Carrom Board

From the operational angle, carrom does not call elaborate preparation. A game of singles can straightaway start with two players, sitting opposite to each other. A spin of coin settles as to who should have the first break. The carrom man alternately. All the carrom man, so placed, as above shall be arranged in a compact round, touching one another within the outer circle. The opener shall have white carrom man to strike, while his opponent black to dispense with. In doubles four persons comprising two teams, sit opposite to each other, occupying all the four sides. At the end of each board, when a player reckoned on the basis of one point for each opponent left on the board & 3 points for the queen if already pocketed by him, the player who thus reaches 25 points first wins the game.

Approved by the international carrom federation & Adopted by the all India carrom federation

1. Standard equipment

The term standard equipment shall mean and include the following: 

A. Carrom board

B. Carrom men

C. Striker

D. Table or stand

E. Stool or chair 

F. Powder

G. Nets 

H. Light

1 Playing surface

The playing surface of the carrom board should be of plywood or of any other wood equally smooth and be of not less than 8 mm in thickness and of a minimum of 73.50 cm and a maximum of 74 cm square with its surface completely smooth. A carrom board shall be able to have at least three and a half runs of a normally smooth striker of 15 gms weight, when struck with the maximum force, from one of the base lines, to the opposite frame of the carrom board.

2 Frames

Adjoining the playing surface of the carrom board there shall be wooden frames with inside curved corners made of rosewood or any other hard wood with good resistance, with a minimum height of 1.90 cm and a maximum of 2.54 cm from the playing surface. The breadth of the frame shall be not less than 6.35 cm and not more than 7.60 cm. Suitable bracing. Shall be provided underneath the playing surface and fastened with the frame.

3 Pocket

The pockets of the four corners of the carrom board shall be round inwardly and not outwardly and be of 4.45 cm in diameter with admissible variation  of not more than 0.15 cm. The piece of plywood adjoining the corners of the frame shall be cut off.

4 Base lines

a) Two straight lines of 47 cm in length with admissible variation of 0.30 cm equally  distributed on all sides, black in color, shall be drawn on each of the four sides of the playing surface, parallel to the frame on each side. The lower of these two lines, which shall be between 0.50 cm and 0.65 cm thickness, shall be 10.15 cm away from the frame and the other one 3.18 cm away from the lower part of the base line.

b) The base lines shall be closed by circles of 3.18 cm in diameter at either end. Within this circle a portion 2.54 cm in diameter shall be colored in red. These circles shall be called base circles. These shall be drawn so as to touch both the base lines and also the upper base lines of the adjacent side when imaginably extended. The distance between the base circle on one side and that of the other may be 1.27 cm approximately.

c) Degrees to any of the adjacent sides and each of them shall pass through the gap between the two base circles and point to wards the center of the pocket leaving a clear distance of 5.00 cm from the edge of the pocket. The length of the arrow shall not exceed  26.70 cm. A decorative arch of 6.35 cm in diameter with a pointer at both the ends, drawn at the starting point of the arrows leading towards the pocket, is permissible.

6 Center circle

Exactly in the center of the carrom board there shall be a circle of 3.18 cm in diameter drawn black in color with admissible variation of 0.16 cm. It shall be called the center circle and shall be colored in red.

7 Outer circle 

A circle of 17.00 cm in diameter with the center point of the carrom board as its center shall be drawn black in color with admissible variation of 0.30 cm. It shall be called the outer circle. Any decorative design in this circle is permissible.

The carrom men used in play shall be of good quality wood and circular in shape. The diameter of a carrom man shall not be more than 3.18 cm and not less than 3.02 cm. It shall be of not less than 0.70cm and not more than 0.90 cm in thickness. The edge shall be round and plain. The weight shall be not less than 5.00 grams and not more than 5.50 grams. Thus there shall be nine whites, nine blacks and one red carrom men, and they be uniform. The carrom men shall have a smooth movement in a flat position on the surface of the carrom & board when struck by a striker of standard specifications.

Striker

The striker shall be smooth and round with a diameter of not more than 4.13 cm and weighing not more than 15.00 gms. A striker made of any material other than metal, with the specifications prescribed above,may be used. A striker, with metal fixed and visible to the eye shall not be allowed. Engraved decent designs on the striker are permissible.

Table or stand

The table or stand on which the carrom board is placed for play shall be not less than 63.00 cm and not more than 70.00 cm in height. The carrom board, when placed on it, shall not be uneven or shake. However, padding below the carrom board and/or the table or stand on which the carrom board is placed, may be used to make the playing surface of the carrom board level and firm as far as possible.

Stool or chair

The still or chair on which the player sits for playing shall be not less than 40.00 cm and not more than 50.00 cm in height. The chair, if used, shall be arm less.

Powder

The powder used shall be of high quality to keep the playing surface smooth and dry.

The powder shall not be wet. Pouches/containers filled with powder should be used to spread the powder evenly over the playing surface.

Nets

The pockets shall be fully covered from beneath by nets fixed at the bottom of the carrom board. Each net shall have the capacity of holding at least 10/cm.

Light

The light shall be hung/fitted at a convenient height above the carrom board so that when a conical or square shade, preferably of metal, is used, the light shall fall only on the carrom board including the frame. The shade shall be one with the inner side completely snow-white. The bulb used, preferably transparent white, shall be between 60 and 100 watts however, the height of  the light can be altered at the request of a player in such manner that the naked light does not strike the eyes of the player/s.