The typical design of chess pieces, required for use in competition.

The aim of the game is to pot one's own nine carrom men before one's opponent pots his/hers. However, before dipping one's final carrom man, the queen must be pocketed and then "covered" by pocketing one of one's own carrom men on the same or subsequent strike. Fouls, such as crossing the diagonal lines on the board with any part of one's body, or potting the striker, lead to carrom men being returned to the board. The player is permitted to shoot with any finger, together with the thumb (known as "thumbing" or a "thumb shot"). The player can shoot carom on his/her base line while playing back shot (thumbing). At any point of time the player should not strike any of the coins on the diagonal line closer to the player.