Guide to playing mahjong
Mahjong is a globally embraced game that has its roots in mid-1800s China, where it was enjoyed by young and old, rich and poor alike. Ingrained as a part of Chinese culture, the strategic tile game spread throughout the world, spawning different variations and playing styles.
For unfamiliar American players, the pastime is similar to some popular card games, including rummy and hearts, in which players try to acquire sequences and sets in their hand in order to win. While the basics of the game are fairly straightforward, there is plenty of nuance and skill involved. Here’s how to play.
Playing mahjong
What you need
In order to play mahjong, you need a mahjong set. The standard set features 144 tiles, including 36 character tiles, 36 bamboo tiles and 36 circle tiles, which are the three suits used in the game. Each suit features the numbers 1-9 four times for a total of 36 tiles per suit. The remaining 28 tiles are made up of 16 wind tiles and 12 dragon tiles.
Most sets include a carrying case that may feature a design or pattern and may include useful extras in order to enjoy the game easily and efficiently, including scorecards, instructions and tile racks. For more information on how to find the best mahjong set, check out the buying guide at BestReviews. Mahjong is played with four people, though some advanced variations can be played with three. As this is a tabletop game, you’ll want to be sure to have a fair amount of space to spread out tiles. Each player will have their own set of tiles — similar to Scrabble — the faces of which should not be visible by others.
Setup
A dealer can be determined in a couple of different ways. The four wind tiles — east, north, south and west — may be shuffled and handed out, with players positioned based on their draw. The person who drew the east tile is the dealer. Some players may choose to roll a pair of dice to determine the dealer, with the highest roll going first. Some mahjong sets feature an east marker to identify who deals first.
Once the dealer has been determined, tiles are allocated. For new players, the easiest way to do so is to shuffle tiles around face down in the middle of the table, taking turns to acquire tiles until each player has 13.
Commonly, though, tiles are shuffled around the table; each player takes 34 tiles and arranges them in 17 piles of 2 tiles in each pile. Each player then connects their lineup with that of the other players to create a square wall around the table. Two dice rolls will determine how tiles are allocated. The first dice roll identifies which player breaks the wall; the dealer counts each player counterclockwise until the dice total is reached. The selected player then rolls again, adds the total of both dice rolls together, and counts out from the start of their wall to determine the break point. From the break point, each player takes turns taking four tiles until everyone has 12, and then each player takes one more to get to 13.
How to play
Goal
The goal of mahjong is to have four melds, either sets (three-of-a-kind) or sequences (three consecutive numbers), in your hand along with one matching pair of two tiles. Players may reveal the entirety of their hand all at once and win the game or slowly reveal their sets and sequences throughout the game. When you’re ready to win the game, you declare “mahjong!”
Gameplay
Players take turns counterclockwise picking up a tile from the center and then discarding a tile. If a player thinks the tile may be useful in order to complete mahjong, they may keep it and discard a tile from their current hand. If they do not like the drawn tile, they can put it back in the center. A discarded tile should be revealed to other players so that they have the option of claiming it. Players can only claim a tile if it completes one of their sequences or sets, at which point they must reveal the meld on the table.
If no one wants the tile, the next person in order gets to take one from the pile, at which point the discarded tile can no longer be claimed for the rest of the game. However, if someone does claim the title, that person is next to play, even if one or two others have been skipped. Play resumes from that person counterclockwise.
It’s possible to play four-of-a-kind. If so, a player must take an extra tile before discarding.
Scoring
There are countless scoring variations in mahjong; the simplest option involves giving one point to the player who achieves mahjong each hand, playing until a person reaches an agreed upon amount of points.
Variations include awarding extra points for not taking any discarded tiles or revealing any tiles before declaring mahjong. Others include extra points for melds that are all dragons, ones or nines. There are special hands too that more advanced players may incorporate into the game, at which point scoring can be complex; many players can accumulate a lot of points without ever calling mahjong. When players have a lot of different scoring options, it’s wise to have a pen and paper at hand or an official scorecard.
Terminology
There are a few frequently used terms that are important to know before playing.
Hand: Every time the tiles are dealt, it’s referred to as a hand. A hand ends when a player declares mahjong.
Round: One round comprises four hands, with each position taking a turn dealing. Typically a game of mahjong features four rounds, with 16 points in total up for grabs.
Meld: This term refers to a grouping of tiles, either three of a kind or a sequence of three. This term is also common in cards.
Chow: Meld in which three tiles form a sequence.
Pung: Meld in which the tiles are three of a kind.
Kong: Meld in which the tiles are four of a kind.
Variations
The two main versions of the game are the traditional Chinese style of play and the American style. The modern American set features more tiles and allows for increased and varied scoring rules. American tiles tend to be slightly smaller as well.
Some mahjong sets may have extra tiles that can be incorporated into the main set and add more variety. There may be blank tiles that can be used to replace missing ones as well as joker tiles. Joker tiles are wild and can be used to finish a set or sequence. However, if a meld is played with a joker in it, rules often allow another player to take the joker if they have the correct missing piece.
The Charleston rule is common in American-style mahjong. After the deal, players pass along three tiles to another player, while receiving three from a different player. The first pass typically goes to the right, the second pass goes across, and the third pass goes to the left. There are, however, variations on this rule as well. Some sets may feature tiles that are smaller than normal for those short on space. Travel sets are also available for anyone who wants to play on the go. Anthony Marcusa is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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