Quick answer
The arrow bingo pattern is a diagonal shaft running from the bottom left corner through the free space to the top right corner, with an arrowhead formed by the two squares on either side of that corner. It covers 9 squares and needs 8 numbers. One card has a 15% chance by call 60; with 500 cards in play the first arrow usually comes around call 36, or call 31 if it may point to any corner.
Which squares make the arrow?
The arrow is a diagonal with a point on one end:
- Shaft: B5, I4, free space, G2, O1
- Arrowhead, top edge: N1, G1
- Arrowhead, right edge: O2, O3
9 squares, 8 numbers. The tip of the arrow is the O1 corner, and the head spreads two squares along the top row and two down the O column.
Arrow odds by call
Exact single-card figures:
| Calls made | Regular arrow | Crazy arrow (any corner) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 0.46% | 1.8% |
| 50 | 3.2% | 11% |
| 60 | 15% | 44% |
| 70 | 56% | 93% |
Half of single cards finish a regular arrow by call 70 and a crazy arrow by call 62. In a room, our simulation puts the first regular arrow at about call 46 with 50 cards and call 36 with 500 cards; a crazy arrow comes around call 39 and call 31.
How much does the arrowhead add?
The shaft on its own is one diagonal, which needs just 4 numbers. The arrowhead adds 4 more, and because they have to be those exact squares, the game gets much longer. In a 500-card room, a diagonals-only game usually ends around call 15, while the first fixed-direction arrow comes around call 36.
Tips for players
- Start with the diagonal. The shaft is an any diagonal line, so a card with that diagonal nearly done is halfway there.
- The head is all on the edges. N1, G1, O2 and O3 sit on the top row and O column.
- In a crazy arrow, both diagonals matter. Each diagonal is the shaft for two arrows pointing in opposite directions.
Tips for callers and hosts
The arrow is a crowd favorite for Valentine’s Day, when it’s often billed as Cupid’s arrow and played alongside the heart. At 8 numbers it’s a medium game that suits a mid-session slot and prize.
Say clearly which way the arrow points, or announce “crazy arrow” if any corner counts. Arrow shapes vary between pattern boards, so always show the diagram.
Variations
- Crazy arrow: pointing to any of the four corners.
- Arrow with a fixed corner: only the direction shown on the board counts, which is the standard game above.
- Kite: a solid block at one end of the diagonal instead of an arrowhead. See the kite.
Frequently asked questions
What does an arrow look like on a bingo card?
A diagonal line from B5 up to O1 forms the shaft. The head is N1 and G1 along the top row and O2 and O3 down the O column, making a point in the top right corner.
Can the arrow point in any direction?
In a crazy arrow game it can point to any of the four corners. In a regular arrow game it points to the corner shown on the board, usually the top right.
Does the arrow use the free space?
Yes. The shaft runs corner to corner through the center, so the free space is part of it and you need 8 numbers.
Keep reading
Any Diagonal Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
Diagonal bingo counts only corner-to-corner lines through the free space. See both winning diagonals, the 4 numbers each needs, and the exact odds.
Kite Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The kite bingo pattern is a postage stamp in one corner with a diagonal tail through the free space: 7 squares, 6 numbers. See exact odds and crazy kite.
Heart Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The heart bingo pattern is a solid heart of 16 squares, including the free space, so you need 15 numbers. See the layout, exact odds and Valentine's tips.
Bingo Patterns
Every bingo pattern with a picture, rules and how many numbers you need.