In the ongoing quest for more variety for my favorite game, I’ve been presented with many fascinating challenges. First and foremost, when I come across a new gaming variant I ask myself: ‘Jeremy is this going to fly? Will players take to this game like fish to water or will it never get out of the starting blocks?’ The goal of course is to up the ante in the bingo sphere.
There are more ways to play this game than ever before. And the reason is pretty simple – it rocks. Take for example a nifty idea called ‘bingo dice’.
1. DIY (Do it yourself) Bingo Dice
In order to get started with this refreshing concept, players and/or organizers need to get hold of the following materials:
- Cardboard paper, pens and markers.
- The paper should be divided into 6 columns with the 6 faces of a dice drawn on.
- Players must divide each of the 6 columns into 6 boxes and then select colors (1 for each number) to color in the boxes.
- All the colored pens and markers are then placed in a bag and the dice is thrown.
- Then a colored pen is removed from the bag.
- Players then mark the square if it corresponds with the color called out under the number rolled.
- This process continues until a winner (completes a winning pattern – vertical/horizontal/diagonal) is announced.
So for example the caller rolls the dice and then removes a pen from the bag. If you number and color correspond, you mark it off anywhere on your grid.
2. Ready-Mix Bingo Dice
But fear not if the above method seems a little daunting to you. I’ve come across an entirely different method that is equally alluring for this game. It involves playing with a rather large group of people. But it’s lots of fun too! In total there are 2 dice being used and a 5 x 5 grid of bingo numbers. It’s important to get the mathematics of this right because there’s little room for error. Because there are 2 dice, the numbers must correspond with potential outcomes – 2 thru 12. There are no other options. Numbers can be used as many times as the players like. So you could have a 5 X 5 bingo card looking like this for example:
| 2 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
| 6 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 5 |
| 8 | 9 | 3 | 2 | |
| 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 7 |
| 8 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 7 |
I like to leave the middle square blank – as in traditional 75-ball bingo games – but you may wish to include a digit here too. Next up – the bingo caller rolls the dice. And then he/she reads out the number. The player uses a dauber or marker to mark off the called out total while the caller jots down the results of the dice rolls. It’s that simple and the results of this game – especially for kids at school or even at parties.
If you’ve come across particularly exciting bingo gaming variants that you’d like to share with readers and players at bingo-room.com please send me a message and I’ll be sure to take it into consideration.
Image credit: lilphotodevil
Hello Jeremy Stersky,
I’ve never played this gaming variant before. It looks rather amusing. Is it played somewhat like craps? Or are the dice simply used to ‘daub off’ bingo squares? It looks really simple mind you. Thanks for that,
Alistair Blyton
It’s a fabulous variety of games to enjoy. In fact bingo dice variations are arguably the most special of the ‘variant style bingo games.’ I’ve named them ‘Do it Yourself’ and ‘Ready Mix.’ Hope you enjoyed the article Alistair.
Regards,
Jeremy Stersky
I enjoyed reading & I must say that I was very impressed with your writing skills. Keep up the good work it’s very refreshing to see someone like you
You’ve got me blushing now. But don’t stop on my account. On a serious note – I want to provide premium content to all readers. It’s a community that we’re building here at bingo-room and you’re a part of it. Enjoy the games.
Jeremy
Thanks Loss,
It means a lot to me. Appreciate it.
Jeremy Stersky