Q&A for How to Play Mahjong

In Japanese or Chinese mahjong, yes, you may pick a tile any opponent discarded. If several people call the tile, mahjong takes priority over kan, pong or chi, and the player to the left of the discardee takes priority when more than one player calls mahjong (or ron in Japanese mahjong).

No, you do not.

It is not possible for two players to play Mahjong by the standard rules. It requires four players.

If you are playing a variant where you collect tiles of just one suit, such as Pure Straight or All Chows, it is customary to announce when you are near the end of your hand. This signals to other players that you are close to winning and gives them a chance to adjust their strategy. However, whether you must announce depends on the specific rules or customs of the game you are playing.

You typically need all four seasons or flowers to form a meld. However, some variations or house rules may allow for flexibility. Clarify the specific rules with all players before the game starts.

Yes, in some variations of Mahjong, you can have a pung (three of a kind) and a kong (four of a kind) of different suits in your hand. However, this depends on the specific rules being followed. In some rule sets, combinations like this may be allowed, while in others, they may not be permitted. Clarify the rules of the Mahjong variant being played to understand what combinations are allowed and how they affect gameplay.

In Mahjong, once you take a discarded tile to play, you cannot change your mind and return it. You are committed to using it in your hand and must discard a different tile at the end of your turn.

Draw a replacement tile from the wall or dead wall to maintain the total number of tiles in your hand.

The minimum age may vary depending on the type of mahjong. Mahjong solitaire can be played by children as young as 3 years old, while classical mahjong might be more suitable for those around 14 years old due to its complexity.

Yes, in Mahjong, you can only pick up a discarded tile for a chow if it is from the player to your left, following the game's counterclockwise order of play.

To play three-person Chinese Mahjong, remove one suit, such as Bamboos or Dots, to reduce the tile count. Build the wall and distribute 13 tiles to each player. Skip the North wind or rotate the dealer among the three players. Follow standard Mahjong rules to form sets and complete a hand with 14 tiles. Adjust scoring by dividing penalties between two opponents or simplifying it.

In standard Mahjong, you need a combination of four sets and one pair to declare a win. Winning with just two pairs is not possible according to traditional rules. Always check the specific rules of the Mahjong variation you are playing, as some house rules or regional versions may have unique winning conditions.

They are used to keep track of the scores.

Off to the side or in the case in which you store your Mahjong set. It will not affect the play so where ever you desire so long as they don't get in the way.

The direction of drawing depends on your preference. You can pick from either side of the draw pile. It won't affect the gameplay at all.

Put them facing you on your rack. The sequence is a matter of personal preference. You may want to put potential melds together, potential discards together, etc.

For American Mahjong, there are different fixed Mahjong hands, so not just any melds. Those hands are published on a laminated card annually in April by the National Mahjong League, and cost $7.

For American Mahjong, a laminated card is published annually in April by the National Mahjong League. Everyone at a table should be playing with a card for the current (or same) year.

East, south, west, north. East deals, and south goes first because it's to the right of the east.

Yes. There are plenty of websites and apps you can find that will explain the altered rules for you.