Carrom - The Lost Board Game
Posted: Monday, August 09, 2010
by Dr. Carla Goddard
The Carrom Company for the past one hundred years has been providing the United States with "Quality Games for the entire family." The game of Carrom (named after the company) is a board game that is played on a board that is similar to that of a checker board. However, it is more like a billiards table having pockets for the players to shoot into. The object of the game is to use a shooting ring to hit colored rings into the pockets before the other player does. Each ring is worth one point. Once all the collared rings have been snapped into the pockets, a wild (black) ring is snapped into a pocket. The scoring is 1 point for each ring shoot into a pocket and 5 points for the wild ring. A total of 30 points wins the game.
No part of your body can cross the imaginary striking line. Setting your striker in the line, using your fingers to snap the striker rings in any direction as long as it hits one of your colored rings. If at any time, the shooter ring is pocketed, regardless of whether a colored ring is also pocketed, that player forfeits his turn. Any rings pocketed are replaced in the center of the board.
If a player pockets an opponents ring along with their own, he collects points for both rings. If, however, the player only pockets an opponents ring, the rings are not replaced, but his turn is over.
When all the rings of one color and the black wild ring are pocketed the inning is over. When 30 points are reached by any player the game is over.
There are a number of variations of the game that can be played. Team play is a popular variation of the game. Each team takes turn in rotation striking the rings.
Rotation Cue Pocket
Rotation Cue Pocket is much the same as regular Carrom, only the rings must be shot in rotating pockets around the board. In this version of the game, a total of 15 rings are used and are numbered 1 to 15. The rings are placed in paper disks with the corresponding numbers visible. The disks are then set in a triangular pattern in the center of the board. Only one shooter ring is used. Each player must shoot the ringer from whoever it lays after his opponent has missed. Each player must shoot for the lowest number ring on the board.
There are over fifty other variations of the Carroms game. The game has been around for over a hundred years and is still as exciting and new to play as any board game on the market today. Each player can create their own unique style of shooting or striking the ringers. Short pool cues can also be used in another variation of the game. The rule still remains that no part of your body can touch the board and you must remain seated during the shot.
Games of Carrom are manufactured right here in the United States at the factory in Ludington, Michigan. They have been in the game business since the 1890s. For more information on Carrom board games, where to buy your own Carrom board and detailed instructions on how to play the game, visit their website at www.carromgames.com .
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Never heard of the game or company, thanks for sharing I will definitely look into them.Is awesome family board game Jamesmwah
It is good to know that there are still board games being played nowadays in spite of the proliferation of the obviously more popular computer games. Board games like Carrom is like Monopoly and scrabble wherein during the game family members can lively interact. Unlike in solo igames, where each is to his/her own virtual world. This article is wholesome.Thank you. We actually have game nights still and believe it or not my teenagers still want to play. We have a closet full of board games. Makes for a fun get together with the teens that (shakes my head) have never played a board game before.Thank you for stopping by
Hi Carla.I played Carrom when I was a kid, but we used a small cue to snap the striker into the rings. We almost always played the rotational version. I was too competitive as a child to really enjoy it, but I think that now it would be a lot of fun. But I don't think I could give up my ping pong with Bernd. :)DianneDianneAs my teens would say .... NEVVVVAAHHHH give up the ping pong tournaments!! Grinsmwah
One of my favorite games growing up! Thanks for the reminder.Your welcome Jean.... I love old things (and contrary to popular belief with my teenagers I am not one of those old things).mwah
Interesting & Informative.Keep it up..Take care....ChiradeepThank you for stopping by.mwah
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