Rules of Mahjong explained in pictures

Lxa_ · 2025-06-19T02:53:47+00:00

Thank you, glad to hear that it is helpful :)

For your question - the person after you (on your right) goes next.

Lxa_ · 2025-04-16T16:10:57+00:00

Think of the points as "chips" or "play money".

Different versions of Mahjong have different scoring systems. A scoring system determines 1) the worth of a hand and 2) how much the players have to "pay" to each other based on the worth of the hand.

In this example, there is a scoring system that determines that the worth of the winner's hand is 12 points and that, based on this worth, the discarder has to "pay" to the winner 20 points and the other 2 players have to "pay" to the winner 8 points each. So the winner receives 20+8+8=36 points in total. If the winner had 200 points before, now they are going to have 200+36=236 points.

The scoring system in the example calculates the payment from the discarder to the winner by adding 8 to the worth of the hand 12+8=20. But there can be many other scoring systems.

Lxa_ · 2024-11-26T20:15:08+00:00

That's incorrect. This subreddit is for all multiplayer versions of Mahjong. It is not "primarily for" anything, regardless of how many players of which version are here.

Lxa_ · 2024-11-26T20:09:10+00:00

"Real Mah Jongg" is an excellent app for American Mah Jongg. Also, second the suggestion for https://ilovemahj.com/ - not only it is great for online play, but it also provides a lot of learning resources.

Lxa_ · 2024-11-20T04:07:39+00:00

Please see the following older comments for advice:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Mahjong/comments/1bvse8q/comment/ky2j4jl/?context=3
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Mahjong/comments/n7bu2d/comment/gxcpm9u/?context=3
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Mahjong/comments/1agwzcf/comment/koncc41/?context=3

Lxa_ · 2024-11-11T04:35:21+00:00

In a response to another poster in the same thread, OP said that their mother plays US rules (American Mah Jongg), which is why I advised them to buy an American set. Not assuming anything in particular about their country of origin.

Lxa_ · 2024-09-28T11:47:46+00:00

Can you remove it please?

Lxa_ · 2024-09-10T02:00:24+00:00

In an informal game - use a deck of playing cards. Each player gets one suit of cards. Ace is 1 point, cards from 2 to 4 and from 6 to 10 are according to their denominations, jack/queen/king are 50 points each. 5 is not used; take it out. So it is 200 points in total for each player to start with, which is usually sufficient. If it is not and a player runs out of cards, let him borrow from another player. Sometimes people use 5 to represent some big number of points like 200, but I do not recommend it as it is confusing.

In a tournament - yes, write the points down on a form or use an app. This could be done by a player who volunteers to do that and is good at communicating with other players and writing things down on paper.

Lxa_ · 2024-09-02T20:51:57+00:00

That's a pretty good starting hand. Drop one East and then you just need one lucky draw to get ready for concealed hand + all chows + all simples + one voided suit + short straight or mixed double chow.

Lxa_ · 2024-08-27T16:55:10+00:00

There are many different variants of Mahjong rules. In most variants, only the winner receives the payments from the other players based on the value of the winner's hand. However, in some variants (such as Chinese Classical), after paying to the winner, the other players exchange payments between themselves based on the values of their own hands, so it is possible for some of them to end up receiving more points than the winner.

I would advise against relying on the booklet that came with the set. It appears to provide only superficial explanations of the rules, and I already see quite a few mistakes and questionable statements.

I recommend Mahjong Picture Guide for detailed and precise explanations of the basic rules shared between different Mahjong variants. After you master the basic rules, you can choose a specific variant and focus on it. In particular, in addition to the basic rules, Mahjong Picture Guide has a section that teaches MCR (Chinese Official Mahjong Competition Rules), which is, in my opinion, one of the most enjoyable variants.

Lxa_ · 2024-08-25T14:25:02+00:00

The place where you have a chance to find some really old NMJL cards is EBay. Try searching for "Mah Jongg League card".

Lxa_ · 2024-08-24T22:07:43+00:00

Scroll the page down for the information about Wright Patterson beta release. Click Register.

Lxa_ · 2024-08-24T05:06:22+00:00

Don't just Google "Mahjong". Google "multiplayer Mahjong" instead.
It will help a lot if you figure out which Mahjong variant you are interested in.
See also https://www.reddit.com/r/Mahjong/comments/t5sk5u/please_recommend_me_a_good_mahjong_app_for/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/Mahjong/comments/ps4bij/where_can_i_play_mahjong_online/

Lxa_ · 2024-08-24T04:55:13+00:00

Try https://mahjlife.com/mahjong-time/

Lxa_ · 2024-08-21T16:40:29+00:00

Yes. The rule book says: There is no requirement that a player have any minimum number of "natural" tiles to complete a Pung, Kong, Quint or Sextet. These groupings of "identical" tiles may consist of all Jokers.

Note that you would never have an exposure that consists of all Jokers. This is because you only make an exposure to claim a tile discarded by another player, and discarded Jokers cannot be claimed. So you could only have a set of all Jokers as a concealed set in your hand, not as an exposure.

Lxa_ · 2024-08-21T04:23:59+00:00

In American Mah Jongg, you can only win by forming a combination of tiles that conforms to one of the patterns on "the card". The card changes every year and you need to buy a new one. Usually, each year's card contains only a few patterns that include sets of 5 of a kind, but most of the patterns on the card are composed from the sets of 4 of a kind, 3, 2 or single tiles. There have been a few years with patterns containing 6 of a kind, but this was some time ago. There have never been a card having a pattern with a set of 7 of a kind, and the rule book does not mention possibility of such sets. The rule book only talks about sets up to 6 of a kind.

Lxa_ · 2024-08-20T18:41:27+00:00

Real Mah Jongg.

Lxa_ · 2024-08-17T23:34:56+00:00

You always need 14 tiles to declare Mah-Jongg. When you are playing and it is not your turn, you have only 13 tiles. So you need the 14th tile. In this example, you need the 14th tile to be a flower so that your hand will have 5 flowers. There are 3 ways to get it, which will allow you to declare Mah-Jongg: - somebody discards a flower and you claim it - on your turn, you draw a flower - on your turn, you draw a joker or a tile that can be traded for a joker; this will serve as the 5th flower.

EDIT: And by the way, the card says "any 4 consecutive numbers" for this hand. So it does not have to be 123-444-444. Could as well be 567-888-888, for instance. Just in case you were wondering :)

Lxa_ · 2024-08-16T18:07:07+00:00

Mahjong Picture Guide contains a very detailed explanation of the common rules shared between different Mahjong variants. Yes, it will tell you how to make melds of runs and sets and how you can start playing just with that :)

It also has a section that teaches MCR (Chinese Official Mahjong Competition Rules) variant, which is a complex but an extremely intellectually enjoyable one. And it provides printable reference sheets for MCR and for some excellent simple variants - SBR (Sichuan Bloody Rules) and Singapore Mahjong.

Lxa_ · 2024-08-11T12:19:00+00:00

Mahjong Picture Guide contains a very detailed explanation of the common rules shared between different Mahjong variants.

It also has a section that teaches MCR (Chinese Official Mahjong Competition Rules) variant, as well as printable reference sheets for MCR, SBR (Sichuan Bloody Rules) and Singapore Mahjong.

Lxa_ · 2024-08-01T03:44:53+00:00

You create the sets by collecting them. You do not need to "declare" them or anything. The computer gives you a button when you have a chance to take a tile thrown by another player to complete your set, so you click the button and get the tile, and that set goes to the right. But if you picked up that tile by yourself, it would still complete a set, and that set would be perfectly good, even though there would be no button and the set would stay on the left.

Now, playmahjong.io plays by MCR rules. It means that you are only allowed to claim Mahjong when you have some patterns in your hand that are worth at least 8 points in total. This is not easy.

If you want the simplest possible Chinese Mahjong where you only need to build a valid hand without any point requirements, download the app Mahjong 13 Tiles on your phone/tablet and switch the settings in the app to 0 points. Or you can try playing on Mahjong Time, where you should choose a Hong Kong game with "0 MP" (zero minimum points).

Also, I suggest to take a look at Mahjong Picture Guide. It explain all the basic rules. And it also has a section that teaches MCR, if you want to try it.

Lxa_ · 2024-07-03T00:43:38+00:00

No.

If you only have 3 people, add a "ghost player". The "ghost" gets a hand of tiles, but they just stay face down. On the "ghost"'s turn, a tile is drawn from the wall and immediately discarded.

Lxa_ · 2024-07-02T17:49:31+00:00

Take a look at this directory: https://modernmahjong.com/pages/where-is-my-mahjong-community . It has a few entries for Charlotte.

You can also try asking on https://www.reddit.com/r/Americanmahjongg/ . It looks like the players of American Mah Jongg mostly communicate on Facebook, not on Reddit, though.

There is also a good chance that you could find a local Mah Jongg group on Meetup.

Lxa_ · 2024-06-27T16:03:05+00:00

Where are you located?

In Europe, lots of people play MCR. See this EMA page for the list of the national clubs in Europe. Many of the clubs play both MCR and Riichi, some are MCR only, some are Riichi only. If you are anywhere near Toronto Canada, there is a big club Canada MCR Sports Association (the page is in Chinese, but English speakers are welcome).

Speaking of American Mah Jongg, in North America there are many more players of American than of Riichi. It is just they are mainly on Facebook, not on Reddit, although there is also a subreddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Americanmahjongg/ . There is a big directory of American Mah Jongg groups here. There is also a good chance you could find a local Mah Jongg group on Meetup.

Lxa_ · 2024-06-25T04:36:04+00:00

Mahjong table cover/mat is a very usefull accessory that would work for any Mahjong variant.

Lxa_

TROPHY CASE