next to each white piece and then add a black piece on either side of it. Put the last 3 whites in the space between the 2 blacks. Gently push the pieces snugly together and turn it so that a set of double whites is lined up with the centre of the starting players side.
3. First player places the striker on the baseline and flicks it with his finger towards the carrommen arrangement. This is called the ‘break’.
4. If a white piece is pocketed, the player gets another turn, if not, the play passes clockwise to the next player. They will attempt to pocket a black piece and so on.
5. Once a player has pocketed one of their pieces, they may target the queen. When a player pockets the queen, they must ‘cover’ it by pocketing a carromman of their own colour directly after it in order to keep the queen. The queen is returned to the middle if it is not covered.
6. When the queen has been taken and one player or team has pocketed all their carrommen, the board is won. Winning the board gives you 1 point for every opponent's piece left on the board and the queen gives you an extra 3 points. Only the winner of the board gets points.
7. A game consists of 25 points or eight boards, whichever comes first. No more points are collected for the queen after your score reaches 22.
Nb. Most families have their own house rules and you'll find it is easy to adapt the point system and rules to suit your own needs.

Additional Rules
-The striker must cover both the baselines when shooting and can either completely cover the red circle (on the ends of the baseline) or not at all.
-Your elbow or hand must not cross the diagonal foul lines when striking.
-Striking must be with a flick of the finger and not a push.
-If you sink your opponent’s piece, they get the piece and you lose your turn.
-If you sink the striker, you lose your turn and have to return one of your sunk pieces to the middle.
-If you sink a piece of your own colour and the queen in one turn, no matter which went in first, it counts as covered.
-If at any time a piece flies off the board (yes, it does happen!), the piece is returned to the middle.

Commentary
Carrom can be approached with thoughtful, planned strategy or more spontaneous, light-hearted play. The smoother the Carrom board, the faster the game play and the greater the finesse required to hit the pieces just right. Sometimes, the perfect shot requires a light touch and at other times a more forceful one. If you hit too hard the piece might pop into the pocket and right out again. Even if the piece is precariously hanging on the edge of a pocket and looks like a sure thing, the wrong angle and force will send it wildly sliding in the other direction. Sometimes you will have a clear path to all your pieces and at other times will have to rely on a clever rebound to get that tricky piece in. It is this combination of geometry, physics, dexterity, strategy and sometimes pure luck that makes Carrom both challenging and enjoyable.

This is a great game for couples and I play it with my husband regularly. It is also a fun game for game nights and parties as it can be enjoyed by kids and adults of all ages. The rules are quite simple and easy to grasp once in play. Plus, it sets up in no time and will give you hours of enjoyment.

Over time, I have seen Carrom bridge generations, bring families and friends closer together and make great memories. Most of all, it is great fun! I highly recommend Carrom and think it deserves a place in every home and game collection.