<p>Super Bowl Squares is a fun, social game of chance that adds excitement to any <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/events/superbowl">Super Bowl</a> party. Here's how the game works and why it's become a Super Bowl party staple worldwide.</p> <p>Let’s start by sharing a very important fact: you don't need to know a thing about American football to play Super Bowl Squares. The game runs on pure luck, making it perfect for office pools, house parties, and gatherings where half the guests couldn't name a single player on either team.</p> <h2>What Are Super Bowl Squares?</h2> <p>Super Bowl Squares is a grid-based game where participants claim boxes on a 10x10 board. Each square represents a potential score combination based on the last digit of each team's score. Winners are determined at the end of each quarter.</p> <p>The game has become synonymous with Super Bowl parties because it keeps everyone engaged regardless of their football knowledge.</p> <p>Your nan who thinks a touchdown is worth five points has the same chance of winning as the bloke who's been following the NFL since birth.</p> <h2>Setting Up the Grid</h2> <p>Start with a blank 10x10 grid. That gives you 100 squares to fill.</p> <p>Assign one team to the columns across the top and the other team to the rows down the left side. Leave the corner square empty where the axes meet.</p> <p>Participants then claim squares by writing their name or initials in the boxes. People can buy as many squares as they want until the grid fills up. The cost per square is set by whoever's running the pool. Could be a dollar, could be fifty. Depends on your crowd.</p> <p>Here's the crucial detail: don't assign the numbers until after all squares are claimed. This keeps the game fair. Once the grid is full, randomly draw numbers 0 through 9 for both the columns and the rows. Pull them from a hat or use an online randomiser.</p> <p>Now each square represents a specific score combination. If your square sits where column 7 meets row 3, you're hoping for scores ending in 7 and 3.</p> <h2>How Winners Are Determined</h2> <p>At the end of each quarter, look at the last digit of each team's score. Find where those two numbers intersect on the grid. Whoever owns that square wins.</p> <p>Say the score at halftime is 17-14. The last digits are 7 and 4. Find where 7 and 4 meet on your grid. That person wins the second quarter prize.</p> <p>The process repeats after the first quarter, halftime, third quarter, and final score. Four chances to win per game.</p> <h2>Payout Structures</h2> <p>The pool organiser decides how to split the prize money. A few common approaches:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Equal quarters: Each quarter winner takes 25% of the pot. Simple and straightforward.</p> </li> <li> <p>Weighted payouts: Give less to the early quarters and more to the final score. Something like 15% for Q1, 20% for halftime, 25% for Q3, and 40% for the final score.</p> </li> <li> <p>Winner takes all: Only the final score matters. Maximum drama, maximum risk.</p> </li> <li> <p>Reverse scores: Some pools also pay out on the reverse combination. If the winning score ends in 7-3, the person with 3-7 also wins a smaller prize.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Pick whatever structure suits your group. Just make sure everyone knows the rules before kickoff.</p> <h2>The Best and Worst Numbers</h2> <p>Not all numbers are created equal in Super Bowl Squares. Football scoring patterns mean certain digits appear far more often than others.</p> <p>The good numbers: 0, 7, 3, and 4 dominate NFL score endings. Touchdowns with extra points give you 7. Field goals give you 3. Combinations of these scores frequently produce 0 and 4 as final digits. These four numbers account for roughly 70% of all quarter-ending scores historically.</p> <p>The nightmare numbers: 2, 5, and 9 rarely show up. A safety (2 points) is the rarest play in football. Scores ending in 5 require unusual combinations. And 9 needs either multiple safeties or some truly strange arithmetic.</p> <p>If the random draw lands you with 2-5 or 9-2, you're in trouble. But that's the beauty of Super Bowl Squares. The numbers are assigned randomly, so everyone starts with the same odds before the draw.</p> <h2>Running a Pool</h2> <p>If you're organising the pool, a few tips:</p> <p>Set clear rules upfront. Payout structure, cost per square, payment deadline. Get it all sorted before anyone claims a single box.</p> <p>Collect money before filling the grid. In case there’s cash involved, sort everything out before the game begins. There’s nothing worse than chasing payments after the game.</p> <p>Wait to assign numbers. Letting people pick squares before the random draw keeps everything fair. If numbers were visible, everyone would pile onto the 0-7 corner.</p> <p>Use a digital tool for remote participants. Plenty of free Super Bowl Squares websites exist if your group is spread across different locations.</p> <p>Have change ready. If squares cost $5 and the pot totals $500, you'll need to divide that four or five ways.</p> <h2>Variations to Try</h2> <p>Touching squares: Winners of each quarter also pay out smaller prizes to the squares immediately adjacent (up, down, left, right) to the winning square. More winners means more excitement.</p> <p>Shuffled numbers: Redraw the numbers before each quarter instead of keeping them static. This prevents one person from winning multiple times with a lucky draw.</p> <p>Quarter-by-quarter payouts plus final jackpot: Pay smaller amounts for each quarter but save a big chunk for whoever hits the final score. Keeps everyone invested until the end.</p> <p>Stat categories: Add bonus prizes for squares matching the last digits of total yards, passing touchdowns, or other stats. Gets complicated but adds intrigue for the football-obsessed.</p> <h2>Super Bowl Squares for Australians</h2> <p>The game works the same whether you're playing in Philadelphia or Perth. The only difference is timing.</p> <p>Super Bowl kickoff lands on Monday morning AEDT, which actually makes it easier to run an office pool. Set up the grid on Friday, fill it over the weekend, and watch the results roll in during the workday.</p> <p>For house parties, the early morning start means Super Bowl Squares provides structure to what might otherwise be a bleary-eyed viewing session. Checking the grid at the end of each quarter gives everyone a reason to pay attention.</p> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <p><strong>Can I play Super Bowl Squares online?</strong></p> <p>Yes. Multiple websites offer free digital grids where participants can claim squares remotely and numbers are drawn automatically. Search for "Super Bowl Squares online" closer to game day and you'll find plenty of options.</p> <p><strong>How much should each square cost?</strong></p> <p>Whatever your group is comfortable with. Casual office pools often run $1-5 per square, generating a $100-500 pot. Serious pools among mates might go $20-50 per square.</p> <p><strong>What if a square isn't claimed?</strong></p> <p>Either the organiser takes the unclaimed squares, or you reduce the grid size. A 5x5 grid with 25 squares works fine for smaller groups, though you'd only use numbers 0-4 for each team.</p> <p><strong>Is playing Super Bowl Squares legal in Australia?</strong></p> <p>Running informal pools among friends and colleagues falls into a grey area. Nobody's coming after your office Super Bowl grid. Just don't go setting up a professional operation.</p> <p><strong>What happens if the game goes to overtime?</strong></p> <p>Most pools count overtime as part of the fourth quarter. The final score is the final score, regardless of when it happens.</p>