Except when clearly contradicted by rules specific to a given game these rules apply to all Carom Billiard games.
The table should be either 4 feet by 8 feet, 4 1/2 feet by 9 feet, 5 feet by 10 feet, or 6 feet by 12 feet without pockets. Markings include spots in the center of the head string, foot string, and center string. There should be two additional spots on the head string 7-3/16 inches on either side of the head spot.
Three balls are used (except in Four Ball where a second, darker, red ball is also used) - one red bell, one white ball without spots and one yellow (or white ball with two diametrically opposed spots). The balls are roughly 2-3/8" diameter (metric equivalents range from 61mm to 65.5mm depending on the set; four ball sets are usually the larger).
The opening break is to be determined by lagging with the winning player having the option of shooting the break shot himself or allowing his opponent to shoot the break shot. For the break shot, place the red ball on the foot spot, the opponent's cue ball on the head spot, and the shooter's cue ball on the head string within six inches of the center spot. For the break to be legal, the cue ball must contact the red ball first.
One player has the left half of the table in which to lag his cue ball and the other player the right half of the table. The Red Ball is placed as for the opening break. Each player shoots his cue ball to the foot cushion and the player who's cue ball comes to rest closest to the head cushion, whether it contacts it or not, wins the lag. If both players are the same distance from the head cushion the lag will be replayed.
Both players must lag at the same time (this is intended to keep one player from determining where the other player's cue ball may stop and hence gain an advantage in the lag -- so long as both balls are in motion before either first touches the foot cushion the timing of the lags is good).
A player will automatically loose the lag if his cue ball: fails to touch the foot cushion, jumps the table, touches the Red Ball, or crosses into the other player's half of the table. If both players are subject to an automatic loss of the lag then the lag will be replayed.
The winner of the lag has choice of cue ball. Once cue balls are assigned each player must shoot with only his cue ball (using the other player's cue ball is a foul). (In games with an odd number of people incoming player is assigned the cue ball which was not assigned to the player who's inning just ended -- alternate which cue ball is used.)
The preferred order for spotting the cue balls is: head spot, foot spot, then center spot. The latter spots come into play if the previous ones are occupied by another ball.
If the shooter's cue ball and his opponent's cue ball have both jumped the table then the shooter's cue ball spots first.
The preferred order for the red ball is: foot spot, head spot, then center spot.
If both object balls have jumped the table then they are spotted as above beginning with whichever can occupy it's primary spot.
Is not allowed.
The following are fouls for which the penalty is loss of turn and no count if a valid count would otherwise have been made:
The following are fouls for which the penalties are described under unsportsmanlike like conduct:
If the brief stating of the rules, as given above, seems lacking the following reference link will take you to the Carom World Governing Body Under the IOC Umbrella. UMB Statutes & Regulations