Rules overview: Difference between revisions

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Japanese mahjong is quite complex with its many rules and special cases. This section provides an overview of the game, but a beginner will not be ready to play after reading just this.  For more detailed documentation on the rules, see [[Japanese mahjong]], as well as other articles covering various game topics.
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.


This article is a brief and quick layout to the most basic rules of the game, just to get new players started.
<!-- 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  
* These tiles work similar to playing cards
* These tiles work similar to playing cards
* All in all, there are 34 tile types, and there are 4 copies each
* All in all, there are 34 tile types
* There are 4 copies each
* In total, there are 136 tiles
* In total, there are 136 tiles
* The following are the three main suits, plus a class of "honor" tiles:
* The following are the three main suits, plus a class of "honor" tiles:
Line 13: Line 13:
{|
{|
|{{ #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
* The four walls serve as a stockpile to draw tiles from
* The four walls serve as a stockpile to draw tiles from
* Each player starts with 25000 points
* Each player starts with 25000 points
:* One 10,000 point stick
* Point sticks are used to keep score, when playing with real tiles
:* Two 5,000 point sticks
:* Four 1,000 point sticks
:* Ten 100 point sticks


== 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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===Yaku===
===Yaku===
{{main|List of yaku}} <!--link used at least three times here for emphasis-->
* A winning hand must have at least one [[List of yaku|yaku]] (see [[List of yaku|the list]] for pattern examples)
* A winning hand must have at least one [[List of yaku|yaku]] (see [[List of yaku|the list]] for pattern examples)
* A yaku is a special condition under which the win occurs, or a distinguished pattern within the hand's tiles
* A yaku is a condition or pattern of tiles that scores points. A hand cannot have 0 points, so a hand cannot win without yaku.
* 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 ===
 
There are many ways to build a winning hand, some being more difficult and higher-scoring than others. Choosing which type of hand to go for, therefore what to discard each turn. takes judgment. Calling tiles from opponents may speed up the hand, but may make it worth less.
 
Discarding an opponent's winning tile is costly, because the entire value of the hand must be payed by the discarder. To defend against this, players can try to discard only safe tiles, thus destroying their own hands. Other times, players may decide to ignore their opponents and keep on building their own hands.
 
== Learning to play ==


* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh0brmqq4sk&list=PLDC9453A66D5D2CA7 Youtube playlist by HanaYoriUta], a very well presented tutorial and rules reference with over 3 hours runtime
== Strategy ==
* [http://www.japanesemahjong.com Mahjong for Dummies], an entire website for learning the game
{{Main|strategy}}
* A wide variety of strategies are employed, including:
**[[Tile efficiency|Knowing how to building hands quickly and/or efficiently]]
**[[Defense|Knowing how to avoid other player's hands]]
*Memorizing the [[yaku]], at least the common yaku, is important.
*However, beginners should focus on being able to make winning hands at all. [[Riichi]] may be used for any hand that has not called [[chii]] or [[pon]].


After learning the rules, you can [[Playing online|play online]] or join an [[Offline groups|offline group]].
==See also==
* [[Japanese mahjong]]
* [[Tenhou.net rules]]
* [[EMA rules]]


== Specific rulesets ==
==External links==
[[Category:Game rules]]


The core rules allows for some variation in the finer details. Before playing, one has to be familiar with the specific ruleset used.
===Play sites===
* [http://www.tenhou.net Tenhou.net]
: Popular Japanese-language site to play the game. Some English support is available with a browser extension.
* [https://mahjongsoul.yo-star.com/ Mahjong Soul]
: Another popular site with native English support. Features [[wikipedia:Gacha game|gacha game]] elements that are not relevant to mahjong gameplay.
* [https://www.gamedesign.jp/flash/mahjong/mahjong.html Japanese Mahjong browser game]
: Online version of the game to practice against the CPU. No signup required. Japanese language.


* [[Tenhou rules|Rules used on Tenhou.net]]
===Sources and guides===
* [[EMA Riichi Competition Rules]] are commonly used at tournaments in Europe.
* [http://www.uspml.com/downloads.htm USPML rules and English language guide]
* USPML rules are common in the United States.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlnC2rgIPrc Extensive Japanese Mahjong Walkthrough by HanaYoriUta]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150702091416/http://www.japanesemahjong.com/ Mahjong for Dummies (archive)]
* [http://osamuko.com/japanese-general-laws-of-mahjong/ General Laws]

Latest revision as of 16:10, 15 April 2024

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.

Tiles and suits

  • Mahjong is played by four players
  • These tiles work similar to playing cards
  • All in all, there are 34 tile types
  • There are 4 copies each
  • In total, there are 136 tiles
  • The following are the three main suits, plus a class of "honor" tiles:
36 tiles in the man suit
36 tiles in the pin suit
36 tiles in the sou suit
28 honor tiles

Setup

Mahjong tiles at the initial setup before tiles are dealt.
  • After tiles are shuffled, the players build walls of face-down tiles
  • Each wall is 17 tiles long, double stacked
  • The four walls serve as a stockpile to draw tiles from
  • Each player starts with 25000 points
  • Point sticks are used to keep score, when playing with real tiles

Starting the deal

  • 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
  • The dealer is begins by rolling the dice, to determine the wall break

Seating positions

  • The dealer is always seated East
  • Player to the right of the dealer is South
  • Player across the dealer is West
  • Player to left of the dealer is North
  • Regular turn order: East, South, West, North
  • Per the turn order, each player gets 4 tiles per turn, until each has 12 tiles
  • Finish the deal process by drawing one tile each, for 13 tiles in the hand
  • Dealer always gets first draw and discard

Objective

  • Ron: Players who win by tile discard scores points off the discarder
  • Tsumo: Players who win by tile draw scores points off of the other three players

Hands and yaku

  • Winning hands of 14 tiles contain four melds, plus a pair
  • Melds are specific groups of 3 tiles:
  • The pair consists of any two identical tiles
  • Melds and pairs cannot be of mixed suits

A complete hand example:

Yaku

  • A winning hand must have at least one yaku (see the list for pattern examples)
  • A yaku is a condition or pattern of tiles that scores points. A hand cannot have 0 points, so a hand cannot win without yaku.
  • These patterns may be viewed like poker hands
  • Hands may have a combination of different yaku
  • 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

See also

External links

Play sites

Popular Japanese-language site to play the game. Some English support is available with a browser extension.
Another popular site with native English support. Features gacha game elements that are not relevant to mahjong gameplay.
Online version of the game to practice against the CPU. No signup required. Japanese language.

Sources and guides