How To Play Chinese Mahjong

Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck that has been enjoyed in China for centuries. While there are many variations of the game around the world, this guide will focus on the fundamental rules of Chinese Mahjong. We'll walk you through the tiles, the setup, the core gameplay, and some basic strategies to get you started on your journey to becoming a Mahjong master.

1. Understanding the Mahjong Tiles

A standard Chinese Mahjong set consists of 144 tiles. It's essential to understand the different types of tiles and how they are used.

• Suits (108 tiles): These are the most common tiles, divided into three suits, each with tiles numbered 1 to 9. There are four identical tiles for each number in each suit.

  • Bamboos (索子 - Suǒzǐ): Represented by bamboo sticks. The "1 Bam" tile often has a picture of a bird.

  • Dots (筒子 - Tǒngzǐ): Feature circles or coins.

  • Characters (萬子 - Wànzǐ): Display Chinese characters representing numbers.

• Honors (28 tiles): These tiles do not belong to any suit and are crucial for scoring.

  • Winds (風牌 - Fēngpái): Four tiles each for East (東), South (南), West (西), and North (北).

  • Dragons (箭牌 - Jiàn Pái): Four tiles each for Red Dragon (中), Green Dragon (發), and White Dragon (白). The White Dragon tile is often a blank tile with a simple frame.

• Bonus Tiles (8 tiles): These tiles are optional and used in many, but not all, Chinese Mahjong variations. They are not part of your hand's structure.

  • Flowers (花牌 - Huāpái): Four unique tiles, usually numbered 1-4.

  • Seasons (季牌 - Jìpái): Four unique tiles, usually numbered 1-4.

2. The Objective: Making a Winning Hand

The ultimate goal of Chinese Mahjong is to be the first player to form a winning hand. A standard winning hand consists of four sets and one pair for a total of 14 tiles.

• Sets (Melds):

  • Pung (碰): A set of three identical tiles (e.g., three 7 Bamboos).

  • Kong (杠): A set of four identical tiles (e.g., four Red Dragons). When a Kong is formed, a replacement tile is drawn from the end of the wall. A Kong is often counted as a Pung plus the bonus points it grants.

  • Chow (吃): A sequence of three tiles from the same suit (e.g., 4, 5, 6 Dots).

• Pair (眼 - Yǎn): Two identical tiles that do not form a set. This is also called the "eye" of the hand.

• Pro Tip: Unlike American Mahjong, there is no annual card. In Chinese Mahjong, you have the freedom to form any combination of four sets and one pair to win.

3. Setting Up the Game

1. Shuffle the Tiles: All 144 tiles are placed face down on the table and shuffled thoroughly.

2. Build the Walls: Each of the four players builds a "wall" of tiles in front of them. The wall is 18 stacks long and two tiles high (for a total of 144 tiles). The four walls are pushed together to form a square in the center of the table.

3. Determine the Dealer: Players roll the dice to determine who is the dealer (East). The highest roll wins. The dealer seat dictates the round's prevailing wind.

4. Breaking the Wall: The dealer rolls the dice again to determine where the wall will be broken to begin dealing. The dealer counts from their own wall and breaks the wall at the designated spot.

5. Dealing the Tiles: The dealer draws four tiles at a time, moving counter-clockwise, until each player has 12 tiles. The dealer then draws two more tiles, and the other players draw one more tile each, leaving everyone with 13 tiles in their hand. The dealer draws one final tile to begin play, starting their first turn with 14 tiles.

4. Basic Gameplay

The game proceeds in turns, with each player performing a simple two-step action: Draw and Discard.

1. Draw a Tile: On your turn, you draw one tile from the wall.

2. Discard a Tile: You then discard one tile from your hand, placing it face up in the center of the table.

This cycle continues until a player declares Mahjong.

5. The Art of "Calling" Tiles

The key to Chinese Mahjong is knowing when to call a discarded tile. This allows you to claim a tile discarded by another player to complete a set, even if it is not your turn.

• Calling for a Pung or Kong: Any player can call a discarded tile to complete a Pung or Kong. When you do this, you must say "Pung!" or "Kong!", take the tile, and expose the completed set on the table.

• Calling for a Chow: You can only call a discarded tile for a Chow if it is discarded by the player to your immediate left. You must say "Chow!", take the tile, and expose the completed set.

• Important Note: If multiple players want the same discarded tile, there is a hierarchy of calls:

  1. Winning (Mahjong!) takes precedence over all other calls.

  2. Pung or Kong takes precedence over Chow.

6. Winning the Hand

A player wins the hand by calling for a discarded tile or by drawing a tile from the wall to complete a winning hand of four sets and one pair. When this happens, the player loudly exclaims "Mahjong!" and exposes their hand to prove they have a valid combination.

7. Key Strategy Tips for Beginners

• Be Flexible: Don't get fixated on a single hand. As you draw tiles, be open to changing your strategy based on what you receive and what others discard.

• Prioritize Pungs and Kongs: While Chows are useful, Pung and Kong combinations can often lead to higher scores, especially with honor tiles (Winds and Dragons).

• Watch the Discards: Pay close attention to the tiles discarded by other players. This can give you clues about what hands they are trying to build and what tiles are "safe" for you to discard.

• Defensive Play: In the later stages of the game, be cautious about discarding tiles that your opponents might need to win. Observe their exposed sets and discards to guess what they are collecting.

8. Chinese Mahjong vs. American Mahjong

For those familiar with the American version, here are a few key differences:

• No Charleston: The passing of tiles at the start of the game does not exist in Chinese Mahjong.

• No Jokers: Traditional Chinese Mahjong does not use Joker tiles.

• No Annual Card: The winning hands are not pre-determined by a card; you build your own combination of four sets and a pair.

• More Emphasis on Chows: Since Chows are a valid way to make a set, the gameplay feels more like traditional rummy.

Learning to play Chinese Mahjong is a rewarding experience that combines social interaction with strategic thinking. With a little practice, you'll be able to quickly identify winning hands and master the art of the game.