The game is also known as carrom, couronne, carum, karam, karom, karum, fatta (Punjabi) and finger billiards at different parts of the world. In some places it is played with a cue instead of fingers. The game has a board which is usually square in shape (you do have hexagonal shaped boards), 19 coins including 9 white and 9 black along with one red. A single striker and a carrom powder for enhancing the smoothness of the board which enables the game play to be smoother and faster. It also increases the life time of the board being used. At a time only four players can get involved in the game.

However initially before rules were being established, people played as individuals and thus allowed three members to take part separately. A white carried 2 points and a black carried one point with the red carrying 5 points. A red is acclaimed only when it is followed with another coin. In the end the person who has scored maximum point went on to win the game. This style of game play changed with the advent of rules established by the ICF. It states that either two can play as opponents in a singles encounter or 4 members comprising as teams of two can play a doubles match. They toss with the help of an umpire who hides one black and one white in his hands and whoever chooses white starts the play.

The task is simple, a team follows one set of 9 coins and they need to score all of 9 coins from that set along with the red coin. They cannot finish off their coins while red is still in the game play and at the same time when the opponent has one coin leftover from their set along with the red, you shouldn’t finish off their carrom coins. This means the opponents are granted the red since they dint finish the game and you finished it for them and thus they are declared as winners.

The game as a whole requires intense precision and execution and as the expertise of the player increases, you need to score the coins quickly to outlast your opponent. There are players who can score all of their coins along with the red within a single chance thanks to their style and technique. Thus the game turns out to be quite exciting and entertaining when played with competition.