Carrom Association

Carrom Rules

In the beginning the rules weren’t written down and so there are many variations.

In every family where the game was played they probably made up their own rules .

Then each village where the game was played would probably accept the rules of the biggest, or richest, (quite often one and the same way back when) or the oldest or whatever.

We don’t know when players started writing them down and modifying them.

However as scribes were highly regarded we must suppose that through the centuries people came to accept the written rules of the game.

Forward vs Backward play

The game you play in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles and India using “forward” play is different from the game you play in Pakistan and Bangladesh, where they prefer *”backward” play. Some parts of India use both. Called *thumbshot in India.

So what is the difference between them?

There are distinctive advantages and different strategies for both kinds of play.

However we are doing a piece on rules of Carrom and also difference between forwards v backwards in detail soon.

As Carrom travelled further and wider, it gained in popularity. It went from being a simple family board game to Carrom competitions being held.

A Sport ?

Tournaments began in Sri Lanka around 1935, but by the mid 1950s India and Sri Lanka had formed federations. Player rankings led to international competitions in the early 1960. Around then regional competitions in Maldives, Pakistan, Malaysia and Afghanistan also developed.

There was a rumour going around India that in the late ’60s The Beatles were given Carrom boards but so far I have found no proof.

With cheaper air travel in the 1970s minor competitions were being held in Holland, Switzerland and Germany organised by federations and associations that had developed.

They have prospered and many countries world wide have clubs, associations and federations and European and world tournaments are held regularly.

The ICF

A major landmark was the formation of ICF (Backshot) in October 1988. They held the first Carrom Congress 1988 which led to an international tournament in 1989 between India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Switzerland, Germany and Holland.

Many other countries affiliated themselves to the ICF.