Mahjong is an ancient Chinese game believed to have originated in the 12th century. It has become an incredibly popular game in Canada, with mahjong-themed clubs popping up all over the country. The object of the game is to combine four suitable pieces or tiles in sets of two, three and four, and to score the most points.
The game can be played by up to four players. A set of mahjong tiles typically contain 136 pieces, divided into three categories: Suits, Honors and Bonus. Suits are divided into two types: Character and Bamboo. Character tiles (Characters, Bam, and Dots) are marked with Chinese characters, while Bamboo tiles (Chinese cash curls, Circles, and Flowers) are marked with Arabic numerals. Honors are composed of four Winds tiles (North, South, East, West) and three Dragons tiles (Red, Green, and White). Bonus tiles are blank tiles and special tiles that are used to give players points.
To play Mahjong, the tiles are placed in the middle of the table, and the players sit around. The tiles are shuffled and divided into four equal stacks, and each player draws an initial hand of 13 pieces. The two-player and four-player games are then begun by a dealer flipping a tile from the wall and the players then begin to build their hand. Each player must have the correct tiles to match the sets of the tiles to win a game.
Canada is home to a wide variety of Mahjong clubs, Mahjong tournaments, and online Mahjong websites. Some of these clubs and tournaments are free to join, while some require membership to enter. Many of them are hosted by community organizations, and some are hosted by larger websites or companies. Various online Mahjong websites offer players the chance to play games in exchange for points or prizes.
Players can find Mahjong clubs or tournaments near them by searching the Internet or looking in their local newspapers or magazines. Additionally, there are many online Mahjong sites which allow players to sign up for a game and join tournaments hosted by other players. Online Mahjong sites may also feature leaderboards and rankings, providing players with the chance to compete against each other.
Mahjong is a game with a lot of rules. Different variations of the game use different sets of rules, but the most commonly used rule set is the Chinese Official International rule set, also known as āHong Kong Mahjongā. The basic rules of Mahjong are as follows:
- Players each start with 13 tiles.
- Each round is a ādealerā round. Whoever has the highest scoring hand at the end of the round is the winner.
- Each player must draw at least one tile from the wall and discard one tile.
- To win a round, players must have formed four sets of combinations among their tiles. These combinations must include a pair, a pung, a kong, and a chow.
- If a player discards a tile that is subsequently taken by another player to form a winning hand, that player is known as a āchased oneā and is the loser of the round.
When the prerequisite for a winning hand has been met, the points are then awarded according to the Mahjong scoring system. The scoring system is based on the value of the sets and the bonuses that are earned. The higher the set values, the more points are earned. Bonuses are also earned by players when they manage to win a game with certain hands, such as the āAll Pungsā bonus and the āLim Geeā bonus. The exact amounts of points can depend on the variant of the game that is being played.
Mahjong is an ancient Chinese game that has become very popular in Canada, especially amongst Asian communities. This game is played by a group of up to four players and is based on a set of rules that involve draw and discard tiles. Mahjong is a game of strategy, and a playerās skills and strengths can determine the outcome of the game. While Mahjong can be played in physical settings, such as Mahjong clubs and tournaments, it can also be played on various online Mahjong websites.
The point system in Mahjong is based on the value of the sets and bonuses that are earned. Players who are familiar with the rules of the game can easily gain points by forming the right sets of tiles and achieving bonuses. With practice, it is possible to become a skilled Mahjong player and compete in tournaments or against other players online.