What is karoms?

Karoms is a type of board game that originated in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. The game is played on a square board called a "karom board" that has nine compartments in the center, also known as "pockets." Players use small round pieces, called "karoms," that resemble checkers but are slightly smaller and made of wood, plastic, or metal.

The objective of the game is to pocket all of one's own karoms and then the queen piece before the opponent does the same. The queen piece, usually a larger and differently colored karom, is placed in the central compartment at the start of the game. Players take turns flicking their karoms into the pockets using their index finger, aiming to remove the opponent's pieces or clear a path for their own pieces to reach the queen.

Karoms is a popular game in Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia, where it is often played in social gatherings such as family gatherings and festivals. It is also a recognized sport in some countries and has even been included in the Southeast Asian Games.