Quick answer
The letter I bingo pattern is the full top row, the full bottom row and the N column joining them. It covers 13 squares; the free space is on the N column, so you need 12 numbers. One card has a 5.4% chance by call 60, and with 500 cards in play the first I usually lands around call 47.
Which squares make the letter I?
This is the capital I with serifs, the I-beam shape:
- Top bar: B1, I1, N1, G1, O1
- Stem: N2, free space, N4
- Bottom bar: B5, I5, N5, G5, O5
13 squares, 12 numbers. The stem runs down the N column, so you need every N number on the card (31–45) and two each from B, I, G and O.
Don’t confuse the pattern with the I column. When a caller says “letter I,” they mean this shape; “the I column” or “I line” means the five squares under the I.
Letter I odds by call
Exact single-card figures:
| Calls made | Chance one card has the I |
|---|---|
| 40 | 0.02% |
| 50 | 0.46% |
| 60 | 5.4% |
| 70 | 41% |
Half of single cards finish by call 72. In a full room, our simulation puts the first I at about call 55 with 50 cards and call 47 with 500 cards.
Turn the I a quarter turn and you get the letter H. Halls that allow a crazy I count both, which lifts one card’s chance at call 60 to 10%.
Tips for players
- Two full rows do most of the work. Ten of your 12 numbers are in the top and bottom rows.
- Watch for N calls. Four of your numbers are in the N column, and you need every one.
- Rows 2 to 4 are mostly dead. Apart from the stem, nothing in the middle of the card helps.
Tips for callers and hosts
The I is a clean, medium-length game that’s easy to recognize. It’s a natural part of a “spell BINGO” series alongside the letter B, letter N and outside edge (the O). With 12 numbers, it suits a mid-session prize.
When teaching new players, show the diagram and say “top row, bottom row and the middle column” to avoid mix-ups with the I column.
Variations
- Crazy I: the I or its sideways form, the letter H.
- Letter T: the I without its bottom bar. See the letter T.
Frequently asked questions
How many numbers are in a letter I bingo?
Twelve. The I covers 13 squares: two full rows of five, plus N2, the free space and N4 in between.
Is the letter I bingo the same as the I column?
No. The I column is a straight line down the second column of the card. The letter I pattern is a capital I shape using the top row, bottom row and the N column.
What N numbers do I need for a letter I?
All four N numbers on your card: N1 and N5 on the top and bottom rows, and N2 and N4 on the stem. The center is free.
Keep reading
Letter H Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The letter H bingo pattern is the B and O columns joined by the middle row: 13 squares, 12 numbers. See the exact layout, odds by call and tips.
Letter T Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The letter T bingo pattern is the top row plus the N column: 9 squares, 8 numbers. See the exact layout, the odds by call, and how crazy T works.
Letter Z Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The letter Z bingo pattern is the top row, bottom row and a diagonal through the free space: 13 squares, 12 numbers. See the layout and exact odds.
Bingo Patterns
Every bingo pattern with a picture, rules and how many numbers you need.