Rules overview: Difference between revisions

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Japanese mahjong is quite complex with its many rules and special cases. This article is a brief and quick layout to the most basic rules of the game, just to get new players started.
Japanese mahjong is quite complex with its many rules and special cases. This article is a brief and quick layout to the most basic rules of the game, just to get new players started.  For more detailed documentation on the rules, see [[Japanese mahjong]], as well as other articles covering various game topics.


For more detailed documentation on the rules, see [[Japanese mahjong]], as well as other articles covering various game topics.
<!-- Rest of the article in list form-->
== Tiles and suits ==
== Tiles and suits ==
{{main|Mahjong equipment}}


* Mahjong is played by four players  
* Mahjong is played by four players  
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{|
{|
|{{ #mjt:123456789m }}
|{{ #mjt:123456789m }}
|36 tiles in the ''man'' suit
|36 tiles in the '''[[manzu|man]]''' suit
|-
|-
|{{ #mjt:123456789p }}
|{{ #mjt:123456789p }}
|36 tiles in the ''pin'' suit
|36 tiles in the '''[[pinzu|pin]]''' suit
|-
|-
|{{ #mjt:123456789s }}
|{{ #mjt:123456789s }}
|36 tiles in the ''sou'' suit
|36 tiles in the '''[[souzu|sou]]''' suit
|-
|-
|{{ #mjt:1234567z }}
|{{ #mjt:1234567z }}
|28 honor tiles
|28 [[Jihai|honor tiles]]
|}
|}


== Setup ==
== Setup ==
[[image:setup.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Mahjong tiles at the initial setup before tiles are dealt.]]
* After tiles are shuffled, the players build walls of face-down tiles
* After tiles are shuffled, the players build walls of face-down tiles
* Each wall is 17 tiles long, double stacked
* Each wall is 17 tiles long, double stacked
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* Point sticks are used to keep score, when playing with real tiles
* Point sticks are used to keep score, when playing with real tiles


== Starting the deal ==
=== Starting the deal ===
* At the start of each hand after the walls are built, players are dealt 13 tiles each
* At the start of each hand after the walls are built, players are dealt 13 tiles each
* One player throughout the game is designated as the dealer, marked by an indicator
* One player throughout the game is designated as the dealer, marked by an indicator
* The dealer is begins by rolling the dice, to determine the wall break
* The dealer is begins by rolling the dice, to determine the wall break
<!-- May need image of a wall break diagram here -->


== Dealing the tiles==
=== Seating positions ===
{{main|Jikaze}}
 
* The dealer is always seated East
* The dealer is always seated East
* Player to the right of the dealer is South
* Player to the right of the dealer is South
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* These patterns may be viewed like poker hands
* These patterns may be viewed like poker hands
* Hands may have a combination of different yaku
* Hands may have a combination of different yaku
* Hand value is primarily based off of your yaku patterns
* Hand value is primarily based on your yaku patterns
* Not all yaku are pattern-based, and it is not required to have a pattern-based yaku to win (e.g., you may win with riichi alone)


== Strategy ==
== Strategy ==
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* [http://www.tenhou.net Tenhou.net]
* [http://www.tenhou.net Tenhou.net]
: Select choice for English speakers ([[Tenhou.net rules]])
: Select choice for English speakers ([[Tenhou.net rules]])
* [http://www.maru-jan.com/ Maru-jan]
* [http://www.gamedesign.jp/flash/mahjong/mahjong_e.html Japanese Mahjong flash]
: Flash version of the game


===Sources and guides===
===Sources and guides===
* [http://mahjong.us.com/ Mahjong.US.com]
: A portal for mahjong rules including a forum for rules discussion.
* [http://www.uspml.com/downloads.htm USPML rules and English language guide]
* [http://www.uspml.com/downloads.htm USPML rules and English language guide]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh0brmqq4sk&list=PLDC9453A66D5D2CA7 Japanese Mahjong Walkthrough by HanaYoriUta]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh0brmqq4sk&list=PLDC9453A66D5D2CA7 Japanese Mahjong Walkthrough by HanaYoriUta]
* [http://www.japanesemahjong.com Mahjong for Dummies]
* [http://www.japanesemahjong.com Mahjong for Dummies]
* [http://osamuko.com/japanese-general-laws-of-mahjong/ General Laws]
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