How to play Carrom: simple rules for beginners
By Mohammad Qadri, founder of Bapu's · 30 October 2026
Players take turns flicking a striker from their baseline to knock their own coins (white or black) into the corner pockets. Pocketing one of your coins earns another shot. The red queen must be pocketed and then covered by pocketing one of your own coins straight after, and the first player to clear their coins with the queen covered wins.
The board and pieces
Carrom is played on a square board with a pocket in each corner. The coins start in a circle in the middle: white coins, black coins and one red coin, the queen. Each player has a heavier disc, the striker, which they flick from their own baseline.
Taking a turn
- Place the striker on your baseline and flick it at the coins.
- Pocket one of your own coins and you shoot again.
- If nothing of yours goes in, it is the other player's turn.
The queen
Pocketing the queen is worth having, but she must be covered: on your next shot you have to pocket one of your own coins too. If you fail, the queen goes back to the middle. You cannot win until the queen has been covered by someone.
Fouls
If the striker goes into a pocket, that is a foul. One of your pocketed coins comes back to the middle, and a queen you have not yet covered goes back as well.
Playing Carrom on a phone
Bapu's Arcade has free Carrom with no adverts. Play against Bapu, take turns on one phone, or each play on your own phone in the same room. The Easy level uses fewer coins and bigger pockets, which suits younger children.
Common questions
What happens if the striker goes in the pocket in Carrom?
It is a foul. One of your pocketed coins goes back to the centre, and an uncovered queen goes back too.
What does covering the queen mean?
After pocketing the queen, you must pocket one of your own coins on your next shot. If you do not, the queen returns to the centre.
Can children play Carrom?
Yes. Carrom is a family game; Bapu's Arcade's Easy level has fewer coins and bigger pockets for younger players.