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Definition

Bingo Pattern

Also known as Pattern, Winning Pattern, Bingo Shapes

By Reviewed Editorial policy

In short

A bingo pattern is the specific arrangement of marked squares required to win a 75-ball game. The pattern is announced before play and varies between games within a session.

In 75-ball bingo, each game specifies which arrangement of squares wins. The pattern is announced beforehand and displayed throughout.

Common patterns

Simple

  • Any line, horizontal, vertical or diagonal
  • Four corners
  • Postage stamp: a 2×2 block in any corner

Letters and shapes

  • T, L, E, X, Z, H
  • Diamond, kite, arrow, champagne glass
  • Layer cake, three horizontal lines

Hard

  • Blackout, the entire card
  • Double bingo, two lines
  • Crazy patterns: the shape may be rotated, so any of four orientations wins

Why the free space matters

The centre square is free and counts as marked. This makes patterns that pass through the centre substantially easier. A vertical line through the N column needs only four numbers, not five.

Patterns are priced with this in mind, so a pattern avoiding the centre is a harder win for the same prize.

Crazy patterns

“Crazy” prefixed to a pattern means it can appear in any rotation. Crazy T wins with a T in any of four orientations, which multiplies the ways to complete it and shortens the game considerably.

This is worth noticing because the prize is not always adjusted to match. A crazy variant is usually an easier win.

Practical notes

  • Check the pattern before the game starts. Playing for the wrong shape is the most common mistake in 75-ball, and online players switching between rooms are especially prone to it
  • Online play claims automatically, so a missed pattern costs nothing. The software knows what it is playing for
  • Multiple patterns may be in play in a single game, each with its own prize
  • 90-ball has no patterns: it plays only for one line, two lines and full house, which is the main structural difference between the formats

Common questions

What are the common bingo patterns?

Single lines in any direction, four corners, postage stamp, letter shapes like T, X and L, diamonds and arrows, and blackout for the whole card. The pattern is announced before each game and displayed throughout.

What does a crazy pattern mean in bingo?

The shape can appear in any rotation, so a crazy T wins with a T in any of four orientations. That multiplies the ways to complete it and shortens the game, though the prize is not always adjusted to match.

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