Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Sunday, January 29
    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Submit PR & Events
    • The HK Support Hub
    Facebook Twitter Instagram RSS
    The HK HUB
    • What’s On

      Digital Art : InnerGlow 2023 Returns To Tai Kwun Until February 12

      2023-01-28

      What’s On: The Best Family-Friendly Events This Month

      2023-01-16

      What’s On: The Most Exciting Events For All This Month

      2023-01-16

      7 Chinese New Year Events In Hong Kong

      2023-01-05

      New Year’s Eve Parties In Hong Kong To Wave Goodbye To 2022

      2022-12-15
    • Eat & Drink
      1. Bars
      2. Food
      3. Restaurants
      4. Reviews
      5. View All

      Where To Drink Mulled Wine & Buy Hot Wine Spices In Hong Kong

      2022-11-28

      15 Awesome Happy Hour Deals Around Hong Kong

      2022-10-31

      15 Great Restaurants & Bars To Visit In Causeway Bay

      2022-09-15

      Coa Named Asia’s Best Bar For 2nd Consecutive Year; 7 More Hong Kong Bars Appear In Top 50

      2022-05-05

      10 Lucky Chinese New Year Foods, Snacks & Treats

      2023-01-12

      Guide To Poon Choi & Where To Buy The Lunar New Year Dish In Hong Kong

      2023-01-03

      34 Best Brunches With Free-Flow Options To Try In Hong Kong Over The Weekend

      2022-12-20

      Christmas Afternoon Teas In Hong Kong To Enjoy With A Loved One

      2022-12-05

      34 Best Brunches With Free-Flow Options To Try In Hong Kong Over The Weekend

      2022-12-20

      Hong Kong’s New Restaurant & Bar Openings In December 2022

      2022-12-12

      8 Christmas And New Year’s Eve Menus And Buffets To Enjoy This Festive Season

      2022-11-30

      Our 10 Favourite Restaurants In Quarry Bay

      2022-11-30

      Restaurant Review – Modern Chinese Vegetarian at Miss Lee

      2020-03-05

      Restaurant Review: Middle Eastern Brunch at FRANCIS, Wan Chai

      2019-12-04

      Restaurant Review: Hue, Modern Australian with Harbour Views

      2019-11-27

      Review: Micasadeco & Café, Langham Place

      2019-09-20

      10 Lucky Chinese New Year Foods, Snacks & Treats

      2023-01-12

      Guide To Poon Choi & Where To Buy The Lunar New Year Dish In Hong Kong

      2023-01-03

      34 Best Brunches With Free-Flow Options To Try In Hong Kong Over The Weekend

      2022-12-20

      Hong Kong’s New Restaurant & Bar Openings In December 2022

      2022-12-12
    • Lifestyle
      1. Beauty
      2. Fashion
      3. Entertainment
      4. Interviews
      5. Outdoor
      6. Shopping
      7. View All

      15 Amazing Day Spas & Massages You’re Going To Love In Hong Kong

      2022-12-29

      10 Best Hotel Spas In Hong Kong For Luxurious Massages & Spa Packages

      2022-04-26

      Our Review of LifeHub’s IV Drip Treatment For Glowing Skin

      2021-12-09

      Our Review Of EstheClinic’s OXYPURE Oxygenation Facial

      2021-11-18

      Vipop Founder Lenia Pérez On How The Latin American Eco Fashion Brand Was Born

      2022-12-20

      Hong Kong Fashion Show By Lumiere Runway Hits Haw Par Mansion On 26 Nov (And We Got You 4 VIP Passes)

      2022-11-10

      Vipop Gives Us The Lowdown On Sustainable Fashion & How To Spot Greenwashing

      2022-10-17

      16 Local Hong Kong Fashion Brands For Stylish Women, Men & Kids

      2022-02-02

      Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers & Tiësto To Play At Creamfields

      2023-01-27

      Top 7 Escape Rooms In Hong Kong

      2023-01-06

      Clockenflap Line-Up: Arctic Monkeys, Kings Of Convenience & Moderat Announced

      2022-12-09

      EDM Festival Creamfields Will Return To Hong Kong In 2023

      2022-11-21

      Vipop Founder Lenia Pérez On How The Latin American Eco Fashion Brand Was Born

      2022-12-20

      “There’s A Lot To Be Done When It Comes To Laws” Protecting Women And Sexual Minorities In Hong Kong, Says SCMP Editor Salomé Grouard

      2022-06-30

      Founder Of Africa Center Hong Kong, Innocent Mutanga: “It’s Time We Take Ownership Of The African Story”

      2022-05-23

      Brian Eagen Lau On Transfeminism: “In Hong Kong, I Get Stared At A Lot; In Thailand, I Don’t Experience That”

      2022-04-07

      13 Awesome Skateparks In Hong Kong

      2023-01-11

      10 Places To See Autumn Leaves In Hong Kong

      2022-11-14

      10 Camping Spots For All Experience Levels In Hong Kong

      2022-11-01

      11 Public & Private Outdoor Barbecue Pits You Should Visit In Hong Kong

      2022-10-31

      20+ Best Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals In 2022 To Shop Online Or In-Person

      2022-11-25

      The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide With 100+ Ideas From Hong Kong Brands

      2022-11-22

      Where To Buy Your Christmas Tree In Hong Kong This Year

      2022-11-22

      PayPal HK Welcomes New Users In November With Shopping Vouchers

      2022-11-16

      Calvin Harris, The Chainsmokers & Tiësto To Play At Creamfields

      2023-01-27

      13 Awesome Skateparks In Hong Kong

      2023-01-11

      Top 7 Escape Rooms In Hong Kong

      2023-01-06

      15 Amazing Day Spas & Massages You’re Going To Love In Hong Kong

      2022-12-29
    • News
      1. Covid Pandemic
      2. Local News
      3. Nature & Science
      4. Society
      5. Sport
      6. View All

      No More 5-Day Isolation Period For Covid Patients From January 30, Says John Lee

      2023-01-19

      Travellers From Hong Kong To Macau Exempt From Covid-19 Testing, Starting January 8

      2023-01-06

      Hong Kong Schools To Resume Full-Day In-Person Classes, Starting February 1, 2023

      2022-12-29

      End Of Vaccine Pass And Quarantine Orders For Close Contacts Of Covid Patients, From December 29

      2022-12-28

      Sham Shui Po Fabric Market To Close on January 31, After 45 Years Of Operation

      2023-01-19

      SPCA’s Dog-Walking Event, Dogathon, Scheduled For March 26

      2023-01-18

      Hong Kong Lunar New Year Fairs To Be Held After Two-Year Hiatus

      2023-01-14

      Wong Tai Sin Temple’s First CNY Incense Offering Returns After Three Years

      2023-01-13

      Tropical Cyclone Nalgae : T8 Issued At 1.40PM.

      2022-11-02

      Total Lunar Eclipse Visible In Hong Kong On November 8

      2022-10-27

      Hexagonal Rock Formations In Sai Kung Declared A Geological Heritage Site

      2022-10-25

      Tropical Cyclone NESAT : T3 To Be Issued Between 10AM And Noon Today

      2022-10-17

      Hong Kong Families’ Monthly Income Drops To $27,100, 13.2% Of Employees Work 60-Plus Hours A Week

      2022-09-01

      More Than 100,000 Residents Left Hong Kong In The Past Year

      2022-08-12

      Prison Gothic: A New Font Inspired By Hong Kong’s Inmate-Made Road Signs

      2022-07-30

      Human Trafficking: Hong Kong Still On Tier 2 Watch List Says Report, HELP NGO Raises The Alarm For Domestic Workers

      2022-07-30

      Eco-Friendly Green Power Hike To Take Place In January 2023

      2022-12-19

      Hong Kong’s First Mountain Bike Practice Ground Opens In Lantau

      2022-12-17

      Hong Kong’s First Short Track Speed Skating Competition To Be Held On December 26

      2022-12-14

      Hong Kong Marathon Runner Quota Increased To 37,000

      2022-12-12

      Sham Shui Po Fabric Market To Close on January 31, After 45 Years Of Operation

      2023-01-19

      No More 5-Day Isolation Period For Covid Patients From January 30, Says John Lee

      2023-01-19

      SPCA’s Dog-Walking Event, Dogathon, Scheduled For March 26

      2023-01-18

      Hong Kong Lunar New Year Fairs To Be Held After Two-Year Hiatus

      2023-01-14
    • Family
      1. Activities
      2. Education
      3. Kids
      4. Pets
      5. View All

      What’s On: The Best Family-Friendly Events This Month

      2023-01-16

      Where To Meet Santa In Hong Kong In 2022

      2022-11-29

      11 Public & Private Outdoor Barbecue Pits You Should Visit In Hong Kong

      2022-10-31

      Your Friendly Neighbourhood Guide To Lantau Island

      2022-09-28

      Hong Kong Schools To Resume Full-Day In-Person Classes, Starting February 1, 2023

      2022-12-29

      Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong Provides Innovative Modern Education Focused On Technology, Entrepreneurship & Sustainability

      2022-12-02

      ICHK Hong Lok Yuen Kindergarten & Primary Instils Love For Nature, Sense Of Global Citizenship

      2022-11-16

      14 Winter Camps In Hong Kong For A Stimulating Christmas Holiday

      2022-11-14

      14 Winter Camps In Hong Kong For A Stimulating Christmas Holiday

      2022-11-14

      29 Awesome Autumn Holiday Camps In Hong Kong For 2022

      2022-09-28

      14 Family-Friendly Restaurants In Hong Kong For A Yummy Time With The Little Ones

      2022-09-26

      11 Awesome Playgroups In Hong Kong To Prepare Your Toddler For Kindergarten & Beyond

      2022-09-12

      SPCA’s Dog-Walking Event, Dogathon, Scheduled For March 26

      2023-01-18

      Giant Panda An An Passes Away At 35

      2022-07-21

      Hong Kong Gets 12 More Pet-Friendly Parks

      2022-06-29

      Hong Kong To Introduce New Measures To Prevent Cruelty To Animals, May Require Cats To Be Microchipped

      2022-04-28

      SPCA’s Dog-Walking Event, Dogathon, Scheduled For March 26

      2023-01-18

      What’s On: The Best Family-Friendly Events This Month

      2023-01-16

      Hong Kong Schools To Resume Full-Day In-Person Classes, Starting February 1, 2023

      2022-12-29

      Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong Provides Innovative Modern Education Focused On Technology, Entrepreneurship & Sustainability

      2022-12-02
    • Culture

      The Cultural Guide To Kwun Yum Treasury Opening Festival

      2023-01-26

      A Cultural Guide To Chinese Lantern Festival, The Final Day Of CNY Celebrations

      2023-01-26

      Chinese New Year Displays: Where To See The Best Decorations & Installations In Hong Kong

      2023-01-18

      The Symbolism Of 8 Chinese New Year Fruits

      2023-01-16

      Your Complete Guide To Giving Lai See (Red Envelopes) During Chinese New Year

      2023-01-13
    • Sustainability

      Vipop Gives Us The Lowdown On Sustainable Fashion & How To Spot Greenwashing

      2022-10-17

      Greenwashing: How To Distinguish Between Real Sustainability Practices & Marketing Tactics?

      2022-07-11

      Vipop, Bringing Environmentally Conscious Latin American Fashion & Jewelry To Asia

      2022-07-04

      Where To Buy Environmentally-Friendly Clothing, Beauty, Home Products In Hong Kong?

      2022-07-04

      Eco-Fashion Advocate Sheryl Bolden’s Book ‘Sustainably Stylish’ Is A Guide To Building An Ethical Wardrobe

      2022-05-03
    • Wellness
      1. Diet
      2. Fitness
      3. Health
      4. View All

      Bust the Belly Fat: Nutrition for Healthy Weight Loss and Maintenance

      2018-02-27

      Hong Kong’s Top Gluten Free Restaurants and Cafés

      2014-12-01

      10 Muay Thai Studios You Should Visit In Hong Kong To Kick The Stress Away

      2022-09-29

      10 Amazing Yoga Studios In Hong Kong To Find Your Balance At

      2022-08-16

      KaiJai, Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats That Get Grippier As You Sweat

      2022-04-27

      Where To Go Rock Climbing and Bouldering In Hong Kong?

      2021-10-28

      5 Self-Care Trends To Look Out For In 2023

      2023-01-18

      What Is Occupational, Emotional, And Pandemic Burnout?

      2022-12-19

      Everything You Need To Know About The Hong Kong Vaccine Pass

      2022-09-23

      Chapter 3: A Story About Living With Gerascophobia (A Fear Of Growing Up)

      2022-08-15

      5 Self-Care Trends To Look Out For In 2023

      2023-01-18

      Collective Fitness, A Creative And Holistic Self-Awareness Experience

      2023-01-04

      15 Amazing Day Spas & Massages You’re Going To Love In Hong Kong

      2022-12-29

      What Is Occupational, Emotional, And Pandemic Burnout?

      2022-12-19
    • Travel
      1. Hotel Reviews
      2. Staycations & Hotels
      3. Travel Guides
      4. Travel To Hong Kong
      5. View All

      Review: Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong

      2022-02-09

      Review: Four Seasons Sayan, Bali

      2018-11-09

      Review: Weekend Escape At The Grand Lapa, Macau

      2015-10-02

      Review: Family Staycation At The Grand Coloane Resort, Macau

      2015-08-19

      20 Best Staycation Package Deals In Hong Kong For Your Next Special Occasion

      2022-12-05

      The Ultimate List Of Hong Kong’s Best 5-Star Hotels, For A Luxury Stay In The City

      2022-07-28

      12 Luxurious 5-Star Hotels In Manila, The Philippines’ Capital Region

      2022-06-08

      8 Best Budget-Friendly Hostels in Hong Kong

      2021-09-13

      What Are The International Covid-19 Testing Requirements For Passengers Departing Hong Kong?

      2023-01-03

      19 Best Travel Destinations To Visit In Asia-Pacific (With Entry Requirement Details)

      2022-10-05

      20 Places To Visit In Singapore And How To Get There

      2022-06-28

      The Traveller’s Guide For Exploring Palawan Island: What To See & What To Do

      2022-05-17

      Amber-Code Holders In Tour Groups Can Enter Theme Parks, Museums & Restaurants

      2022-11-07

      Hong Kong Officially Ends Hotel Quarantine, Replaces It With 3-Day Medical Surveillance

      2022-09-23

      Travelling To Hong Kong Checklist: What Are The Rules To Enter The City?

      2022-08-12

      Travellers Who Are Currently In Quarantine Can Be Discharged On Day 3 Starting Today

      2022-08-09

      What Are The International Covid-19 Testing Requirements For Passengers Departing Hong Kong?

      2023-01-03

      20 Best Staycation Package Deals In Hong Kong For Your Next Special Occasion

      2022-12-05

      Amber-Code Holders In Tour Groups Can Enter Theme Parks, Museums & Restaurants

      2022-11-07

      19 Best Travel Destinations To Visit In Asia-Pacific (With Entry Requirement Details)

      2022-10-05
    • HK Living
      1. Around HK
      2. Essential HK
      3. Neighbourhoods
      4. Work
      5. View All

      50 Interesting Things You Must Do In Hong Kong

      2022-04-21

      10 Awesome Gazetted Swimming Pools For Olympic Pools, Water Slides & Kids’ Facilities

      2021-10-07

      Your Guide To Nan Lian Garden & Chi Lin Nunnery

      2021-09-23

      French May 2021 Imagines A New World Full of Art And Fantasy… and Gastronomy!

      2021-04-30

      10 Best Serviced Apartments in Hong Kong With A Home Away From Home Feel

      2022-12-14

      6 Strawberry Farms To Visit For Picking Season In Hong Kong

      2022-12-01

      10 Places To See Autumn Leaves In Hong Kong

      2022-11-14

      42 Best Smartphone Apps In Hong Kong You Must Download

      2022-08-18

      Your Friendly Neighbourhood Guide To Sai Kung

      2022-12-28

      Your Friendly Neighbourhood Guide To Tai O Fishing Village

      2022-12-19

      Your Friendly Neighbourhood Guide To Tai Hang

      2022-09-22

      Your Friendly Neighbourhood Guide To Exploring Kennedy Town

      2022-06-30

      Bela Offices, Affordable Luxury Serviced Offices In Central And Sheung Wan

      2022-11-03

      How To Find The Right Office Rental In Hong Kong

      2022-10-11

      Top 15 Serviced Offices To Rent In Hong Kong For A Modern Workspace Experience

      2022-09-15

      Hong Kong Families’ Monthly Income Drops To $27,100, 13.2% Of Employees Work 60-Plus Hours A Week

      2022-09-01

      Your Friendly Neighbourhood Guide To Sai Kung

      2022-12-28

      Your Friendly Neighbourhood Guide To Tai O Fishing Village

      2022-12-19

      10 Best Serviced Apartments in Hong Kong With A Home Away From Home Feel

      2022-12-14

      6 Strawberry Farms To Visit For Picking Season In Hong Kong

      2022-12-01
    The HK HUB
    Home»Culture»Mahjong 101: How To Play The Famous Tile-Based Game?
    Culture

    Mahjong 101: How To Play The Famous Tile-Based Game?

    Danielle LamBy Danielle Lam2021-06-22Updated:2021-07-27No Comments14 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp
    hands with gold jewelry assembling mahjong melds

    More than a gambling game, mahjong is a community-building activity where the folding table is the basis for essential social interactions. In Hong Kong, mahjong is played at family dinners, holiday celebrations, and in parks. Indeed, Stanford mahjong researcher Annelise Heinz attributes the importance and longevity of mahjong to its social aspects. Luck and strategy intertwine in this ubiquitous game with a history spanning two centuries, in which mathematical awareness is just as important as the style with which you handle and touch-identify your tiles.

    Content of this article hide
    The origins of mahjong
    How to play mahjong
    Game materials
    How the table is set up
    Gameplay
    Claiming tiles
    Winning hands
    Scoring
    Winning strategies
    Other versions of mahjong
    Can you play mahjong with 2 or 3 people?
    Where to buy a mahjong set in Hong Kong

    The origins of mahjong

    Depiction of ancient Chinese mahjong players (© 144 Mahjong)

    The origins of the game are contested and multiple stories are considered, even to the point of legend. It may have evolved from similar card games madiao () or yezi () during the Ming Dynasty, which were played with cards of four suits numbered 1-9 and extra flower cards. Other theories suggest soldiers invented it to pass the time during the Taiping Rebellion.

    Most scholars generally agree that mahjong developed in small provinces near Shanghai in the mid-to-late 18th century. By the end of the 18th century, mahjong gained widespread play throughout Beijing and Shanghai. As interest spread throughout China, American expatriates started taking the game on. It was eventually imported to the USA with simplified rules by American salesman Joseph Babock, where it became popular especially among housewives as a mark of wealth and cultural sensitivity. The game is still popular among Jewish communities and Chinese diaspora in certain parts of the USA.

    How to play mahjong

    Hong Kong-style mahjong is characterized by its large tiles (which are significantly larger than Taiwanese and Japanese tiles), fan (番) points system, and designation of flower tiles as bonus tiles.

    In short, the gameplay consists of four players taking turns drawing tiles from the middle of the table until one forms a particular winning combination of four sets of three and one pair.

    Game materials

    Circle and character tiles (© Aleksey Zhukov/Flickr)
    Bamboo and honor tiles (© Aleksey Zhukov/Flickr)

    There are 144 tiles. First, there are three sets of suits all numbered from 1-9: circles (筒子, tung zi), bamboo sticks (索子, sok zi), and number characters (萬子, man zi). There are four of each number for a total of 108 suit tiles.

    Next, there are two sets of honor tiles. Honor tiles are the regular, non-numbered tiles. Four Dragon tiles (green, red and white) and four Wind tiles (East, South, West, and North) make up a total of 28 honor tiles.

    Finally, bonus tiles add extra points to your score at the end of the round. There are four Flower tiles and four Season tiles for a total of eight bonus tiles.

    Bonus tiles are all informally called flower tiles (© VEAX1971/Pixabay)

    The flower tiles are Plum Blossom (梅, one), Orchid (蘭, two), Chrysanthemum (菊, three), and Bamboo (竹, four). The season tiles are Spring (春, one), Summer (夏, two), Autumn (秋, three), and Winter (冬, four).

    Other game materials include a wind die indicating the prevailing wind for that match, a die holder, two or three regular die, and chips.

    How the table is set up

    chinese mahjong tiles set up
    Tile walls are arranged in an offset square to leave space for players’ hands (© Alan Kwan/Flickr)

    A standard game is played with four players. The dealer/East wind position (the dealer begins play and often receives more points when winning and loses more points when losing) is decided in one of the following ways:

    1. A randomly chosen player throws a die. The rolled number is counted counter-clockwise from the rolling player. The seat of the player which the counting lands on is the East seat, which is the dealer position.
    2. Alternatively, each player rolls the die and whoever rolls the biggest number is the dealer.

    The four wind tiles are then shuffled and then stacked facedown on top of each other. The player currently in the East position rolls a die. The rolled number is counted counter-clockwise starting from the rolling player. The player who the counting lands on takes a tile from the stack, and going counter-clockwise everyone picks up a tile. Using the East seat as a guide, whichever wind direction you pick up is the position you sit in.

    If the round is tied or the dealer wins, they keep their position in the East seat until they lose. Some players set a limit for three consecutive hands with the same seat positions and prevailing wind. When every player has had a turn as the dealer, that is the end of one match.

    There are four matches in a complete game, each representing a prevailing wind. That is, in the first match the prevailing wind is East. In the next match, the prevailing wind is South, then East, then North. Effectively, each player spends at least one round in the East seat. The prevailing wind affects the scoring for that match.

    Gameplay

    The game starts with shuffling the tiles to prevent cheating. The tiles are pushed around the table using both hands, producing the clacking noise that gives mahjong its name. In Cantonese, the term 麻将 (ma jeuk) means squabbling sparrow.

    Each player then takes 36 tiles from the middle and organizes them into two lines stacked on top of each other. These four ‘walls’ or ‘trains’ are pushed into the centre of the table into a square or slightly offset square. From here, the players will get their starting hands.

    In a highly exact, predefined sequence, each player takes 13 tiles from the walls except for the dealer, who starts with 14. The dealer evaluates their hand and discards one chosen tile into the middle. The player to their left goes on to draw one tile from the ‘wall’ and discard one tile. The turns continue clockwise.

    The objective is to form combinations of the following sets, called melds:

    • Pong (碰), 3 identical tiles,
    • Kong (槓), 4 identical tiles,
    • or Sheung (上), 3 tiles of the same suit in sequence.
    mahjong melds pong and kong on table
    Corner tiles show a pong and kong (© Alan Yeh/Flickr)
    mahjong meld chow in character tiles
    Example of a sheung (© Grace A/Flickr)

    Claiming tiles

    You can claim other players’ discard tiles if one of your sets is completed by it. You must exclaim the respective term “pong”, “kong”, or “sheung” quickly in case another player wants to claim the same tile. You must then reveal that completed meld. After the tile has been claimed, you go on as normal to draw one tile from the back end of the train and discard one tile.

    Guidelines for claiming discards are as follows:

    1. You can claim pong from any player.
    2. You can only claim sheung from the player immediately preceding you.
    3. Once you form a meld, it cannot be split apart to form other sets. Keep in mind that this could be a disadvantage because when you form sets with your own tiles, a kung for example could be split at any point to form a sheung if necessary.
    4. You cannot use a discard to complete a pair unless it forms your winning hand.

    There are also other tiles that must be immediately exposed. For example, when you get a flower tile, it must be revealed and another tile picked up.

    Winning hands

    When a player completes their hand of four sets and a pair, they exclaim “sik wu,” (Cantonese for “eat congee”) and are the winner of the round. The wind seats then rotate counterclockwise and the tiles are reset into four walls.

    Basic winning hands:

    • Basic hand, or gai wu (雞糊): a mix of sequence and three-of-a-kind sets + a pair (Under some rules, the basic hand can win but not score any points.)
    • Common hand, or ping wu (平糊): four sets of sequences + a pair
    • Mixed one suit, or wun yat sik (混一色): sets of one suit’s tiles and honor tiles + a pair
    • All one suit, or qing yai sik (清一色): all sets made up of one suit’s tiles + a pair
    • All triplets, or dui dui wu (對對糊): four sets of three-of-a-kind + a pair
    • Small Dragons, or siu saam yun (小三元): two sets of dragons, two sets of any other tiles + a dragon pair
    • Great Dragons, or dai saam yun (大三元): three sets of dragons, another random set + a pair
    • Small Winds, or siu sei hei (小四喜): three sets of winds, another random set + a wind pair
    • Great Winds, or dai sei hei (大四喜): four sets of winds + a pair

    Difficult winning hands:

    • Ends, or yiu gao (么九): pongs or kongs of ones and nines from the suits
    • Thirteen Ends, or sup saam yiu (十三么): the first and ninth tiles from all of the suits, one of the wind tiles, one of the dragon tiles, and one more extra of any of these
    • Heavenly hand, or tin wu (天糊): A winning hand in your initial hand. Only possible for the person sitting in the dealer’s seat
    • Earthly hand, or dei wu (地糊): A winning hand formed by claiming the first tile discarded by the dealer

    Scoring

    mahjong tournament in holland
    Mahjong tournament (© noluck/Flickr)

    Scoring rules vary geographically even from the classical Chinese rules to Hong Kong rules. A set of rules is usually agreed upon at the beginning of the game, during which players decide the minimum score of fan required to win. For example, the Hong Kong version has a minimum score of 4, 6, 8, 10, or 13 fan or no upper limit. The Chinese version has a minimum score of 88 fan. For reference, a hand made up of one suit and some honor tiles is generally worth 3 fan, while a hand made up of only one suit is worth 6 fan.

    The basic Hong Kong scoring rules are that everyone begins the game with the same number of points. Each assembled set is worth a certain number of fan. When a player wins, the number of points they receive for the round is determined by deducting the losers’ total scores from their score. Hong Kong rules dictate that only the winner scores points.

    In the Hong Kong system, the winner also gets bonus points depending on how the win was accomplished. If the winning tile was a discard by another player, the discarder must pay the winner double; if the winning tile was a self-draw from the wall, every losing player must pay the winner double.

    Winning strategies

    1. Don’t always claim a discard that will complete one of your sets, especially early on in the game. Because you have to reveal melds completed by claimed tiles, it gives other players insight into what hand you’re creating.
    2. Consider the probability of completing certain sets over others. For example, the probability of drawing a 1 or 4 to complete a sequence when you’re holding a 2 and 3 is higher than the probability of drawing three of a kind.
    3. Keep track of which tiles are out of play (i.e. the discards in the middle, as well as the “gardens”, which are yours and other players’ revealed melds) so you’re not waiting for a tile that won’t come.
    4. Your secondary goal is to prevent others from winning. Especially if the round is nearing its end, i.e. the number of tiles in the trains are getting low, then be careful not to discard tiles you don’t see in the discard area as that means other players are likely building sets upon them.

    Other versions of mahjong

    european people playing western version mahjong
    Western mahjong is played with tile racks (© Scott Schiller/Flickr)

    There are multiple versions of mahong with variations in or even new rules, additional tiles, and different tile designs, including Vietnamese, Filipino, and Fujianese along with the ones described below.

    The classic Chinese version precedes the Hong Kong version and varies in minor scoring rules. Unlike the Hong Kong version, losing players can score points. As mentioned before, the upper limit for Chinese mahjong is 88 fan.

    The American version adds 8 all-purpose Joker tiles. Also markedly different from the Chinese version is that the tiles are inscribed with numbers and letters to make their values more obvious. The objective, extremely different from the Chinese version, is to match your tiles to a specific hand released annually by the National Mah Jongg League and American Mah-Jongg Association. Each predefined set is worth a certain number of points (called a double) and scores are based on how many sets players can match.

    Introduced in 1924 by a soldier returning to Tokyo from China, the Japanese version is called Riichi mahjong. The basic Chinese rules of calls and sequences remain the same, but the scoring system is more complex. Tiles are also markedly thinner. It is not as important to win individual rounds as it is to accumulate points throughout consecutive games, and this is achieved through careful planning and strategy. Riichi mahjong also adds the rules of riichi (reach) and dora (bonus tile). The riichi rule states that a player may declare that they have a ready hand, that is, that they’re only one tile away from a ‘legal hand’. After declaring riichi, the player cannot make any changes to their existing hand; they can only draw tiles and must discard unless it’s a winning tile. The dora rule states that any tile can become a bonus tile that adds exponential value to your hand. The minimum score for a winning hand is 16 or 24 han, which matches the Chinese fan in written character and meaning.

    The Taiwanese version dictates that players require an additional set of pong, kong, or sheung on top of the traditional four in a winning hand. Thus, players hold 16 tiles at all times rather than 13.

    The World Series of Mahjong style is standardized for international tournaments. This version has a relatively simplified scoring system, rewarding sets based on how difficult they are to assemble and omitting score modifiers like doubling your score if you self-drew your winning tile.

    Can you play mahjong with 2 or 3 people?

    Two people can play with simplified rules. The tiles can be set up in walls or simply placed in a pile. Gameplay remains largely the same Standardized scoring for two players is as follows: 2 pts/pair, 3 pts/pair of honors; 4 pts/pong, 5 pts/kong, 6 pts/pong of honors, 10 pts/kong of honors, no pts/sheung.

    Three-player mahjong is a bit more involved. This variation is mainly played in Korea, Japan, and Malaysia. The main rule alterations are that bamboo tiles are removed, sheungs cannot be formed from discards, players keep their discards in front of them, and players cannot win using a discard tile if the tile type and number is one they’ve previously discarded.  Gameplay-wise, it is essentially the same as the standard four-player version. The same four walls of tiles are stacked for the drawing of the initial hands (one player makes two walls).

    Where to buy a mahjong set in Hong Kong

    chinese woman sitting with her handmade mahjong set
    Madam Ho Sau Mei at Kam Fat Mahjong is one of the last mahjong carvers (© CNN)

    Custom handmade sets can still be purchased at Kam Fat Mahjong (2 Bulkeley St, Hung Hom) and Biu Kee Mah-Jong (235 Temple Street, Jordan). These hand-carved, individually painted sets require more time and expertise to produce and they are priced to match that level of care (~3,000HKD). There used to be ten mahjong shops on the same street as Biu Kee, but as the game has decreased in popularity among younger generations and a simplified version has migrated to digital play, these and mahjong parlours have closed en masse.

    Today, mahjong tiles are mostly mass-produced in molds. Find these more affordable sets (~600HKD) at Chi Ming Majong Shop (60 Fa Yuen Street, Mong Kok) and 公友祥蒜雀象牙 (69 Lai Chi Kok Road, Prince Edward).

    5/5 - (1 vote)
    Hung Hom Jordan
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Danielle Lam
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn

    Born in Canada, Danielle is deep diving into the things that make Hong Kong a city of intermingling identities, and bridging the information gap as someone trying to navigate the city herself as a cultural inbetweener. Sometimes this means examining culture and local people’s stories, and other times it means drinking all the milk tea and doing walking explorations of peripheral districts.

    Related Posts

    The Cultural Guide To Kwun Yum Treasury Opening Festival

    2023-01-26 Culture

    A Cultural Guide To Chinese Lantern Festival, The Final Day Of CNY Celebrations

    2023-01-26 Culture

    Chinese New Year Displays: Where To See The Best Decorations & Installations In Hong Kong

    2023-01-18 Culture

    Add comment

    Partners
    CCW banner
    banner coral hub hong kong
    compass offices side banner
    Vipop - Sustainable Fashion Shop
    tutor time international nursery and kindergarten in hong kong

    Subscribe to updates

    Open the door to Hong Kong and get your weekly dose of stories, deals and tips.

    Facebook Twitter Instagram RSS
    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Submit PR & Events
    • The HK Support Hub
    • Directory
    • Privacy Policy
    © 2023 All Rights Reserved. Designed by Get Clicks.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.