1. Overview of the Game
Mahjong is a tile-based game that requires skill, strategy, and a bit of luck. The goal is to build a complete hand consisting of a combination of sets (called “melds”) and a pair.
2. The Tiles
The standard Mahjong set contains 144 tiles divided into several categories:
- Bamboos: 1 to 9 (represented by bamboo symbols).
- Characters: 1 to 9 (represented by Chinese characters).
- Dots: 1 to 9 (represented by dot symbols).
- Honors:
- Winds: East, South, West, North.
- Dragons: Red, Green, White.
Each tile appears four times in the set.
3. The Setup
- Players: Mahjong is typically played with four players.
- Walls: The tiles are shuffled face down and then arranged into a “wall,” usually 18 stacks of 2 tiles each, forming a square.
- Dealer: One player is randomly chosen to be the dealer (East). The dealer usually starts the game with an advantage, such as a first-round bonus.
- Dealing: Each player draws 13 tiles to start. The dealer draws 14 tiles to begin the game.
4. Basic Objective
The main goal of Mahjong is to form a complete hand with 14 tiles, consisting of:
- Four sets (melds): These can be:
- Pung: Three identical tiles (e.g., three 5 Bamboo tiles).
- Chow: A straight of three consecutive tiles of the same suit (e.g., 3, 4, 5 of Dots).
- Kong: Four identical tiles (e.g., four 7 Characters).
- One pair: Two identical tiles (e.g., two Red Dragon tiles).
5. Gameplay
The game proceeds in turns. On each player’s turn, they follow these steps:
1. Draw
The player begins their turn by drawing a tile from the wall (the remaining stack of tiles) or from the discard pile (a tile that has already been discarded by a previous player). If a player draws from the discard pile, it must be to complete a set or pair.
2. Make a Meld
If the player has a combination of three or four tiles that form a Pung, Chow, or Kong, they can “meld” them, either by:
- Calling a tile: If another player discards a tile that completes a Pung, Chow, or Kong, the player may call it and place the meld face-up on the table. In the case of a Chow, the player must call it from the discard pile of the player immediately before them (the player to their left).
- Self-drawn meld: A player can also complete a set with a tile they draw themselves.
3. Discard
After drawing and completing any possible sets, the player discards one tile. This keeps the total number of tiles in the player’s hand at 13 (except for the dealer, who has 14 tiles to start with).
4. Winning
A player wins when they complete their hand with 14 tiles:
- Four melds (Pung, Chow, or Kong) and one pair.
When a player completes their hand, they declare “Mahjong!” and win the round. The other players may then reveal their hands and tally points based on their hands.
6. Special Rules
- Kong: If a player forms a Kong, they must declare it and draw an extra tile from the wall.
- Mahjong Hands: There are variations of Mahjong (e.g., Hong Kong, American, Japanese), and some may include special scoring rules or hands like “seven pairs,” “all Pungs,” or “all Chow.”
7. Scoring
In traditional Mahjong, scoring is usually complex and based on a point system that takes into account the type of hand, the use of special tiles, and the number of Kongs or Chows. Here’s a simplified approach:
- Regular Hand: Points are awarded based on how rare or difficult it was to form the hand.
- Winning Hand Bonuses: A winning hand may score extra points for specific conditions like the player being the dealer or winning with certain types of hands (e.g., using only Honor tiles).
8. Tips for Beginners
- Watch the discards: Pay attention to what other players are discarding, as this can give you clues about the tiles they need or already have.
- Form Pairs Early: If you can, form your pair early to make your hand easier to complete.
- Keep options open: Try not to commit too soon to any one type of set. If you focus too much on one suit, it may become harder to complete the hand.
- Practice: Mahjong has many strategic elements, and the more you play, the better you’ll become at reading the game and predicting opponents’ moves.
9. Winning the Game
The game continues with several rounds (often referred to as “hands”) until the dealer wins, or players cycle through all of the rounds. Scoring and rules can vary depending on the style of Mahjong being played.
Mahjong is a fun and engaging game, offering a mix of luck, skill, and strategy. The more you play, the more you’ll understand the nuances of the game. Enjoy!
