How to play Bingo

Bingo is the classic game of the church hall, the community center and the family room: a caller draws numbered balls, everyone covers the numbers on their cards, and the first to make the pattern shouts Bingo! This is American 75-ball bingo. You play against computer players in the hall, with friends on your own phones, or with the caller up on a TV.

The card

• Each card has five columns under the letters B I N G O. B holds numbers 1 to 15, I 16 to 30, N 31 to 45, G 46 to 60 and O 61 to 75.
• The square in the middle is a free space. It counts as covered from the start.
• Every ball has a letter and a number, like G-52. The letter tells you which column to look in.

A game

• Tap Next ball and the caller draws a ball. Here the caller waits for you, so take your time. In Settings you can let it go on by itself, slowly or quickly.
• When the number is on one of your cards, tap it to cover it. If you prefer, turn on "Cover numbers for me" in Settings.
• When your covered squares make the pattern, tap Bingo! The caller checks your card against the balls that were called.
• Everyone who shouts Bingo on the same ball shares the game. If you miss your bingo and call the next ball, you can still shout later, but someone else may get there first.
• A bingo night is a few games in a row, each with new cards. Whoever wins the most games wins the night.

Patterns

• Any line: five in a row across, down, or corner to corner. Lines through the middle need only four numbers.
• Four corners: just the four corner squares.
• Letter X: both diagonals.
• Picture frame: every square around the edge.
• Blackout: the whole card. It takes most of the balls, and the hall gets very quiet at the end.
• Mixed: a different pattern each game of the night.

Bingo night on the TV

Hosting family, a club or an activity room? Choose Play with friends and open the TV link from the table on the TV's web browser. The TV shows the big ball, the board of called numbers and who is close, and it can say each ball out loud. Everyone joins on their own phone with the four-letter code, gets their own cards and taps Bingo there. Open seats are played by the computer. There are no prizes and no money here: it is just the game.

Rather play on paper? Make and print bingo cards with numbers, a theme or your own words.

Tips

1. Letter first, then number. Find the column, then look down it. It is much faster than reading the whole card.
2. Watch your one-to-go lines. Say the missing number to yourself so it jumps out when it is called.
3. Shout right away. The next ball can give someone else a bingo too.
4. More cards, more chances. Two to four cards give you more ways to win, and more to keep an eye on.

Today's game

The Daily Game is a three-game night (any line, four corners and the letter X) with two cards against three computer players. Everyone gets the same cards and the same balls today. Count how many games you win and compare with everyone else.

Questions

How strong are the computers? Bingo is luck, so the computers cannot play better cards. What changes is how alert they are: Easy players often miss their bingo for a few balls, Normal players sometimes do, and Sharp players never do.

What if I cover a number by mistake? Tap it again to uncover it. Covering is only for your eyes: the caller always checks your card against the numbers that were really called.

Can I print cards? Yes. The bingo card generator makes up to 60 different cards with numbers, a theme like baby shower or Christmas, or your own words, with a caller's list. It can also call the game on screen.

Do I need an account? No. Your game is saved in this browser, so you can close the page and come back.