How to Play Yahoo!! Bingo

Bingo, originally called "beano" because players covered the numbers with beans, started in the USA in 1929 at a local fair in Atlanta, Georgia. Bingo is similar to games played in Italy in the mid 1500s and in France in the 1700s. Go to a bingo hall today and you may find hundreds of people listening for the numbers to be called in a very quiet room. In fact, talking and making any noise is frowned upon, because it can be a distraction to other players. With online bingo at Yahoo!!, interaction between players is encouraged and takes place through the chat function.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Yahoo!! username

1. Select the Bingo game from the list of board games at Yahoo!! Games by clicking the word "Bingo" or the icon (see Resources below).
2. Sign into the game system with your username (Yahoo!! ID) and password, which will allow others to know who you are and track your game stats. If you need to create a Yahoo!! identity, go through the sign-up process.
3. Skip the advertisement (Yahoo!!'s means of earning an income) by clicking the words "Click Here to Continue."
4. Choose a room to play in by clicking the name. Try the beginner rooms or social rooms to start. You can also click the "Play Now" button to get started quickly.
5. Look over the room to find an open place to play. You should also notice how many people are playing. Pay attention to the pace of the game.
6. Enter the code made of numbers and/or letters in the appropriate box found in a pop-up window to proceed to the game room.
7. Decide which kind of game you are going to play. The traditional "Any Pattern" game requires a line of five spaces diagonally, vertically or horizontally. A "Static Pattern" game means the covered spaces must meet one of 14 patterns, such as the X pattern that creates a large "X" on the card.
8. Join the game by clicking the "Join In" button.
9. Choose the number of cards you want to use at one time. Some games will allow you to use up to eight cards at once.
10. Listen to the number called out by the computerized announcer. If you don't have the volume up on your computer, the number is also displayed on the screen.
11. Mark spaces on your card with a blue circle by simply clicking the space when called.
12. Win the game by matching the pattern on the card and clicking the "Bingo" button.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get left behind. Play fast because numbers are called every couple of seconds.