Tambola Rules: How to Play Tambola (Housie)

Tambola, also known as housie, is the number game that brings everyone together at kitty parties, society functions, Diwali gatherings, office events and family get-togethers across India. One person calls out numbers from 1 to 90, everyone else marks them on their tickets, and the first to complete a pattern shouts out a claim. These tambola rules explain tickets, calling and every common claim, and you can print tickets and run the calling with our free tools below.

Quick rules

• Each player gets one or more tickets with 15 numbers between 1 and 90.
• The caller draws numbers at random, one at a time, and announces each one.
• Players strike off called numbers that appear on their tickets.
• When a ticket completes a pattern, such as early five or a full line, the player calls out the claim straight away.
• The caller checks the ticket against the called numbers. A correct claim wins that prize.
• A wrong claim is a "bogey" and is cancelled.
• The game ends when someone wins full house.

What you need

• Tambola tickets for every player. Print fresh ones with our tambola ticket generator.
• A pen or pencil for each player (or dabbers for marking).
• A caller with a number board or our tambola number caller.
• Small prizes such as gifts, chocolates or hampers for each claim.

Tambola ticket generator

Create valid tickets, then print them or save them as PDF for your guests.

How a tambola ticket works

A standard housie ticket is a grid of 3 rows and 9 columns, making 27 boxes.

• Each ticket has exactly 15 numbers, with 5 numbers in each row. The other boxes are blank.
• Each column holds numbers from one range: column 1 has 1 to 9, column 2 has 10 to 19, column 3 has 20 to 29, and so on, with column 9 holding 80 to 90.
• Every column has at least one number, and numbers in a column run from smallest at the top to largest at the bottom.
• No number appears twice on the same ticket.

Setup

1. Choose a caller (the host) who will not play.
2. Decide which claims you will play and what prize goes with each.
3. Hand out tickets: one per player, or let players take two or three tickets each.
4. Explain the claims before starting, especially to children and first-timers.

How to play

Calling the numbers

1. The caller picks numbers from 1 to 90 at random, without repeats, using numbered tokens in a bag or our caller tool.
2. Each number is announced clearly, often twice and with a fun rhyme or nickname.
3. The caller marks each called number on a board so claims can be checked.
4. Leave a few seconds between numbers so everyone can check their tickets.

Tambola number caller

Use this caller with its 1 to 90 board and spoken calls to run the game from a phone or laptop.

Marking and claiming

1. When a called number is on your ticket, strike it off.
2. As soon as you complete a pattern, call out the claim (for example "Early five") before the next number is announced.
3. The caller pauses and checks your ticket. If every number in the claim has been called, you win that prize.
4. Most groups allow a claim only on the latest number: if you miss your chance and more numbers are called, the claim may be refused. Agree this first.
5. If two or more players claim the same prize on the same number, the prize is shared or split.
6. Each claim can be won only once per game, so after top line is won it is closed.

Tambola claims and patterns

The game usually ends when full house is won, or when the second full house is won if you are playing it.

Popular number calls

• 1: Kelly's eye
• 11: Two beautiful legs
• 22: Two little ducks
• 44: All the fours
• 50: Half century
• 66: Clickety click
• 88: Two little ducks
• 90: Top of the house

Calls differ between families and clubs, and many hosts make up their own rhymes in Hindi, Gujarati or local languages.

How to win

There is a winner for every claim. The biggest prize goes to the first player to complete full house. Keep tickets until the end of the game, because the caller may ask to recheck them.

Variations

• Pyramid: 1 number in the top row, 2 in the middle and 3 in the bottom, in a pyramid shape.
• Star: four corners plus the middle number of the middle row.
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner: all numbers in columns 1 to 3, 4 to 6, or 7 to 9 respectively.
• Odd or even: all odd or all even numbers on the ticket.
• King's corner and queen's corner: specific corner combinations, popular at kitty parties.
• Theme tambola: replace numbers with film songs, emojis or pictures for a twist; see our kitty party games for ideas.

Tips for hosts

• Print one or two extra tickets per guest in case of mistakes.
• Announce numbers at a steady pace and repeat each one.
• Keep the called numbers visible on a board or screen so claims are easy to verify.
• Choose fun, inclusive prizes and keep the focus on entertainment.
• For big halls, use a microphone and display the board on a projector.

House rules to agree first

• Which claims you are playing and what each prize is.
• What happens on a bogey: the claim is cancelled, and some groups also stop that ticket from claiming the same pattern.
• Whether late claims are accepted.
• How tied claims are shared.

Planning a party? Pair tambola with antakshari, dumb charades or more office party games.