Quick answer
The plus sign bingo pattern is the whole middle row and the whole N column, crossing at the free space. It covers 9 squares but needs only 8 numbers, because the free space is the center of the plus. One card has a 3.2% chance by call 50 and 15% by call 60, and with 500 cards in play the first plus usually appears around call 37.
Which squares make the plus sign?
Draw a plus right through the middle of your card:
- Middle row: B3, I3, free space, G3, O3
- N column: N1, N2, free space, N4, N5
The free space is shared by both bars, so the pattern is 9 squares and 8 numbers: one each from B, I, G and O, and four from the N column (31–45).
Plus sign odds by call
Exact single-card figures:
| Calls made | Chance one card has the plus |
|---|---|
| 40 | 0.46% |
| 50 | 3.2% |
| 60 | 15% |
| 70 | 56% |
Half of single cards finish by call 70. With more cards in the room, our simulation puts the first plus around call 47 with 50 cards and call 37 with 500 cards. That’s about the same as the letter X, which is the plus turned 45 degrees and also needs 8 numbers.
The N column is the key
Half your numbers come from the N column. On a 75-ball card the N column has only four numbers, and you need all four. So calls from 31 to 45 are the ones to watch. The other four numbers are a single square in each of B, I, G and O.
Tips for players
- Pay extra attention to N calls. You need all four of your N numbers.
- Don’t get distracted by other lines. Finishing the top row or a diagonal doesn’t help in this game.
- Check both bars before you call. It’s common to finish the middle row first and think you’re done.
Tips for callers and hosts
The plus sign is easy to explain (“the middle row and the middle column”), which makes it good for mixed groups. It plays as a mid-session game, longer than lines and shorter than most letters, and it’s symmetrical, so it looks the same however a card is held.
If players confuse it with the small version, show both on your pattern board: the small diamond (sometimes called a small cross) needs only 4 numbers.
Variations
- Small plus: just the four squares touching the free space. See the small diamond.
- Letter X: the two diagonals instead of the middle row and column.
- Plus and X together: both shapes on one card, 17 squares and 16 numbers.
- Latin cross: the cross pattern, with the crossbar on row 2.
Frequently asked questions
How many numbers do you need for a plus sign in bingo?
Eight. The plus covers 9 squares, but the center square is the free space, which is already marked.
Is the plus sign just two lines?
It's two specific lines: the middle row and the N column. In a regular two-lines game those lines would count, but in a plus sign game no other pair of lines wins.
What is the difference between a plus sign and a cross?
A plus sign has arms of equal length meeting in the center. The cross pattern on most boards is a Latin cross, with the crossbar higher up on the card.
Keep reading
Small Diamond Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The small diamond bingo pattern is the four squares touching the free space. See which numbers count, the exact odds by call, and how it compares.
Cross Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The cross bingo pattern is the full N column with a crossbar on row 2: 9 squares, 8 numbers. See the layout, how it differs from a plus sign, and the odds.
Letter X Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
The letter X bingo pattern is both diagonals crossing at the free space: 9 squares and 8 numbers. See the layout, the exact odds by call, and tips.
Two Lines Bingo Pattern (Double Bingo): Rules, Odds & Tips
Two lines bingo, or double bingo, needs any two complete lines on one card. See which lines count, how many numbers it takes, and the odds by call.