Mahjong is a popular Chinese game that has been enjoyed for centuries. It is a game of skill, strategy, and luck that can be played by four players. The objective of the game is to build sets of matching tiles and to be the first to get rid of all of your tiles.

The game is played with a set of 144 tiles, which are divided into several different types. The most common types of tiles are the bamboo, character, and dot tiles. Bamboo tiles have a bamboo symbol on them, character tiles have a Chinese character on them, and dot tiles have a dot symbol on them. There are also special tiles, such as the wind and dragon tiles, which have unique symbols and special properties.

To start the game, each player is dealt 13 tiles, and the remaining tiles are placed in the center of the table to form the “wall.” The players then take turns picking up tiles from the wall and discarding tiles that they no longer need. The goal of the game is to create sets of matching tiles and to be the first to get rid of all of your tiles.

There are several different types of sets that can be created in Mahjong. The most basic sets are the “chow,” “pung,” and “kong.” A chow is a set of three consecutive tiles of the same type, such as three bamboo tiles numbered one, two, and three. A pung is a set of three identical tiles, such as three bamboo tiles numbered one. A kong is a set of four identical tiles, such as four bamboo tiles numbered one.

In addition to these basic sets, there are also “eyes” and “winning hands.” An eye is a pair of identical tiles that can be used to complete a set. For example, if a player has a pung of bamboo tiles numbered one, an eye would be another bamboo tile numbered one. A winning hand is a hand that meets certain criteria, such as having at least one pung of each type of tile or having all of the wind tiles.

Once a player has a winning hand, they can declare “Mahjong” and win the game. If no player has a winning hand, the game continues until one player runs out of tiles. In this case, the player with the most points is the winner. Points are awarded for different types of sets and for different combinations of sets.

Mahjong is a game that requires skill, strategy, and luck. It is a great way to spend time with friends and family, and it can also be played competitively. If you’re looking for a new game to try, consider giving Mahjong a try.

There are also various variations of the game such as Hong Kong Mahjong, American Mah Jongg, and Japanese Mah Jongg. Each variant has its own set of rules and regulations.

In American Mah Jongg, the game is played with joker tiles, and the objective is to make hands from a card provided by the National Mah Jongg League. The card lists various possible hands and the number of points each hand is worth.

In Japanese Mah Jongg, the game is played with a smaller set of 136 tiles, and the objective is to make a winning hand with four sets of three tiles and a pair of identical tiles.

In Hong Kong Mah Jongg, the game is played with a set of 144 tiles, and the objective is to make a winning hand with four sets of three tiles, a set of four tiles, and a pair of identical tiles.

Mahjong is a game that requires skill, strategy, and luck. It is a great way to spend time with friends and family, and it can also be played competitively.