Carrom is the board from every colony clubhouse and every summer vacation: powder on the board, a striker that never goes where you aimed, and one uncle who can pocket the Rani from anywhere.
In Mandli you play carrom online with friends. You set the striker and pull back to aim on your phone, and the shot plays out the same for everyone in the room, watchers included. They can even see your aim line while you line up, so expect advice on voice whether you want it or not.
This page has the carrom rules as Mandli plays them, including the Rani and cover rule, and the house rules you might know from home.
Kya chahiye: Just phones. No board, no powder, no hunting for the lost striker under the sofa.
Rules: kaise khelte hain
The pieces
9 white gotis, 9 black gotis and the red Rani (queen) start in the centre, with the Rani in the middle. The first player to strike plays White. In 2v2, partners sit opposite each other and share a colour.
Taking a shot
Slide the striker along your baseline, drag back to set the direction and power, then tap Maaro. The striker must sit within the baseline without touching a goti, and the shot must go forward, within 80 degrees of straight ahead. You have 20 seconds; if you don't shoot, the turn passes with no foul.
Pocket your own, go again
Pocket one of your own gotis and you strike again. If you pocket an opponent's goti, it stays pocketed and counts for them, and your turn ends unless you also pocketed one of your own.
The Rani and the cover
You can pocket the Rani only after you have pocketed at least one of your own gotis. Pocket it too early and it goes back to the centre.
After pocketing the Rani you must cover it: pocket one of your own gotis on the same strike or the next one. If you fail, the Rani goes back to the centre.
Fouls
- Striker in the pocket: you lose your turn, one of your pocketed gotis comes back to the centre, and anything else pocketed on that strike comes back too, Rani included.
- Last goti before the Rani: if you pocket your last goti while the Rani is still uncovered, that goti comes back to the centre and your turn ends.
Winning the board
The first side to pocket all 9 of its gotis, with the Rani covered by someone, wins the board. If 40 strikes pass without anything being pocketed, the side with fewer gotis left wins; if that is equal, the side that covered the Rani wins.
Points kaise milte hain
Winning the board is worth 20 points, plus 1 point for each opponent goti still on the board, up to 9 more. The player who pocketed and covered the Rani gets 5 points, even on the losing side. In 2v2 both partners get the team's win points. Points carry across games in the same room.
Jeetne ke tips
- Clear gotis near the pockets first. Easy points keep your turn going.
- Don't chase the Rani until you have a cover shot lined up for right after it.
- Soft shots are underrated. Full power sends the striker bouncing into pockets.
- Leave your gotis in awkward spots for your opponent, and theirs next to the pockets for nobody.
- In 2v2, talk on voice about who goes for the Rani and who covers.
Ghar wale rules aur variants
At home, if you have nothing pocketed when you foul, you often owe a goti that you put back later. Mandli only returns a goti you have already pocketed, and nothing is owed.
Some houses say the cover must come on the very next shot, and others allow any time later. In Mandli the cover must be on the same strike or the next one.
Club and tournament carrom adds up points over several boards until someone reaches a target. Mandli scores each board on its own, and points carry across games in the room.
Real hands shake. The host can switch on Haath kaanpa, which adds a tiny wobble of up to half a degree on full-power shots.
Carrom online kaise khelein
Make a room in Mandli, share the link on WhatsApp or show the QR code, and pick Carrom. Friends without the app join from the browser link. Two play singles, or switch on 2v2 jodi with 4 players. Everyone else in the room watches each shot play out at the same moment, sees the live aim line, taps reactions and talks on voice. After each board the winner, or the winning pair, stays and the next people in the queue step in. In Saath mode you are all in one room; in Door mode the voice chat inside the game makes it feel like the clubhouse. A dropped player's seat is held for 60 seconds.
Sawaal jawaab
How can I play carrom online with friends?
Make a Mandli room, pick Carrom and share the link on WhatsApp. Play singles or 2v2 with voice chat inside the game. It is free, with no ads and no login.
What is the Rani cover rule in carrom?
After you pocket the Rani, you must pocket one of your own gotis on the same strike or the next one. If you don't, the Rani goes back to the centre.
Can you pocket the queen first in carrom?
Not in Mandli. You need to pocket at least one of your own gotis first, otherwise the Rani comes back to the centre.
What happens if the striker goes in the pocket?
It is a foul. You lose your turn, one of your pocketed gotis comes back to the centre, and anything else pocketed on that shot comes back too.
Can 4 people play carrom online?
Yes. Switch on 2v2 jodi in the lobby. Partners sit opposite and share a colour.