Postage Stamp Bingo
A postage stamp is a 2x2 block of squares in a corner of the card, where a stamp goes on an envelope. Any of the four corners wins unless the caller names one, so players watch four little blocks at once.
How to play
The caller announces postage stamp and says whether any corner counts (the usual rule) or only the top right, as on a real envelope. The first player to fill one 2x2 corner block calls bingo.
Why players like it
Sixteen squares can help instead of four, so it is even quicker than four corners: in our simulation of 75-ball games, with 30 cards in play someone usually has a stamp after 20 to 27 calls, against 26 to 38 for four corners. On a 75-ball card each stamp takes two columns, B and I on the left or G and O on the right.
Variations
Double postage stamp needs two stamps on the same card, a longer game. Postage stamp and the centre adds the free space. Inside postage stamp is the 2x2 block next to the centre, less common in halls.
Checking a winner
Read out the winner's card number and pick postage stamp in the winner check: it marks the card with the calls so far and shows which corner block is complete, or how many squares the closest one still needs.
More patterns
- Four corners: Just the four corner squares. Four numbers can win, so it is fast and good for a warm-up.
- Blackout: Every square on the card. Also called coverall: the longest game, often the last of the night.
- All bingo patterns, with pictures.