by Cantonese players. The derivative of this name is uncertain, but it may have something to do with the sound of the sparrow and the fact that mahjong is such a noisy game. It may also describe the players' arms and how they constantly and quickly move the tiles, looking similar to jumping sparrows. Or it may refer back to the old days when seamen played mahjong at sea and the wind blew the game cards (mahjong was originally played with cards) like a group of sparrows flying away.
For the Chinese, as well as many other Asians, mahjong is a way of life, a favorite pastime that has been fully absorbed into the daily culture. Indeed, in many societies, the typical topic for opening a conversation is talk of weather or sports, but arguably the most prevalent icebreaker in the Chinese community is the previous evening's mahjong score. The game is played at home, in private clubs, and at social occasions—birthdays, wedding banquets, holidays—and is a popular way of entertaining business clients.
Regular mahjong players idolize the game, which has resulted in such rhetoric as mahjong "truthfully expresses one's individuality" or "provides the opportunity to express personal freedom and indulge in self-satisfaction" being commonly heard. For many, the game offers not only an occasion for socializing, but also, a way to demonstrate one's ability to be one's own boss, without being swayed by adverse comments from opponents.
Despite its captivating appeal, devotees are often at a loss to explain why the game exerts such a hold on them. Some claim that its strategic maneuvers simulate real-life challenges. Once the game starts, players cast all their cares behind them as they immerse themselves totally into a world of expectation and anticipation. The game's seemingly endless variations make it difficult to judge an opponent's strength, thus adding to its intrigue. Since no two games are the same, each presents a unique set of challenges as well as opportunities.
A more immediate reason for the game's popularity is that it is simple to learn and relatively easy to play. Players also claim that it relieves hypertension, subdues repression, and improves mental concentration and alertness. After an exhausting week at work, it is hard to find a better therapy than to sit down with relatives and friends, four to a table, over a sea of tiles. The familiar cries of "Sheung," "Pung," and the victorious "Sik," dispel all cares as this fantasy world is entered.
The history of mahjong has been obscured by time, although it is believed to have evolved from a card game first played a millennium ago. Legend has it that a fisherman devised it to distract his fellow sailors from yearning to return to shore whenever they were hit by rough seas. Many centuries later, the love affair with the game has not only endured but intensified. Today, people from all walks of life take to mahjong as a favorite pastime.
The Cantonese often refer to the game as "mahjek," which means "sparrow," although the origin of the term is uncertain. Maybe it has something to do with the noisy, garbled sounds that the tiles make when they are being shuffled. Another explanation could be that the players are constantly moving the tiles in a manner that mimics hopping sparrows. Yet another view contends that in the old days when sailors played the game at sea, it was likely that the strong breeze would have tossed some cards away, evoking the image of a flock of darting sparrows.
In the last few decades, the migration of Asians to the West has increased dramatically. As a result, mahjong has become more popular in Western societies, a trend that has heightened the need for a good English-language book on the game. It is all the more surprising that very few mahjong books written by Asians have ever been published in English. Even the handful that have are of limited use, since they cover only the Western and Japanese versions of the game, which are not played by, or known to, most Asians.
With this vacuum acknowledged, this book seeks to introduce authentic Chinese mahjong to the English-speaking world. It is believed that this is the first book of mahjong to cover fully the instructions of the original basic 13-tile game, also known as the Cantonese Game and the Old Rules Game. For completeness, the book also includes the most popular variations in Chinese mahjong, the Shanghai Game, the 16-Tile or Taiwanese Game and the 12-Tile Game. It is hoped that this book will seduce new players with the unique appeal and pleasures of the game, thereby keeping the mahjong tradition alive for many generations to come.
CHAPTER ONE
THE GAME OF MAHJONG 麻將
A game of mahjong calls for four players seated at a square table, one on each side. Each player draws a hand of 13 tiles from the center of the table, and the ritual of tile exchange begins. One at a time, the players draw a new tile from the table or pick up a matching tile discarded by another player. At the same time, players discard their unmatched tiles, seeking with each move to create a matched hand.
Thus, the initial objective of each player is to match all the tiles in his or her hand before the other players do. The first player to do so wins the game. The second objective is to assemble the highest-scoring hand at the table. The score, which is based on the probability of achieving a certain combination of tiles, is calculated by totaling the winning points of all the tiles in the hand. In general, the. lower the probability of achieving a certain combination, the higher the score awarded. Of course, the converse is true as well.
Mahjong is a game both of chance and risk as there is not one without the other. Yet another factor is time. A higher-scoring hand takes longer to assemble. In other words, the longer you delay putting together your hand, the greater is your risk of losing the game to a player who may beat you to it.
Mahjong is also a game of strategy. You must cultivate a keen eye for the pattern of discards and matching of tiles by your opponents. From this observation, you must try to predict what patterns the other players are likely to be assembling. On the one hand, you try to utilize your opponents' discards to match your tiles, thus maximizing your chance of winning. On the other hand, you try to prevent your opponents from matching their tiles with your discards.
Arguably, the most intriguing part of the game lies in the decision making. You will constantly wonder whether to risk discarding a tile (thus giving your opponents a chance of matching theirs) to increase your chance of assembling a higher-scoring hand, or to hold on to your hand for a safe win, thereby forgoing the opportunity of a better score. Remorse after a hand is common. For some, it is the regret of not having had the boldness to go for a big hand. For others, it is the recklessly ambitious pursuit of a big hand, only to have another player reveal a matched hand first. Most observers believe that a player's behavior reflects his or her true personality.
The magic of mahjong is the feeling of exhilaration that comes from winning a hand as well as from knowing that a wrong move or the loss of a hand can still lead to victory eventually. A player always sees another chance in the next hand. He or she knows that as the game unfolds, many new opportunities will present themselves, along with an endless stream of hopes and expectations, a situation rarely, if ever, encountered in real life.
1.1 The Tiles 牌
Mahjong tiles are small rectangular blocks of plastic, with symbols engraved on the face of each one. In the past, the tiles were made of ivory, animal bone, or bamboo. The sizes vary and can range from approximately 1/2 inch thick by 3/4 inch wide by 1 inch tall to 1 inch thick by 1.5 inches wide by 2 inches tall.
A standard mahjong set contains 136 tiles, divided into two major groups: the Common (or Number) tiles and the Honor tiles. In addition, there are 8 optional Flower tiles, making a total of 144 tiles.
(1) The Common tiles consist of three suits,
