Carrom is a tabletop game played on a square wooden board with a pocket in each corner. Players flick a striker from their own baseline to knock coins of their colour into the pockets, while a red coin in the middle, the queen, comes with a rule of its own. Carrom is hugely popular in India and Pakistan and has fans in Iran too. It feels like pool played with your finger: aim, angles and a bit of planning.
In Hamdor you can play carrom online in ranked matches against real players; if nobody is found within a few seconds, a bot takes the seat and is labelled as a bot. You can also open a private room and send the code to friends, practise offline against a bot, or play two players on one phone.
How to play Carrom
- Flick the striker from your baseline to pocket your color in the four pockets. Pocketing your own coin earns another shot.
- After pocketing the queen (red) you must cover it by pocketing one of your coins in the same or the next shot, or it returns to the centre.
- Your last coin can't go down before the queen is covered (it returns to the centre).
- Pocketing the striker is a foul: one of your pocketed coins returns and the turn passes.
These are the exact rules Hamdor plays by; the app shows them too, under each game's How to play tab.
Two-player carrom in Hamdor
- White against black: each player has 9 coins, one side white and the other black, with the red queen in the centre.
- Moving the striker: slide it along your baseline to pick a spot, then pull it back and let go; it flies opposite the pull, harder the further you pull.
- Extra shots: every time one of your own coins goes in, you shoot again.
- The queen and the cover: after pocketing the queen you must pocket one of your coins in the same or the next shot, or the queen goes back to the centre.
- Winning: the first to pocket all their coins wins. If a game drags on, after 140 shots the player with fewer coins left on the board wins.
- Ways to play: online ranked, private room with a code, offline against a bot, and two players on one phone.
Tips to win at carrom
- Place the striker carefully. Slide it along the baseline until there is a straight line from striker to coin and from coin to pocket.
- Softer is often better. Hard shots scatter the coins and make it more likely the striker drops in. Hit just hard enough to reach the pocket.
- Keep the striker out of the pockets. It is a foul: one of your pocketed coins comes back and the turn passes.
- Plan the queen. Go for it when one of your coins is sitting near a pocket, so you can cover it on the next shot.
- Save the queen before your last coin. Your last coin can't go down while the queen is uncovered; it returns to the centre.
- Use the cushions. Coins behind your baseline or along a wall can be reached with a bank shot.
Carrom in Hamdor
- Online, ranked: play real opponents and earn a rating. If nobody turns up within a few seconds, a bot takes the seat and is labelled as a bot.
- Private rooms: create a room, send the code to your friends and chat with stickers and reactions while you play.
- Bots: play offline against bots, to practise or when nobody is online.
- Two on one phone: pass the phone and play face to face.
- Stats and streaks: your win rate, best winning streak and this game's leaderboard.
- Your own look: change how the table and pieces look in the Hamdor shop. It is cosmetic only and never affects who wins.
Carrom FAQ
How many players does carrom have?
In Hamdor carrom is played one on one, white against black. If no online opponent is found, a bot takes the seat.
What is the queen rule in carrom?
The queen is the red coin. After pocketing it you must cover it by pocketing one of your own coins in the same or the next shot, or it goes back to the centre.
What happens if the striker goes in a pocket?
It is a foul. One of your pocketed coins is returned to the board and your opponent takes the turn.
Can I play carrom offline?
Yes. Playing against a bot and two players on one phone work without internet. Online games and private rooms need a connection.