Mahjong, a tile-based game with ancient origins, can seem daunting at first. But with a little practice and understanding of the basic rules, you'll be well on your way to enjoying this captivating game. This cheat sheet provides a concise overview to get you started.
Understanding the Tiles
Mahjong uses 144 tiles, categorized into suits and special tiles:
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Suits: There are three main suits:
- Bamboo (索): Numbered 1-9.
- Characters (萬): Numbered 1-9.
- Circles (筒): Numbered 1-9.
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Honors (風牌): These are wind tiles and represent the four directions: East (東), South (南), West (西), and North (北).
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Bonus Tiles (三元牌): These are the three dragon tiles: Red Dragon (紅中), Green Dragon (發財), and White Dragon (白板).
The Goal of the Game
The primary objective is to be the first player to meld all their tiles into sets (explained below) and complete a winning hand (a Mahjong).
Forming Sets (Melds)
To win, you must create sets of tiles. These sets can be:
- Pung (碰): Three identical tiles. Example: three 5 Bamboos.
- Kong (槓): Four identical tiles. Example: four 2 Characters. A Kong can be declared from a Pung if you draw a matching tile. Alternatively, a concealed Kong can be declared with four identical tiles from your hand.
- Chow (吃): Three consecutive numbered tiles of the same suit. Example: 2, 3, and 4 Bamboos. Note: You can only Chow tiles discarded by the previous player.
The Winning Hand (Mahjong)
A winning hand consists of four sets and a pair (two identical tiles). This means you'll need a total of 14 tiles. There are different types of winning hands, some worth more points than others.
Gameplay Steps
- Dealing: Each player receives 13 tiles. The remaining tiles are placed face down in the center to form the wall.
- Drawing and Discarding: Players take turns drawing a tile from the wall and discarding one.
- Creating Sets: Players can form sets from their own hand or from discarded tiles.
- Winning: When a player has a complete winning hand, they declare "Mahjong!" and reveal their hand. Other players check the validity of the hand.
Basic Strategy
- Keep your hand balanced: Aim for a mix of suits and honors.
- Watch your opponents: Pay attention to their discards to anticipate their strategies and potential sets.
- Don't discard tiles you might need: Think ahead and avoid discarding tiles that could complete your sets.
- Learn about different hand types: Some hand combinations score more points than others.
Beyond the Basics
This cheat sheet provides a foundational understanding. To truly master Mahjong, explore advanced strategies, scoring rules, and different variations of the game. There are numerous resources online and in books that can help you deepen your knowledge. Practice makes perfect! Enjoy the game!
