Welcome to Mahjong! Mahjong is a fascinating tile-based game that originated in China.
It's played by four players sitting around a table, each trying to form winning combinations of tiles.
The game combines strategy, skill, and a bit of luck, making it both challenging and enjoyable.
Mahjong uses 144 tiles divided into different categories. The three main suits are Dots,
Bamboo, and Characters, each numbered from 1 to 9 with four copies of each tile. There are also Honor tiles
including the four Wind tiles - East, South, West, and North - plus three Dragon tiles. Understanding these
tile types is essential for forming winning combinations.
To win at Mahjong, players must form sets of tiles. There are three main types of sets.
A Chow is three consecutive tiles of the same suit, like 3-4-5 of dots. A Pung consists of three identical
tiles, such as three sevens. A Kong is four identical tiles, like four dragon tiles. Understanding these
combinations is crucial for building a winning hand.
The gameplay follows a simple pattern. On each turn, a player draws a tile from the wall,
examines their hand to see if they can form sets, and then discards one tile face up in the center.
Players can also claim discarded tiles from others if they need them to complete a set. The game continues
with players taking turns until someone forms a complete winning hand and declares Mahjong.
A winning Mahjong hand requires exactly four sets plus one pair, totaling fourteen tiles.
The sets can be any combination of Chows, Pungs, or Kongs. When you complete this winning combination,
you declare 'Mahjong!' and reveal your hand to win the round. Scoring is then calculated based on the
specific tiles and combinations in your winning hand. Mahjong combines strategy, memory, and luck,
making it an engaging game for players of all skill levels.