Group GamesTambola (Housie)
Tambola, also called Housie, is the classic number game of kitty parties, society functions and family evenings. A caller announces numbers from 1 to 90 and players strike them off their tickets. The first to complete a pattern wins.
- Players
- 5 or more
- Time
- 30 to 45 minutes
- You need
- Tickets, pens, a number caller
- Ages
- 7 and above
- Type
- Party games
Who it suits and when to play
Tambola suits large gatherings where people of every age sit together: society events, kitty parties, family functions and festival evenings. Children from about seven can manage their own ticket. It needs no skill, so everybody has the same chance. Play for fun, sweets or small gifts. Our Tambola caller calls the numbers and prints tickets for you.
How to play
- Give each player a ticket. A ticket has three rows, and each row has five numbers.
- The caller picks numbers one at a time, at random, and announces each one clearly.
- Players strike off the number if it is on their ticket.
- A player who completes a winning pattern calls out its name at once, for example "Top line!"
- The caller checks the ticket against the called numbers. A wrong claim is called a "bogey", and that ticket is out of the game.
- The game ends with the "full house": all fifteen numbers on one ticket.
Tips and variations
- The usual patterns: early five (any five numbers), four corners, top line, middle line, bottom line and full house.
- Our free Tambola number caller and ticket maker calls the numbers for you and prints tickets.
- Play for fun, sweets or small gifts. We suggest not playing for money.
- On WhatsApp, send each player a photo of a ticket, call numbers in the group, and ask winners to send a photo of their marked ticket.
Common problems and how to fix them
- Two people claim the same prize on the same number. Check both tickets. If both are right, they share the prize or each gets one.
- A claim turns out to be wrong. The usual rule is that a false claim cancels that ticket for that prize. Announce the rule before the first number.
- Players miss numbers because the caller is too fast. Call each number twice, slowly, and keep the board of called numbers where all can see it.
More party games
- Antakshari 20 to 40 minutes
- Dumb Charades 20 to 30 minutes
- Musical Chairs 10 to 15 minutes
- Passing the Parcel 15 minutes
- Whisper Chain 10 minutes
- One-Minute Games 1 minute for each player
- Draw and Guess 20 minutes
- Who Am I? 15 minutes
Need fair teams or someone to go first? Use the team maker. See all 45 games.