Bing-Oh!

Bing-Oh - Swap, block and steal your way to victory.

Bing-Oh is a totally new way to play the traditional bingo game. After seeing that Dr. Toy chose this game as one of the 100 best children's products, and Creative Child Magazine gave it their 2008 game of the year award, I was curious to see what was in the box.

Familiar to traditional bingo players is the fact that you must cover several squares in a row, usually horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, to win a round. Less familiar to the traditional bingo card is that the BING-OH cards are printed with a variety of instructions that must be followed when a square is covered. The free space(s) on cards are in different places and some cards have multiple free spots. There are also squares that are blacked out and you cannot use them to win a game. There are lots of different twists and turns that will keep you on your toes as you play. Here's a look at some of the cards:

Wondering how you are going to fill the empty spaces with chips? There are two large, oversized, plastic, hollow dice included. The green die has the letters B-I-N-G-O-H printed on it, with a small star printed next to the B. The purple die has the numbers 1-6 printed on it, with a small star next to the numbers one and six. The throw of the dice will dictate your move. 

Object:
Winner of each round gets five chips. The first player to accumulate 20 chips wins the game.

Set up:
To start, mix the cards and deal one card to each player face-down. Place the remaining cards in a face-down pile nearby. Each player takes all of one color chips (25), this is their reserve pile. Place paper and pencil nearby for keeping score. Place the dice nearby.   

Play:
Players take turns being the roller, throwing the dice and announcing the combination that results, such as B1. The possibilities are:

• One letter and one number such as B1 - All players will place a chip on that space. If there are special instructions, one at a time the players must read and follow them (see below).
• A star - The roller may take one chip from any player's reserve pile.
• 2 stars - The roller may take three chips from any combination of players, possible leaving another player short of chips they need to win.

There are 26 different directions possible, so if your goal is following directions, this may be a jackpot game for you. Here are just a few of the directions:

• Move one chip anywhere
• Add one chip anywhere
• Must win with Z shape (or vertical, or horizontal, or T shape, or 4 corners, etc.)
• Remove one chip from opponent's card
• Take all reserve chips back
• Take a new card and start over
• Roadblock (creates a dead zone, blocking an opponent's use of a space to win)
• Opponents must win with vertical (or horizontal)

Play until someone has five in a row and wins the game. Bing-Oh! is a game that has enough interest and variety that the whole family, of different ages, can play together.

Try this:

• Start by making sure the individual can recognize a BING-OH. Place several cards on the table and embed one BING-OH on each card. Place addition chips around it, but only one BING-OH. Can they find it?
• Use letters instead of rows and columns as your patterns. You can play for O (border), L, P, C, F, G, U, N and Z.
• Stop occasionally and check the player's card. Ask them to point out places where they only need one more to win a bingo. Or point out possible BING-OHs and ask how many more will be needed to win or which squares will need markers to win in that direction etc.
• Sort the six colors of bingo chips before starting into six piles. Place two or three at a time in the individual's fingers and ask him to slide one at a time to the fingertips to sort.
• Place a few chips in the crook of the players curled fingers. Ask him to tip his hand parallel to the table so that the chips are in close proximity to the fingertips for faster sorting.
• Pick up two or three Bingo chips and hold them in the hand, moving them to the fingertips and placing one at a time as a space is called.
• Clean up by picking up chips one at a time and squirreling them into the palm. How many can you pick up before you have to drop a handful into the box?
• Clean up by asking the individual to cup his hand, squeezing his fingers together so the chips won't fall through. Place the chips one at a time into the cupped hand and count to make sure you get them all put away.
• Clean up by holding the box in the non-dominant hand off the side of the table. Curl the dominant hand and slide it on the table toward the box, pushing chips into the box without dropping any on the floor.
• Work on visual discrimination, spatial relations, visual closure, figure ground, following directions, in-hand manipulation, fine motor precision, manual dexterity, socialization skills, process skills, executive functioning, play and leisure exploration and participation
  
  In the box: 60 cards, 150 chips (25 each of six different colors), 2 jumbo dice
   
• Ages 6+, 2-6 players

If you are interested in purchasing this item or just want more information, click on the image below.