Two other popular options are money, for those of a gambling bent, or paper and pencil. The score can be kept using any medium, of course. Finally, most sets come with some tally sticks which are used for scoring.These are used, instead of the standard four winds tiles to decide who sits where and are then placed in a special box called a Tong-box with the uppermost tile showing the prevailing wind for each round. More expensive sets include four special counters denoting the four winds. 4 racks are a useful accessory to hold each player's tiles.They are denoted by a Chinese horse and are used for the play of another game called Ghoulash. Some Joker tiles are also commonly included.Sets often have some spare blank tiles to be used to replace lost tiles.The following can be used at the discretion of the players if available: However, other equipment does usually form part of a set. In fact, the tiles and dice are all that is required to play the game and these rules have been written as if no other equipment is available. The 1 and 4 are red on traditional Chinese dice the remaining numerals are black. In addition to the tiles, two dice are required. The Wind and Dragon tiles are known as "honour" tiles. The remaining suit tiles, 1 and 9 are known as the "major" tiles. The suit tiles numbered 2 - 8 are known as the "minor" tiles. Depiction of the seasons varies hugely between sets and they are often not recognisable as a season by people who can't read Chinese.Ĭircles, Characters and Bamboos are known as "suits". 4 Season tiles - The Four Seasons are numbered 1 - 4 and are optional - if used they give bonus points when drawn.Depiction of the flowers varies hugely between sets but the most common traditionally are Plum blossom, Orchid, Chrysanthemum and Bamboo. 4 Flower tiles - The Four Flowers are numbered 1 - 4 and are optional - if used, they give bonus points when drawn.However, some sets denote the white dragon with a capital 'P' which stands for 'Pai', meaning white or pure. 12 Dragon tiles - 4 Red dragons denoted by a bright red character, 4 Green dragons denoted by a bright green character and 4 White dragons which are traditionally denoted by a completely blank tile.16 Wind tiles - 4 tiles for each of the 4 winds.The other bamboo tiles are represented by green bamboos only. 1, 5, 7 and 9 of Bamboos are represented by a picture of both red and green bamboos. The picture on each shows the appropriate number of bamboos except for the One of Bamboos which often is denoted by a sparrow or rice-bird and doesn't feature a bamboo at all. 36 Bamboo tiles in 4 sets of 9 tiles numbered 1- 9.The pictures show the Chinese symbol for the number represented. 36 Character tiles in 4 sets of 9 tiles numbered 1- 9.The picture on each shows the appropriate number of circles. 36 Circle tiles in 4 sets of 9 tiles numbered 1- 9.Traditionally, they are made from bone or ivory but modern sets are usually plastic. We also give a version of Mah Jong for 3 players playing in a triangle.Ī set of Mah Jong (Mahjong) tiles consists of 144 tiles typically around 30 x 20 x 15mm. It is also more strategic than the Japanese style of play which is essentially a race to be the first to go out because the only person who gets paid is the one who goes Mah Jong. Some will find the British game more interesting than the Chinese game but the Chinese game is more elegant and traditional.īoth games differ significantly from the typical style of play performed in the USA, where a large and complicated set of "special hands" have been invented beyond the initial Chinese set and where a player cannot go Mah Jong with more than one suit in hand. This version differs slightly to the typical Chinese game because only one chow is allowed per hand and the Chinese game has fewer "special hands". Also given are additional rules for the British game. The first rules given here are based on the original Chinese game which is the simplest and probably the most skillful form. Like many other traditional games, there are a wide variety of forms of Mah Jong which makes things somewhat difficult for anyone trying to find the definitive set of rules.
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