Karambolipöydät

Karambolipöydät, also known as carom billiards tables or simply carom tables, are a specific type of billiard table used for playing carom billiards games. Unlike pocketed billiard tables, carom tables are characterized by their lack of pockets. This fundamental difference dictates the style of play, focusing on intricate caroms and strategic positioning of the balls rather than potting them into pockets.

The playing surface of a karambolipöydät is typically made of slate, covered with a napped cloth, similar to other billiard tables. The size of carom tables can vary, but common dimensions for professional play are around 2.8 meters (10 feet) in length. The balls used in carom billiards are usually larger and heavier than those used in pool. Typically, three balls are used: one white cue ball, one white cue ball with a single spot, and one red ball.

The objective of most carom games is to strike your cue ball so that it contacts both of the other balls in a single stroke. Various games exist within carom billiards, each with its own scoring rules and nuances. Popular examples include Three-Cushion Billiards, Straight Rail, and Balkline. The absence of pockets encourages players to develop exceptional cue control, precision, and a deep understanding of ball geometry and physics to execute complex combinations and maintain favorable ball positions for subsequent shots. Karambolipöydät are found in dedicated billiard halls and clubs, and are a fixture in competitive carom billiards.