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All Tambola Prizes Explained: Complete Guide with Ticket Examples

14 Jun 20266 min

Introduction

Tambola (also called Housie) is India's most loved party game. Understanding the prizes is key to playing well. Here's a complete guide to every prize in Tambola!

Whether you are playing at a family Diwali gathering, a kitty party, an office function or solo on the Tambola app, the prizes are the same everywhere. Know them well and you will never miss a claim again. By the end of this guide you will understand exactly what each prize means, see a real ticket example for every one, and pick up tips on when each prize tends to land during a game.

How a Tambola Ticket Works

Before the prizes make sense, you need to understand the ticket. Every Tambola ticket follows the same fixed structure:

  • A grid of 3 rows × 9 columns
  • Each row has exactly 5 numbers and 4 blank spaces
  • Numbers 1–9 live in column 1, 10–19 in column 2, 20–29 in column 3, and so on up to 80–90 in column 9
  • Total: 15 numbers on each ticket

So out of the 27 cells on the grid, only 15 hold numbers and 12 are blank. That column rule matters: a single-digit number like 5 can only ever appear in the first column, and a number in the nineties can only appear in the last column. Once you internalise this, scanning a freshly called number to your ticket becomes almost automatic.

Here is a sample ticket:

┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
│    │ 12 │    │ 34 │    │ 56 │    │ 78 │    │
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│  5 │    │ 23 │    │ 45 │    │ 67 │    │ 89 │
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│    │ 18 │    │ 37 │    │ 59 │    │ 82 │    │
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘

When a number is called, you check whether it sits on your ticket and "dab" (mark) it if it does. Prizes are simply different patterns of marked numbers. Let's go through all five.

Prize 1 — Early 5 (Jaldi 5)

What is it?

The first player to mark any 5 numbers on their ticket wins Early 5. Numbers can be anywhere on the ticket — any row, any position. There is no pattern to chase; raw speed of luck decides it.

Example:

┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
│    │ 12✓│    │ 34 │    │ 56✓│    │ 78 │    │
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│  5✓│    │ 23 │    │ 45✓│    │ 67 │    │ 89 │
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│    │ 18✓│    │ 37 │    │ 59 │    │ 82 │    │
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘

5 numbers marked ✓ anywhere = Early 5!

Tips:

  • Usually awarded when 10–20 numbers have been called
  • Great prize to aim for early in the game
  • In Tambola app: the claim button shows an "X away" countdown, so you always know how close you are

Prize 2 — Top Line

What is it?

Complete all 5 numbers in the TOP row of your ticket. Remember, even though the row has 9 columns, only 5 of them hold numbers — those are the 5 you need.

Example:

┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
│    │ 12✓│    │ 34✓│    │ 56✓│    │ 78✓│ 90✓│  ← TOP ROW ✓
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│  5 │    │ 23 │    │ 45 │    │ 67 │    │ 89 │
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│    │ 18 │    │ 37 │    │ 59 │    │ 82 │    │
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘

All 5 numbers in Row 1 marked = Top Line!

Tips:

  • Watch your top row carefully
  • If 4 numbers in the top row are called early — you're close!
  • Usually claimed between call 20–45

Prize 3 — Middle Line

What is it?

Complete all 5 numbers in the MIDDLE row of your ticket.

Example:

┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
│    │ 12 │    │ 34 │    │ 56 │    │ 78 │ 90 │
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│  5✓│    │ 23✓│    │ 45✓│    │ 67✓│    │ 89✓│  ← MIDDLE ROW ✓
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│    │ 18 │    │ 37 │    │ 59 │    │ 82 │    │
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘

All 5 numbers in Row 2 marked = Middle Line!

Tips:

  • Often claimed around call 30–55
  • Middle line players tend to be quieter — then surprise everyone!

Prize 4 — Bottom Line

What is it?

Complete all 5 numbers in the BOTTOM row of your ticket.

Example:

┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
│    │ 12 │    │ 34 │    │ 56 │    │ 78 │ 90 │
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│  5 │    │ 23 │    │ 45 │    │ 67 │    │ 89 │
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│    │ 18✓│    │ 37✓│    │ 59✓│    │ 82✓│  4✓│  ← BOTTOM ROW ✓
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘

All 5 numbers in Row 3 marked = Bottom Line!

Tips:

  • Same difficulty as Top and Middle Line
  • Keep track of all three rows simultaneously

Prize 5 — Full House (Housie!)

What is it?

The ultimate prize! Mark ALL 15 numbers on your ticket. This is the most exciting moment in Tambola — players shout "HOUSIE!" when they complete their ticket.

Example:

┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
│    │ 12✓│    │ 34✓│    │ 56✓│    │ 78✓│ 90✓│  ← ALL ✓
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│  5✓│    │ 23✓│    │ 45✓│    │ 67✓│    │ 89✓│  ← ALL ✓
├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
│    │ 18✓│    │ 37✓│    │ 59✓│    │ 82✓│  4✓│  ← ALL ✓
└────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘

All 15 numbers marked = FULL HOUSE! 🏆

Tips:

  • Usually claimed between call 50–80
  • When Auto-end is ON: Full House ends the game
  • When Auto-end is OFF: the game continues for more Full Houses
  • In Tambola app: confetti and celebrations when you win!

How to Play in Tambola App

Step by step:

  1. Download the Tambola app — free on iOS and Android
  2. Tap "Play with AI" or "Create Room"
  3. Numbers are announced automatically
  4. Tap the highlighted numbers on your ticket to mark them
  5. When a prize is complete — tap "TAP TO CLAIM"
  6. The host verifies your claim
  7. Celebrate your win! 🎉

Prize Money (Optional)

Many Indian families play Tambola with prize money. The Tambola app has a built-in Score Tracker where you can set prize amounts before the game. Popular amounts:

  • Early 5: ₹50–100
  • Each line: ₹100–200
  • Full House: ₹300–500

These are just typical figures — set whatever suits your group. The app totals everything up for you at the end, so there are no arguments about who won what.

Shared Winners

Sometimes two players complete a line at the same time. In the Tambola app you can enable "Shared Winners" mode, where the prize money is split equally between all valid claimants. It keeps the game friendly — nobody loses out just because someone else tapped a fraction of a second faster.

Tips to Win More Often

  1. Play with multiple tickets (up to 4 in the app) to cover more numbers
  2. Keep Highlight ON — a gold glow shows exactly which numbers to tap
  3. Watch all 3 rows simultaneously for lines
  4. Claim immediately — don't hesitate when a line is complete
  5. In multiplayer — claim fast for "First wins" mode

Download Tambola Free

Play all these prizes for free on iOS and Android. Get the Tambola app and start your next game night in seconds — no sign-up, no ads, just Housie.

Want More Prize Variations?

Check out our Advanced Tambola Prizes Guide for Four Corners, Star, Lucky 7, BP, Temperature and more!

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