SIXMAH JONGG, THE PEOPLE’S GAME
The world’s most popular game, with millions of players worldwide, Mah Jongg is played in many different versions. As each version has its own rules and winning hands, players of different groups cannot play the game together. In our modern mobile society it would be nice to have a simple version that all players can share.
Chapter 11 of this book introduces a newly arranged player friendly game with simply designed winning hands based on the logical combination of tiles. The game is arranged in a way that will help players understand the formation and the probability of matching tiles in a winning hand through intuition rather than through memorizing the combination of tiles in a specially designed, password-like winning hand. This will make playing the game more enjoyable. It is not the author’s intention to set a new standard for the thousand-years old game, but rather to hope that the simple instruction and the logical combination of tiles in a winning hand will make the game easier for new players to follow.
For experienced players, the classical (Cantonese) version in Chapter 2 illustrates a complete collection of logical probabilities of combinations of tiles from many modern and classical versions of the game, and will serve as valuable reference.
This new edition also salutes the very popular American Game with a chapter that explains this version’s unique characteristics. Chapter 8 succinctly covers the basics and explains how to navigate the official score card. This author’s hope is that, combined with the basic strategies offered in this book, this information will help you enjoy—and win—the American Game.
Finally, two new popular variations—the International Game and the Shenzhen Game—are also included in this new edition. I hope that with these new chapters this book will serve as a complete guide and reference to all players regardless of their preference, and will encourage them to try new versions.
INTRODUCTION
THE MAH JONGG GAME
Mah jongg is called “Mahjek,” which means “sparrow,” 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 mah jongg 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 mah jongg at sea and the wind blew the game cards (mah jongg was originally played with cards) like a group of sparrows flying away.
For the Chinese, as well as many other Asians, mah jongg 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 mah jongg 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 mah jongg players idolize the game, which has resulted in such rhetoric as mah jongg “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 mah jongg 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
