MAH JONG

What is it? -  A beginner’s view!

Mah Jong is a tile game using 144 tiles and the object is to ‘Go Out’ by assembling three sets and a pair (comprising Pungs, Kongs, Chow to a minimum of 14 tiles) in a similar fashion to the card game of Rummy.

Are you with them so far?    Good,   read on!

Bams - Boos - Cash’s, Dots - Actors - Cracks to name but a few,  

("What are they?" - Oh! Of course silly me; )

Bamboos, Circles and Characters all of which make up the suit tiles of the ancient game of ‘Sparrow or Woo’ or even perhaps Mah Jong but it doesn’t stop there, we also have to contend with Winds - E. S. N. W. and not only,  but also;    ‘Dragons’ - Red ones, Green ones, White ones (some with rectangles around them) have you ever seen a White Dragon let alone a Red and Green one?  (apart from the Welsh and St George that is)     

Then we have ‘Flowers’ - Plum Blossom, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo.   and again who could possibly forget the ‘Seasons’ - Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.   And would you believe it there is at least one collective name for Flowers and Seasons, well it’s obvious isn’t it? Ah yes! ‘Gardens’.

In addition to all of this we’ve got Walls, Racks, Wind Discs, numerous Scoring Alternatives, and from many years ago 440 Special Scoring Hands and enough differing methods of play and rules in geographical, regional and local areas world wide to fill Encyclopedia Britannica.    China for instance has differences in its many regions and also within those regions - talk about confusing!

However, help is at hand as we now have the opportunity to address the Confucius (or could the word be Confusing)   with the advent of The New Mah Jong which incorporates international standards and rules and would you believe has only 81 Special Hands to learn - our luck must be in!

Did this explanation help?    If so return to the Groups by clicking HERE to find out when we meet and more.

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