MAHJONG�“A Game of Sparrows”

Introduction, Rules, and Play

Historical OVERVIEW

“Legends include that Confucius invented (Mahjong) to aid with his teachings, and that a woman at the court of the King of Wu created it to stave off boredom… In reality, the game is not known to have existed prior to the nineteenth century AD, although other similar games have been played in China for years. After achieving popularity in its country of origin, it spread throughout the world in short order, with Americans first learning about the game around 1920. This was when Joseph Babcock, an American who lived in China as a representative of the Standard Oil Company, wrote a set of rules for the game. There was no official set of rules prior to this, but Babcock’s rules were notably easier than how the game was played in China. The American version is known to be particularly popular in Jewish communities, although there doesn’t appear to be much evidence as to why… Interestingly, the game was actually banned in China between 1949 and 1985, due to its association with gambling, and hence capitalism.” ��- Nathan, “The Mythology of Mahjong,” VoVatia, July 18, 2011.

Play OBJECTIVE

Players start by randomly choosing thirteen (13) tiles from the great pile of tiles at the center of the table. Each turn, they both choose a new tile and discard one of their own. From those thirteen tiles, plus the one drawn each turn, the player’s goal is to create four sets of three matching tiles and one pair. Matching tiles include numerical sequences of the same suit - or - the same number or type of a certain suit. Players keep their tiles concealed at all times, unless they claim a discarded tile from another player, and they maintain a discard pile next to their active tiles. The first person to obtain a full hand of four sets and a pair of matching tiles declares “Mahjong!” and reveals that hand. If successful, each player then shows their hand and points are tallied for that round.

Suit 1: CRACKS

Cracks, variously called Characters or Symbols, represent everyday objects, activities or people. There are four of each number, in sequential order from Ten Thousand to Ninety Thousand, and since not all tiles are numbered, their order is represented thusly.

Suit 2: BAMS

Bams, short for Bamboos, represent their namesake grasses. There are four of each number and are presented in sequential order thusly. Interestingly, the “one” (1) is represented by a bird and the “eight” (8) is sometimes called “William and Mary” by Americans.

Suit 3: CIRCLES

Circles, also called Dots, represent time, eternity, and the heavenly bodies. They are the easiest to tell at a glance and, like the other two suits, have four tiles for each number, represented in sequential order thusly.

Honor 1: DRAGONS

HELL YEAH, there are dragons in this game! There are three types of dragons: Red, “Chung”; Green, “Fat”; and White, “Po,” which is typically represented by a rectangle, is sometimes called “Soap” and is variously colored blue or black. As before, there are four pieces of each and are represented thusly.

Honor 2: WINDS

Winds, also called Cardinals, represent not only their namesake but also the four players in the game. The first player (or winner of the previous game) is variously called “Banker” or “Chief,” and is represented by the East. The player to their left is the South and the one to their right is the North, and play revolves clockwise from the East. As before, there are four pieces of each, represented thusly.

Honor 3: SEASONS AND FLOWERS

Seasons and Flowers are optional for Mahjong, depending on one’s preferred playstyle (Japanese style, for instance, does not include them). These tiles also represent the players: Spring/Plum is the East, Summer/Orchid is the South, Autumn/Chrysanthemum is the West, and Winter/Bamboo is the North. Unlike the other suits and honors, there is only one of each tile included in the game. For Cuencana Mahjong, all 8 are used.

Order of PLAY

1. Each player turns all the tiles facedown and helps shuffle them into a massive pile, or into a wall 2 stacks of 18 tiles formed by each player, and broken by a dice roll, as players decide to do so. Traditionally each non-dealer rolls a dice and the dealer breaks the wall from the sum number of tiles from the right of the dealer’s wall and drawing starts from there.
2. Starting from the East, each player chooses four tiles at a time. Once each player has twelve (12) tiles, they must then choose a final, thirteenth tile. Players are recommended to create a “wall” of tiles in front of them that represents their hand.
3. Starting from the East, each player first chooses a tile, secretly adds it to their hand, and discards either another tile from their hand, or the one they just drew. Each player must maintain a separate discard pile from their hand and they must clearly announce which tile they intend to discard per turn, so all can hear.
4. Play revolves until a player attains “Mahjong” and reveals their full hand.

Types of SCORING HANDS

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1. Mahjong: a full hand from a player.
2. Kong: four (4) identical tiles. Normally a set is 3 tiles, but a kong is 4 tiles. In order to preserve the correct number of tiles for a valid hand, when a kong is called, an extra tile is drawn after the declaration.
3. Pung: a set of three (3) identical tiles.
4. Chow: a sequence of three (3) tiles of the same suit in sequential order.
5. Eyes: a pair of identical tiles, which is necessary for attaining “Mahjong.”

“Closed” set: scoring tiles which the player keeps secret until the game’s end. Concealed Kongs count as closed sets.�“Open” set: scoring tiles which the player attains by taking a discarded tile from an opponent, and which they must reveal immediately for the rest of the game.

There are two irregular hands which can win- 7 pairs of tiles, and 13 Orphans, which is one of each 1, 9, and Honor Tile, combined with a pair of one of the tiles.

DISCARD Rules

1. Discarded tiles must always be placed face-up and clearly announced.
2. Mahjongs, Kongs, and Pungs can be made from a discard, but the player must claim that tile the very moment it is discarded, they must be able to complete their hand/set with that tile, and their Mahjong/Kong/Pung must be revealed immediately. For a Chow, discards can only be claimed from the player to the claimant’s left (e.g. East from South, South from West, etc.). This rule for sequences does not apply to mahjong calls.
3. Critically, one can only claim a discard for mahjong if it is not already in their discard pile.
4. Once a discard has been claimed, the claimant discards a tile then play moves on to the player after the claimant.
5. Any unclaimed tiles in a player’s discard pile are considered “dead” for the remainder of the game. Hence, one must be quick to claim them.
6. Once tiles are exposed, they are “locked in”, and cannot be changed.

Priority for Discard Calls

1. Mahjong.
2. Kong
3. Pung
4. Chow

In the case of multiple players making identical calls for Mahjong, priority goes counterclockwise, towards whoever would have their turn first

Kongs

In order to use four identical tiles as a kong, the kong has to be declared. There are two types of Kongs

1. Concealed Kong. The player has all 4 copies in hand. They show the tiles, then place the outermost tiles face down, and one tile sideways. This is not considered an exposure.
2. Exposed Kong. The player has 3 copies in hand, and calls the 4th tile, or has exposed a set of 3, and draws the 4th tile. This is an exposure. Place all the tiles face up, with one sideways. This is considered an exposure.

One can call Mahjong on a tile from an exposed kong, but not a concealed kong. Example: you have exposed 3 7-dots, and you draw the 4th. You declare the kong, someone who needs the 7 dot for a mahjong (they have a 5 and 6 dot and need the 7) can take your tile and win. This is called “Robbing the Kong”

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Flower and Season Tile Rules

Flower and Season tiles are bonus tiles, and cannot be discarded normally, and cannot be called. If you draw a bonus tile, you can do the following with the tiles.

1. Discard them. The discard cannot be called, it is dead, You cannot discard a bonus tile if there are no tiles left to be drawn if you have a non-bonus tile.
2. Save them for a meld. Bonus tiles can be used in a pair for the eyes, or in a set of 3 for a set or sequence (players choice for scoring). Bonus tiles score more if they match number or type.
3. Declare a Concealed Kong of bonus tiles. Show 4 bonus tiles, and follow the rules for a Concealed Kong.

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Exhaustive Draw

In the case all the tiles are exhausted, and no player has been able to declare mahjong, the round is replayed. No scores are given.