Mahjong is a game of both skill and luck that originated in china many centuries ago and was brought to the west in the 1920s with the publication of joseph park babcocks rules of mahjongg. View imj rules online international mahjong rules version 05. Below are the rules to american mahjong, which differs slightly from its asian predecessor. Online games and discussions revolve around many different mahjong rule sets, but the japanese variant, riichi, always seemed to have a special status and. Despite these similarities, there are many regional variations to the rules including rather different scoring systems, criteria for legal winning hands, and even. In this case mahjong is played lonely, is called mahjong solitaire, and the. If you want to learn american mahjongg, get the nmjl booklet, mah jongg made easy, or buy my book. If all players agree to it, another swap takes place, in reverse order of the first one.
Mahjong looks intimidating, but it is actually quite simple and similar to rummy. Offering firsttime players an easytofollow guide to this complex game, a beginners guide to american this affordable bestselling book is the only available game strategy guide that is specifically geared toward american mahjong mah jongg and follows the official national mah jongg league rules. Since weve been talking about this subject, thought i would share with you. A beginners guide to american mah jongg gets a fivestar rating from all in our group, who read it easily in one evening, applied its rules and strategy and are now having a great time stretching our minds as we play the american version of this.
Etiquette versus the mah jongg rule book mahjonggmentor. If nobody has revealed a mahjong by the time the wall runs out of tiles, the game is considered a draw and the dealer redeals. American mahjong also sometimes spelled mah jongg or called maajh is. To learn the game, we recommend reading the rules and even if you dont understand them fully, register with one of our recommended mahjong sites.
Think of mahjong as one language, and each version chinese, japanese, british or american is a unique dialect of that language. American mahjong, also spelled mah jongg, is a variant of the chinese game mahjong. American mahjongg is hard because you can only play the hands listed on the card. The game of mah jongg these instructions are based on the american version of mah jongg. Classic tile collecting game mah jongg comprehensive instructions for friendly play. My tiddlywiki a reusable nonlinear personal web notebook. They were first used in an official tournament at the world championship 2002 in japan. Like many popular games, mahjong has many regional variations, from the chinese prevailing wind system to american mahjong with special.
American style mahjong rules associazione italiana mah jong. It is played by four players and most closely resembles the card game gin rummy. All the other forms of mahjongg are freeform very much akin to rummy. Scoring for each hand is same as on the current national mah jongg league nmjl standard hands and rules card. The title suggests that it is an instruction book for learning the rules, sets, and art of the game. Mahjong is one of the most popular traditional games in china, which according to famous legend had been contrived by confucius. American mahjong is a variation on the classic chinese game and was standardized by the national mah jongg league of new york in 1937. Of the many mah jongg mah jong variants extant today, american mah jongg is unique. Its quite a challenge to find possibilities for hands from among a random or 14 tiles. Following some simple stepbystep instructions you should be playing mahjong in no time. Although normally played with four players, mahjong can be played by two people with only a. The game of mahjong has many variants this version is sometimes referred to as the chinese classical or sometimes the hong kongcantonese version. As the global reputation of mahjong has increased, computerized editions with diverse rules have been formed for individual play. Destination mah jongg tournament rules e or a stays in the same seat or, may move down 2 directors will tell you, n or b moves up 1 table, s or c moves down 1 table, w or d moves up 2 tables.
Rule info by mandisa washington, some info taken from clay breshears mah jongg site, back in 1997. A flipbook reference guide second edition stacey rea on. This will roughly determine the length of the game. Play a relaxing game of solitaire that mixes the classic rules of mahjong with a deck of playing cards. The object of modern american sometimes called jewish mahjongg is to make the tiles match up with a hand on a mahjongg card. Cards are created and published by the national mah jongg league, 450 7th avenue. Learn mahjong rules with our easy to follow mahjong guide. Todays globalized world with highspeed internet connections makes it easier than ever to connect across countries and continents over virtual mahjong tables. The rules that follow are known as modern american rules. Learn to play online with our easy to follow guide to mahjong rules.
Prior to the publication of this book a beginners guide to american mah jongg, elaine sanberg, 2010, you could not find anything about the american game in bookstores. This is not the most informative book on mahjong that ive read, but it does give a very good perspective on the chinese point of view in relation. Although the game play in general is similar in all of the versions of mahjong, the game pieces and scoring, however, slightly differ depending on the regional variations. Use our rules as assistance when playing and refer back to them. These rules are described in detail in mahjong competition rules the world mahjong organization, 2006, also known as the green book. For example, west drew the 4th tile to make a kong, took a loose tile from the back of the wall, and discarded it. Plus children parents and grandparents get to peel grate mix and fry the bestever chanukah latkes. Instead, it is a complete set of written rules of the worlds most popular cantonese mahjong, including modifications widely played throughout the 1990s and beyond. If the candles could speak a chanukah big book and latkes latkes good to eat a pj library book favorite will highlight the miracle of chanukah.
For the japanese or american style games, higher values will need to be. American style mahjong rules mahjong is a chinese game of skill, which involves four players. It was brought to the united states in the 1920s when joesph park babcock published rules of mahjongg. Mahjong is becoming a more visible international phenomenon.
American style mahjong rules drawing tiles the game is now ready and new tiles will be taken from the wall where the drawing of initial hand ended. American mahjong utilizes racks, jokers, hands and rules score cards and has several distinct gameplay mechanics. Mahjongg sales company of america, 1923 mah jong 117 pages. Mahjongg is played with four players, and a fifth person may be a bettor. Going dead it is important to remember that there are many different kinds of mahjongg. How to play mahjong with the basic rules the spruce crafts. Can user declare concealed kong or promote a pung to a kong. Sets tiles claimed are rotated 90 degrees within the set to show which player had discarded it. Kids take home a laminated recipe card so they can try this at home.
The rules of mah jong or mah jongg traditional games to. The hand ends when somebody declares mahjong and reveals a complete 14tile hand of four sets and a pair. There are also rule books that have been published and available online, most notably tom slopers the red dragon and the west wind. Mahjongg solitaire is the accurate name for computer mahjongg games. An american mah jongg set consisting of 8 flowers, 8 jokers, 4 red dragons, 4 green dragons, 4 soapwhite dragons, 4 north winds, 4 east winds, 4 west winds, 4 south winds, 19 craks suit4 of each number, 19 bams suit4 of each number. Psoriasis connect learn psoriasisandjointpain psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis treatment, phototherapy, topical treatments, health. Mahjong chinese classical or hong kongcantonese rules. Also i have some questions about american version of mahjong. Books sales the wposc has suspended all activities due to covid19, that includes mah jongg book sales. Mahjong solitaire has become one of the most popular games in the world because of its simple rules and engaging game play. Hong kong mahjong rules hong kong mahjong game objective the objective of the hong kong mahjong game is to put together a complete set or hand, which contains four sets of threes either three of a kind of the same suit or pung or a sequence of the same suit or chow and a pair, for total of 14 pieces.
Good summary for chinese mahjongg but it isnt a book on american mahjongg. When a player creates a set of hand or mahjong, he wins the game. Please continue to check for announcements on this page. Mahjongg solitaire is a corresponding game where you attempt to match tiles with similar face design. The ultimate goal will be to do a mahjong, that is to say to make a winning hand with 4 melds pong, kong or chow and 1 pair also known as eyes. What does x and cbefore points specification mean in american mahjong rulebook. I haveive goti have got you bookmarked book marked book markedsaved as a favorite \r to check outto look at new stuff youthings you post\r hihellohi therewhats up, just wanted to mentionsaytell you, \r i enjoyedlikedloved this articlepostblog \r post. 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. See all 5 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Mah jongg made easy is a valuable handbook with step by step instructions by the national mah jongg league using american western mah jongg rules.
The rules of mah jong or mah jongg masters traditional games. American mahjongg is the oddball variant of the mahjongg world. Many aspects can be understood by anyone who speaks mahjong, but to intelligently play a specific version you have to understand. There are many versions of mahjong, but the main 4 are chinese hong kong american japanese. A great way to learn mahjongit presents the complex rules in a clear format, introducing those unfamiliar with the game to its rules and techniques. Learn more on how to play various styles via our mahjong 101 series, new videos added every week. Hong kong mahjong rules associazione italiana mah jong. In the solitaire version, your goal is to remove every tile by matching pairs of identical mahjong tiles. A mah jong handbook is the allcomprehensive mahjong guide, offering a clear and concise introduction to the classic chinese, western, and japanese rules of the game and outlining its many variants. Offering firsttime players an easytofollow guide to this complex game, a beginners guide to american mah jongg includes simple, easytofollow instructions and clear diagrams to walk the reader through each step of the game, including how to select a hand, how to play and how to develop winning strategies. After a game is completed whether by a winning hand or no winner after the last tile in the wall has been picked, the player to the right becomes the. Play is according to national mah jongg league rules plus tournament rules and uses the nmjl card. It is commonly played by four players with some threeplayer variations found in japan, south korea and southeast asia.
Prevailing wind and game wind to start off and to determine the player game wind each player throws the dice and the player with the highest total when the scores are added is the dealer. The set includes 8 jokers and players refer to a card that shows the sequences that are needed to complete a mah jongg hand. The single most popular variant in north america, its also the least well documented. This appendix introduces the basic playing rules of mahjong, to enable the reader who is new to mahjong to understand the main contents of this book. When etiquette trumps the mah jongg rule book posted january 7, 2017 by traceypp in all things mah jongg 2200 11 1 my new years resolutions for 2017. This is the first mahjong book to cover the cantonese or old rules game fully. East starts the game by discarding a tile faces up in the center of the table. Weve split the rules into easy to understand and follow sections. The tiles of the mahjong game are also used in many online games.
These rules can be found on the back of the card and in the rule book mahjongg made easy 20, which is sold by the league. At the back of the book, there is a game card which you can cut out. American mahjong rules games, board games, card games. This is common in japanese mahjong, whereas other rules would follow an order of 1, 4, 2, and then 3. Mahjong, the classic chinese tile game, dates back to the tai ping rebellion of 18511864 and was popularized in the west in 1920 with the publication of the book rules for mahjongg. The first rules given here are based on the original chinese game which is the simplest and probably the most skillful form. Elaine will teach you how to learn the hands of the card and to learn how to select your hand to. And weve found an eighth player who will join us as soon as she finishes reading the book. Mahjong or mah jongg is a four player game which employs both skill and luck. Abcnews videosource 21973 ap archive 369 archive films by getty images 202 bridgeman images 240 budget films 11 cnn collection 392 conus archive 3383 criticalpast 1. Discards discards are arranged on the floor in front of their respective discarded in rows of six, placed from left to right.