How to Play Tambola!

Tambola is played on a basic principle. The organizer/caller calls the Number/CUE one at a time and the players need to strike Numbers on their tickets.

Tambola (also called Houzee) can be played in many different ways depending on the competency level of the target audience.

American version of Tambola is called ‘Bingo’ and it is slightly different from Tambola.

Generally, Tambola is played with Numbers 1-90 being called out by 1 person (the caller) and players striking out those Numbers on their Tickets.

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Prepare to Play Tambola

• Sell Tambola Tickets at a fixed or mutually-agreed-upon price to everyone who wants to play.
• With the ticket(s), hand out a pen/pencil/toothpick to the players to strike the called Numbers/CUEs in their tickets.
• Decide the cash-prizes for the decided winning points. Winning points can be like:
  • Early 5: the ticket with first five struck numbers
  • First Row/Top Row: the ticket with all numbers struck in a top row first
  • Second Row/Middle Row: the ticket with all numbers struck in a middle row first
  • Third Row/Bottom Row: the ticket with all numbers struck in a bottom row first
  • Corners: the ticket with all 4 corner numbers struck first (1st and last numbers of top and bottom rows)
  • Corner with Star: the ticket with all 4 corner & centre-most numbers struck first (1st and last numbers of top and bottom rows along with a centre-most number of the middle row)
  • Full House/First House: the ticket with all its numbers struck first
  • Second House: the ticket with all its numbers struck second
    and so on…

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Facts to know about Tambola

Almost all of us are aware how interesting Tambola Game is but let us apprise you of some interesting facts about Tambola.

While playing Tambola have you ever wondered why there are 6 tickets on a page/pad in Hard Copies of Tambola ticket booklets?

• We know by now that there are 90 numbers in Tambola Game and each ticket has 15 numbers. So, 6 tickets have 15*6 = 90 numbers. In all these 6 tickets, each number from 1-90 occurs only once, covering all 90 numbers. Therefore, when a CUE is called, it will be present in one and only one ticket from the set of 6 tickets.
• There are 3 rows and 9 columns in every Tambola Ticket.
• There are a total of 90 (1-90) numbers in Tambola.
• There are 3 rows and 9 columns in every Tambola Ticket.
• Every ticket has exactly 15 numbers.
• Every row contains 5 numbers.
• A column may have 1, 2 or 3 numbers. There should be at least 1 number in every column.
• A Ticket cannot have the same number more than once.
• Column 1 on any ticket has numbers between 1-9.
• Column 2 on any ticket has numbers between 10-19.
• Column 3 on any ticket has numbers between 20-29.
• Column 4 on any ticket has numbers between 30-39.
• Column 5 on any ticket has numbers between 40-49.
• Column 6 on any ticket has numbers between 50-59.
• Column 7 on any ticket has numbers between 60-69.
• Column 8 on any ticket has numbers between 70-79.
• Column 9 on any ticket has numbers between 80-90.

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Time to Start Playing Tambola

• The CALLER needs to pick a Number/CUE without seeing the box/container containing CUEs. The caller generally shakes the box/container containing CUEs before calling the next CUE.
• If a number called by the CALLER exists on a player’s ticket, then the player has to strike it.
• Once a particular Winning point is achieved by a player, he has to claim it immediately.
• CALLER has to verify the winning by matching the struck numbers on the ticket with the called out numbers. The CALLER then declares if the winning has been successfully claimed. If not, the winning point is still available to be claimed.
• The game ends when all the small WINs and FULL HOUSEs are successfully CLAIMED.

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Award the winners at the end of Tambola

The pre-declared cash prizes are awarded to the respective winners from the amount collected by the sale of the tickets. If it is an “on-the-house” game, let the host award the winners with prizes.

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Some popular phrases to use while calling out Numbers

1 – First on the board, number 1; lone ranger number 1; Buttered scone; Top of the house number 1
2 – Kaala dhan (number “do”); one little duck number 2
3 – Happy family; goodness me number 3
4 – Hum doh humare “do”; 2+2=4; Murgi chor
5 – Punjab mail no. 5, Come for a drive at number 5
6 – Bottom heavy, In a fix number 6; supper sixer
7 – Lucky number seven, Colours of the rainbow, days in a week; saat sur
8 – Big fat lady/major number 8
9 – Doctor’s time number 9
10 – A big fat hen number 10; uncle Ben
11 – Beautiful legs; sexy legs
12 – One dozen
13 – Unlucky for some number 13, Baker’s Dozen number 13
14 – Valentine’s Day; Tender chick, age is 14
15 – Yet to be kissed, age is 15
16 – Never been kissed, Sweet sixteen
17 – Not so sweet, often been kissed, Dancing Queen
18 – Now you can vote, marriageable age number 18
19 – Goodbye teens at number 19
20 – Blind 20; one score
21 – Watch your son at 21, Women’s age never crosses 21; President’s salute
22 – Two little ducks; All twos no. 22
23 – You and me is 23
24 – Two dozen
25 – Wish to have a wife at 25, Silver Jubilee (25)
26 – Republic Day
27 – Gateway to heaven number 27
28 – Not so late at 28; Duck and its mate
29 – In your prime, Gin and lime 29
30 – Women get flirty at 30; Flirty thirty
31 – Flavours at Baskin Robins
32 – 3..2.., Mouth’s Full
33 – Lovely lips, All the 3s, Knocking knees 33
34 – Dil mange more at 34
35 – Flirty wife 35
36 – Perfect vital stats 36, standard size 36, three dozen
37 – Mixed luck
38 – Oversize
39 – Watch your waistline
40 – Naughty 40
41 – Life begins at 41
43 – Down on your knees 43
44 – Chor & chor, All the fours
45 – Halfway there
46 – Up to tricks at 46
47 – Year of Independence
49 – Rise and shine at 49
50 – Half a century, Golden Jubilee (50)
51 – Charity begins at 51
52 – Weeks in a year; Pack of cards
53 – Pack with a joker
54 – Time for more
55 – Nagging wife, All the fives
56 – Pick up sticks
60 – Diamond Jubilee (60)
66 – Clickety Click
69 – Ulta Pulta, Any way round
72 – Lucky couple, lucky two
74 – Lucky chor 74
77 – Hum “saat” “saat” (Hindi) hain, luck-a-luck, double hockey sticks, two little crutches
78 – Lucky “seth” (Hindi) 78
79 – One more time, lucky nine
82 – Last of the two 82; Fat lady with a duck
83 – India won Cricket World Cup
84 – Last of the chors
87 – Last of luck, fat lady with a crutch
88 – Two fat ladies
89 – Nearly there; All but one
90 – Top of the house, number 90!

Play Tambola Online On Whatsapp

While we all are stuck in our homes due to the pandemic we can still come together with our friends and family members through online games. When it is difficult to get together and play games we can still connect through online games such as playing Tambola online on Whatsapp.

Below are the rules for the game that everyone should reflect for the smooth functioning of the game:

1. Ask the players to not spam on the WhatsApp group for unending fun.
2. To claim any prize, please type STOP and mention the claim. Send the photo of the ticket along with the ticket number.
3. As there will be many players who will be claiming the prize for each variation. So, divide the prize amount equally amongst the first three players who came first to claim the variation.
4. Everyone should be alert enough to claim their prize before the next number is called out. If they hesitate and the next number is called, there will be on prize and the CLAIM will be considered BOGEY.
5. Be sure to follow the rules and decision of the organiser as final.

Directions to Organise the Game:

1. You can create and call out random numbers for the game using the tambola board. It is better to use a mobile app to play tambola as many are available for free.
2. You can ask all your friends to create a ticket by drawing or can get a printout.
3. Be sure to describe each and every rule carefully to all the layers, so there is no confusion amongst the players.
4. While claiming the prize ask all the winners to share their tickets.
5. Once the winner has claimed the prize, share a screenshot on the Whatsapp group so there is no confusion among the players.

Online Applications to Play Tambola

Tambola is no longer limited to the board games or to a confined number of players. Now you can play Tambola game online with N number of players. You can also download free Tambola game from the play store as there are many free Tambola game applications available. Check these mobile apps:

Tambola – Online Indian Bingo

Tambola

Jungle Tambola

Tambola Housie – 90 Ball Bingo

So what are you waiting for? Just download a free Tambola game application and get ready to play and win like a pro!

Hope you’ve found this article useful. From your experience, if you can add to it in some way please do so via your comments below. You’ll help us delight the readers who visit after you. Thanks 🙂

In case you are looking for more Party Games, here they are:

• Couple Games
• Dinner Party Games
• Kids Games
• Kitty Party Games
• Special Day Games

FAQs

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