Quick answer
Hardway bingo is a straight-line game where lines through the free space don't count. That rules out the middle row, the N column and both diagonals, leaving 8 lines that each need 5 called numbers. One card has a 26% chance of a hardway line by call 40, compared with 45% for a regular line, and with 500 cards in play the first winner usually comes around call 16.
How hardway bingo works
In a regular line game, four of the 12 lines get a head start from the free space and need only 4 numbers. Hardway takes that shortcut away. Only lines that avoid the center square count, and every one of them needs all 5 numbers called.
The 8 hardway lines are:
- Rows: 1, 2, 4 and 5
- Columns: B, I, G and O
Not allowed: the middle row (row 3), the N column, and both diagonals.
Hardway odds by call
Exact single-card figures for the 8 hardway lines:
| Calls made | Hardway line | Regular line (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 6.4% | 14% |
| 40 | 26% | 45% |
| 50 | 63% | 81% |
| 60 | 94% | 99% |
Half of single cards have a hardway line by call 47, five calls later than a regular single line (call 42). In a room, our simulation puts the first hardway winner at about call 23 with 50 cards and call 16 with 500 cards.
Tips for players
- Ignore the middle. Rows and columns through the free space are traps in this game. A line through the center feels like a win but won’t be paid.
- Watch the outer columns. B and O each hold a complete hardway line, and so do the I and G columns.
- Listen for the call-back. If someone claims a line through the center, the caller will reject it, and the game continues.
Tips for callers and hosts
Hardway is an easy way to make a line game a bit longer and fairer, since no card gets a 4-number shortcut. It suits rooms of regulars who find regular lines too quick. Keep the prize a step above a regular line.
Announce it clearly. “Hardway, no free space” is a common phrasing, and showing the 8 allowed lines on a board heads off disputes. You can also run a hardway double: two hardway lines on one card, a longer game for a bigger prize.
Variations
- Rows only or columns only: cuts the ways to win from 8 to 4 for a longer game.
- Hardway double: two of the 8 lines on one card.
- Railroad tracks: two set hardway columns. See railroad tracks.
Frequently asked questions
What does hardway mean in bingo?
Hardway means you must win without the free space. Only lines made entirely of called numbers count, so every winning line needs all 5 of its numbers.
Which lines count in hardway bingo?
Rows 1, 2, 4 and 5, plus the B, I, G and O columns. The middle row, the N column and both diagonals all pass through the free space, so they don't count.
Do diagonals count in hardway bingo?
No. Both diagonals cross the free space, so they're excluded. Standard hardway uses only the 8 lines that avoid the center square.
Keep reading
Single Line Bingo Pattern: Rules, Odds & Tips
Single line bingo means five in a row across, down or diagonally. See all 12 winning lines, how the free space helps, and the real odds by call.
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.
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.
Bingo Odds Calculator
Work out your chance of winning a bingo game based on cards and players.