This free tambola number calling tool draws numbers from 1 to 90 at random, marks each one on the board and can read the calls aloud, so the host gets to play too. Use it on a laptop connected to a TV, on a tablet passed around the room, or on your phone for a small family game of housie.
How to run a tambola game
You need tickets for every player, a pen each, a caller and a list of prizes. If you do not have tickets yet, make them with our free tambola ticket generator. For the complete rules, see how to play tambola.
- Hand out the tickets. One or two per player is plenty, and one is best for young children.
- Announce the prizes. Say which patterns you are playing for, in what order, and what each prize is. Small gifts, chocolates or points keep it friendly.
- Explain how to claim. Players call out "housie" or the prize name (for example "top line") as soon as they complete a pattern, before the next number is called.
- Start calling. Press the button to draw a number. Read it out clearly, with its traditional call if you like, and leave a few seconds for everyone to check their tickets.
- Check each claim. Pause the game, read out the numbers on the claimed ticket and compare them with the board. If they all appear, the claim is good.
- Carry on to full house. Keep calling until someone completes all 15 numbers. That usually ends the game.
A comfortable pace is one number every eight to ten seconds. Go slower with children and elders, and speed up once everyone has the hang of it.
Prizes and claims
| Claim | What you need |
|---|---|
| Early five (quick five) | Any five numbers on the ticket struck off |
| Top line | All five numbers in the first row |
| Middle line | All five numbers in the second row |
| Bottom line | All five numbers in the third row |
| Four corners | The first and last numbers of the top row and of the bottom row |
| Full house | All 15 numbers on the ticket |
Many groups add fun extras such as the star (four corners plus the middle number of the centre row) or breakfast, lunch and dinner (all numbers in columns one to three, four to six and seven to nine). Agree any extras before you start.
House rules for claims
- Late claims: most hosts accept a claim only until the next number is called.
- Wrong claims: a wrong claim is often called a bogey. Decide in advance whether it simply goes back into play or whether the ticket is out for that prize.
- Two winners on the same number: share the prize, or offer a quick tie-break such as a fresh draw where the higher number wins.
Traditional tambola calls
Part of the fun of housie is the rhyming or picture call for each number, and every family and club has its own favourites. Here are some calls in the classic style, in our own words. Feel free to make up your own, especially for birthdays and anniversaries.
| Number | Call |
|---|---|
| 1 | Start of the game, number one |
| 2 | Just you and me, number two |
| 3 | Cup of chai, number three |
| 4 | Knock at the door, number four |
| 5 | Fingers on one hand, number five |
| 6 | Half a dozen, number six |
| 7 | Lucky seven |
| 8 | Shut the gate, number eight |
| 9 | Doctor's time, number nine |
| 10 | A big round ten |
| 11 | Two thin legs, eleven |
| 12 | One full dozen, twelve |
| 13 | Unlucky for some, thirteen |
| 16 | Sweet sixteen |
| 18 | Coming of age, eighteen |
| 20 | One full score, twenty |
| 22 | Two little ducks, twenty-two |
| 33 | All the threes, thirty-three |
| 44 | All the fours, forty-four |
| 50 | Half a century, fifty |
| 55 | All the fives, fifty-five |
| 66 | All the sixes, sixty-six |
| 77 | Two walking sticks, seventy-seven |
| 88 | Two snowmen, eighty-eight |
| 89 | Nearly there, eighty-nine |
| 90 | End of the board, ninety |
Many calls are based on how the number looks: eleven is two thin legs, 77 looks like two walking sticks and 88 like two snowmen. Others repeat the digits, like all the fours for 44. Keep calls short so the game keeps moving.
Tips for a great tambola night
- Project the board on a TV so everyone can catch up on missed numbers.
- Choose a confident caller with a clear voice, or switch on the spoken calls in the tool.
- Keep a printed list of prizes nearby and tick them off as they are won.
- For a kitty party or birthday party, theme the prizes and calls to the occasion.
Questions people ask
How many numbers are there in tambola?
Tambola uses the numbers 1 to 90. Each number is called only once in a game, and the board shows which numbers have already been drawn.
Can I use this tambola number caller with players online?
Yes. Share your screen on a video call so everyone can see the board and hear the calls, and send tickets as a PDF from the ticket generator. Players then claim by speaking up or typing in the chat.
What is early five in tambola?
Early five, also called quick five or jaldi five, is won by the first player to strike off any five numbers on their ticket. It is usually the first prize of the game.
What happens if someone makes a wrong claim in housie?
A wrong claim is usually called a bogey. Depending on your house rules, the player either carries on as normal or that ticket is barred from the prize they claimed. Agree the rule before the first number is called.
How long does a game of tambola take?
Calling at about one number every eight to ten seconds, a full game usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. More tickets in play means prizes are claimed sooner.