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The '''rules of [[Japanese mahjong]]''' are not completely fixed. The core mechanics are the same everywhere, so any comprehensive rules description is suitable for learning the game. [[#Specific rulesets|Specific rulesets]] may then differ in finer details.
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.


== Rules summary ==
== Tiles and suits ==
{{main|Mahjong equipment}}


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. They should follow up with a tutorial linked below under ''[[#Learning to play|Learning to play]]''.
* Mahjong is played by four players  
 
* These tiles work similar to playing cards
=== Game setup ===
* All in all, there are 34 tile types
 
* There are 4 copies each
Mahjong is played by four players with a set of 136 tiles. These tiles work similar to playing cards: There are three suits with numbered tiles from 1 to 9, and some suitless honor tiles. There are four copies of each individual tile in the set.
* In total, there are 136 tiles
* The following are the three main suits, plus a class of "honor" tiles:


{|
{|
|{{ #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]]
|}
|}


These tiles are shuffled on the table, then the players build walls of face-down tiles. These walls serve as a stockpile to draw tiles from. Every player receives a hand of 13 tiles.
== Setup ==
 
[[image:setup.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Mahjong tiles at the initial setup before tiles are dealt.]]
=== Objective ===
 
On each turn, the player picks a new tile from the wall, then discards an unnecessary one. It is sometimes possible to call and pick up an opponent's discard instead of drawing from the wall.


The first player to obtain a winning combination of 14 tiles scores points from his opponents: If the winning tile was drawn from the wall, the opponents share the payment. If the winning tile was a discard, the discarder must pay the entire hand value himself.
* 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


After a win, all tiles are reshuffled, and the next hand may begin. The player with the most points after a number of hands wins the session.
=== 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


=== Hands and yaku ===
=== Seating positions ===
{{main|Jikaze}}


Winning hands of 14 tiles contain four melds of 3 tiles each, plus a pair. The pair consists of any two identical tiles. A three-tile meld may either be a consecutive sequence of same-suited tiles, or just any three identical tiles.
* 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'''


In addition, a winning hand must have at least one [[Yaku|yaku]]. A yaku is a special condition under which the win occurs, or a distinguished pattern within the hand's tiles.
== Objective ==
* Players take turns to draw and discard tiles to build complete hands (if possible)
* Develop [[Tenpai|ready hands]] and hopefully complete them by draw or discard
* [[Defense|Avoid playing into other player's hands]], or else lose points


=== Strategy ===
* '''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


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.
== Hands and yaku ==
* Winning hands of 14 tiles contain four [[Mentsu|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
* Two exceptions to this pattern: [[kokushi musou]] and [[Chii toitsu]]


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.
A complete hand example:
* {{#mjt:234m}} {{#mjt:555s}} {{#mjt:345p}} {{#mjt:111z}} {{#mjt:77z}}


== Learning to play ==
===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 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)


* [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