Mah-Jongg

Objective: The objective of Mah-Jongg, traditionally played with four players, is to be the first to complete a full hand, consisting of specific combinations of sets known as "melds," plus a pair, which is called "Mah-Jongg." The game is played over several rounds, with players scoring points based on the hands they win.

Materials

• Tiles: Mah-Jongg uses a set of tiles similar to playing cards, which include:
• Bamboo (1-9)
• Circles (1-9)
• Characters (1-9)
• Winds: East, South, West, and North
• Dragons: Red, Green, White
• Flowers and Seasons (optional, depending on the ruleset)
• Two dice

Setup

1. Build Walls: All tiles are shuffled face down and then built into a wall by each player, 17 tiles wide and two tiles high.
2. Dealing the Tiles: The player in the "East Wind" seat starts as the dealer, dealing 13 tiles to each player, and takes 14 for themselves.

Gameplay

1. Drawing and Discarding: The game begins with the East player discarding one tile to maintain a hand of 13. Subsequent players draw a new tile from the wall and discard one from their hand.

2. Forming Melds: Players aim to form sets:

3. Pong: Three identical tiles
4. Kong: Four identical tiles

5. Chow: Three consecutive tiles in the same suit (only during one's own turn)

6. Calling Mah-Jongg: If a player completes a full hand (four melds and a pair) by drawing or claiming an opponent's discard, they call out "Mah-Jongg" and the round ends.

Scoring

Each round after a Mah-Jongg call is scored, with various hands and special moves, such as declaring from the dealer seat, earning different points based on the ruleset.

Strategic Aspects

• Wall Management: Keep track of remaining wall tiles to avoid making high-value moves easier for opponents.
• Observation of Discards: Opponents' discards can provide clues about their strategies and needed tiles.
• Efficient Hand Building: Prioritize high-scoring and flexible hands to allow for adjustments.

Mah-Jongg is a skill and strategy game requiring patience, attention to patterns, and the ability to quickly respond to developments at the table.