Indian Games
Introduction:
Carrom is a 2-4 people game played on a smooth wooden board with 4 pockets. It is very popular in all parts of India and multiple variations of the game are played to suit the age of the players and the time available. Carrom is now played widely across the globe. Various tournaments are played all year round.
How to Play:
The carrom board is a square board with 4 pockets on the 4 corners of the board. A baseline from which players make their shots are drawn on the board. The game is played using wooden/acrylic discs like coins also known as Goti. There are 19 gotis – 9 black, 9 white and 1 red. The red goti is known as the queen and carries more points than others. The goal of the game is to sink the gotis in the pockets using a bigger acrylic disc known as striker. The gotis are worth some points and the player with the maximum points/score is declared the winner.
To play the game, the players first set up all the gotis at the centre of the Carrom Board. They then start taking shots, gently sliding the gotis in the pockets with the help of the striker. The red goti or the queen can be pocketed anytime after sinking the first piece but must also sink another piece subsequently to cover the queen. If the players fail to cover the queen, the queen is returned back to the centre of the carom board. The player's turn continues as long as one keeps sinking the gotis in the pockets. If a player, sinks the striker by mistake, a penalty of 1 goti is charged. The winner of the game is the player with maximum score.
Conclusion:
A great deal of hand-eye coordination is needed in order to play a game of carrom. It also requires practice and determination. This is a popular family game that creates bonding with people of all ages. This game enhances skills like counting and visual perception in children.
