Mahjong

Mahjong is a sophisticated tile-based game of skill, strategy, and luck.

It originated in China during the 19th century. Since the early 20th century, it has spread throughout the global Sinosphere. This includes East and Southeast Asia. It is also popular in many Western countries. Today, the game has even become a widespread form of online entertainment. Some people call it mahjong rummy because it is similar to the Western card game rummy. It is a game that requires careful planning and quick thinking.

A standard set of Old Hong Kong mahjong contains 144 tiles.

The tiles are divided into three distinct categories. The first category consists of suited tiles. These include the bamboo suit, the dots suit, and the characters suit. Each suit contains tiles numbered from 1 to 9. There are four identical copies of each suited tile. This creates a total of 108 suited tiles. The second category includes honors tiles. These are divided into winds and dragons. The winds include east, south, west, and north. The dragons include red, green, and white. There are four copies of each, totaling 28 honors tiles.

The third category consists of bonus tiles. These are flowers and seasons. There are four of each, making eight bonus tiles in total.

Playing a game involves a specific sequence of actions.

First, players must determine their table positions. These are the cardinal directions: East, South, West, and North. The East position is the first dealer. Players might use dice rolls to decide these seats. After setting positions, players shuffle the tiles loudly. This clacking sound is why the game is sometimes called "sparrow" in Chinese.

Players then stack the tiles into walls. Each player builds a row of 18 tiles, two tiles high. This creates a square wall in front of them. The dealer uses dice to determine where to start dealing. In most variations, each player begins with 13 tiles.

The core mechanism of a hand is the process of drawing and discarding.

On every turn, a player draws a tile from the wall. They then discard one tile to the table. The goal is to complete a legal hand. A standard winning hand consists of four melds and one pair. A meld is a set of tiles. The pair is often called an "eye." Players can also win using special classes of hands. Using the 14th drawn tile is what completes the final set.

Mahjong matches are organized into rounds and hands.

A single match consists of four rounds. Each round represents a "prevailing wind." The rounds follow the order of East, South, West, and North. Within each round, at least four hands are played. The role of the dealer shifts counterclockwise after each hand. If the dealer wins a hand, an extra hand is played. If no one wins, it is called a "goulash hand." In a goulash hand, an extra hand is also played. This means a match can have many hands.

Regional variations offer many different ways to play.

While many rules are common, many differences exist. Some regions use different criteria for legal melds. Others use radically different scoring systems. Some versions even have elaborate extra rules. In Japan, the United States, or Southeast Asia, sets may have extra tiles. Players often introduce "house rules" to change the feel of the game. Old Hong Kong mahjong is a common starting point. It uses a simple scoring system and the standard 144 tiles. This makes it an excellent version for new players to learn.

Bonus tiles add a unique layer to the game's mechanics.

When a player draws a flower or season tile, they do not add it to their hand. Instead, they set it aside for scoring. They then draw a replacement tile from the wall. These tiles are associated with specific directions. A player receives bonus points if the tile matches their seat direction. For example, the plum blossom is associated with the east. The seasons include spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This adds a layer of chance to the strategic play.