Hands that have at least one quint (5 identical tiles) where at least one of which is a Joker. Patterns that require even numbered tiles. In such case 2's, 0's, and 3's would be used. Patterns that make up a year, such as 2023. The score card is organized into categories for hands based on common patterns: YEAR Flowers and zeroes are not considered to be part of any suit and will always be blue.Ĭorrespond to the specific number on the tile (not including flowers) The colors are not specific to any one suit, and different colors simply mean different suits have to be used. The hands on a score card are represented in numbers or letters in either red, blue, or green. The goal of mahjong is to match your tiles exactly with a hand from the score card. Each player arranges the tiles on their rack in a logical order and start to realize their goal of putting together a mahjong hand. Like poker, you will learn a lot about your opponents as you play mahjong and adjust your strategy according to their strengths and weaknesses.īeyond The Basics - Online Mah Jongg Resources Is it preferable to discard a tile and thus gain an advantage, or would it be more prudent to stay with a decent hand? There is the exhilaration of winning a hand as well as regret at not having been bold enough to have made a different choice. The excitement of mahjong lies in the decisions that you will constantly have to make. The first person to match a hand of 14 tiles and thus 'call mahjong' ends the game, whereupon tiles are scored and a winner is declared. Tiles are shuffled, die are cast, and rituals involving the allocation of tiles and then the exchange of tiles begin. Mahjong is always played with four players seated around a table.

Although an American mahjong set can be used to play Chinese Mahjong, the rules that follow are for the American game. American mahjong utilizes racks, jokers, 'Hands and Rules' score cards and has several distinct gameplay mechanics. Mahjong is a game of both skill and luck that originated in China many centuries ago and was brought to the West in the 1920's with the publication of Joseph Park Babcock's 'Rules of Mah-Jongg.' American mahjong (also sometimes spelled ' Mah Jongg' or called ' Maajh') is unique from Asian mahjong in several ways.

Simple mahjong