So I’m sitting in the cafe section at Barnes and Noble. I have my hot vanilla Latte with whipped cream on one side. I have my cheesecake on the other side.
I am attempting to read the newly released Dilbert Comics Collection from cover to cover in one sitting (The thing costs $30 – I’m not paying 30 bucks!!!).
Before I settle into my comics and my fattening treats, a man walks up to me and asks,
“Is Bingo like the lottery?”
“It has some similarities,” I respond. “But the two games aren’t exactly the same.
For instance, both the lottery and Bingo rely on numbered balls mixed in a basket. Both games rely on players needing a combination of numbers to come through in order to win.
Both games provide players with sets of numbers on which their hopes of winning the prize must ride. It’s at about this point where the two games go on divergent paths.
“So, I know how the lottery works,” he answers. “I win it all the time. How does Bingo work? And is it true that old ladies get into fist fights at Bingo halls?”
“I’m glad you ask, my Good Fellow,” I said. “Allow me to explain how Bingo works.”
FULL DISCLOSURE: The part about some random guy approaching me at Barnes and Noble to ask about Bingo is false. I included it because it’s a great story-telling device. The following parts about how Bingo works are all true!!
Bingo isn’t played with tickets like the lottery. It’s played with scorecards. Each scorecard has 24 numbers on it, randomly ordered, and never in numerical order.
The word “BINGO” is written across the top of each scorecard, and each letter in the name corresponds with the 5 randomly selected numbers lined vertically beneath that letter.
To win the game, you need to cover a row of five numbers on your scorecard. The row of numbers can go vertically up and down in one row, they can go horizontally in a straight line across any of the five rows, or they can run diagonally across the five rows.
In all cases, the row must be completed in a straight line – no broken lines are allowed. Each scorecard has a total of 24 numbers ranging from 1 to 75. These numbers are picked randomly and are always different on each scorecard.
In the middle of every scorecard is a space marked “free.” This free space allows players to use it at the beginning of the game, which essentially labels the center space as marked.
Using this free space allows the player to complete a row of 5 numbers if the other four number-letter combinations are aligned properly.
All other numbers on the card correspond directly to the letters beneath which they are written. For example, if you have a 45 in your “G” column, the call must be “G45” in order for you to mark that number-letter combination as complete on your scorecard.
Conversely, If the call is “G45,” but your 45 is under the column marked “B,” then you may not mark your spot as complete (I guess you can try and cheat but you’ll likely get caught).
I mentioned that the number-letter combination “G45” has to be “called.” This is done by a “caller.”
At bingo halls, a person will be there to act as the caller. He or she will draw the Bingo balls from the collection mixed in the Bingo spinner. Thus the caller randomly selects and calls out each letter-number combination for each turn (ex: G45, B21, O06).
When a caller calls out a number that a player has on his or her card, the player uses bingo chips to mark the number on their cards. A Bingo chip is placed over the correct number-letter combination. The number is out of play and puts the player one chip closer to victory.
NOTE: any kind of chip can act as this marker – checkers, poker chips, pennies, etc. I have been in Bingo halls where red ink stamps were used. Also, if you don’t have access to a Bingo ball spinner or bingo balls, people improvise with pieces of paper in a bowl, or whatever can be easily mixed, read, and reused.
Once the game begins and the designated caller begins selecting the random number and letter combinations. The game continues until one player gets five covered numbers in a straight row (no “Z” formations).
When a player gets five numbers in a row, that player yells out the word, “Bingo.” That lets the caller know to stop calling numbers. It also tells the rest of the chumps in the Bingo hall, “better luck next time.” (Come on. If you ever played Bingo and won, you know you were thinking it!).
Usually, the winning player must call out the winning combination of numbers to verify they aren’t mistaken (cheating), and after verification, the game ends.
If multiple players shout “Bingo” at the same time, every player who verifies their winning number combinations is a winner. A new game can begin at this point.
I highly recommend playing the game on the up and up, especially at Bingo halls. Don’t cheat. Not only will you be held to public humiliation when you get caught, but I can not guarantee some old lady won’t punch you in the face.
Good Luck!