A Guide on Playing Bingo
Bingo might be a game that’s popular with teenagers and the elderly but that does not by any means constitute an ‘easy’ game. In fact, a Bingo game requires a lot of skill, quick reactions and the ability to be very organised in a short space of time so if you’re thinking of learning how to play then we recommend that you read these guidelines first.
Whether you’ve decided to play Bingo online, with friends or in a large Bingo hall having joined a club the rules are synonymous. There are several different types of Bingo game but the most popular are 75 ball and 90 ball Bingo. These names basically mean that the games include different amounts of balls. Firstly you must buy or choose your personal Bingo cards. You might want to start off with just one for your first go and then build up to multiple cards once you get good at marking off the numbers quickly. Make sure you have a dabber or a pen if you’re playing in real life. Most places online with ‘auto dab’ I.e. mark the numbers off your cards automatically as game play goes on. Set your Bingo cards out in front of you and you will be ready to play.
The caller will begin calling out the numbers of the balls as they come out of the Bingo machine. Some clubs and website simply read these out slowly and precisely, first saying the whole number and then the separate digits afterwards, e.g. “The first ball is number 28, Two and Eight, 28″. This will give you plenty of time to spot the number if it’s on your card(s) and mark it off. Some other Bingo clubs or websites will use Bingo jargon to make the calling more fun. They do this by attributing the look or sounds of the numbers to animals, people, objects or events such as the number 88 looks like two fat ladies standing next to each other. Another one could be number 55, which would be “All the fives, 55″. Some are a little bizarre, but there’s no worry if you don’t know what they mean as the numbers are repeated at the end of the call anyway.
Once the game has been going for a while you’ll notice that some of your cards have rows with ore numbers crossed off than others. For the first prize in each game the first person to cross off a whole row wins. After this prize has been taken it’s the first person to get a whole two rows, then three. Often this type of game play is substituted for specific shapes on the ticket, such as an ‘H’ shape, or an ‘L’. When someone believes they’ve won a game they shout ‘Bingo!’ or press the button on their screen to claim their reward.
It’s best to play your first game with a friend who has played before and with just one card to start off with. The first couple of times that you play it’s quite easy to get one number behind and get flustered, missing even more numbers and the chance to win a row. If you go to a Bingo game with someone who is experienced then they can keep an eye on your cards as well as theirs. Alternatively, why not try a free online Bingo game before you go for the real thing? As mentioned before, these website have an auto dabber which means you don’t have to hunt out each number on each card. Sit back and watch as they shuffle to show your winning card on top and learn about the game that way.
From there it’s quite a simple game but remember, if someone has already won the online prize you can’t win it again. Everyone in the game is now playing for two-lines so don’t call out when you get one or you’ll be embarrassed. Good luck!
