Mahjong Tips and Tricks - Things To Remember

Mahjong isn't just a game of chance; it demands a good memory for rules and strategic thinking. But there's another vital aspect many players overlook. Once you've grasped the basics of playing Mahjong, the next step is to learn the key tips and tricks of the trade.

In this guide, we'll share the mahjong tips and tricks we know, so you can focus on your game. Let's dive in without any further delay!

Start the Game with a Strategy

Before you even start playing a game of Mahjong, you should have a plan in mind. This is crucial for any serious player. As soon as you see a tile, start thinking about your next move. The ideal first step is to decide which tiles to keep, which ones to wait for, and which ones you don't want in your hand.

• Remember, your opponents are constantly watching what you discard.
• For seasoned mahjong players, the tiles thrown often reveal much about what's in an opponent's hand, allowing them to tailor their strategy. Skilled players can exploit these discards to their advantage.
• Be aware that bluffing isn't always a winning move; it can backfire and give your opponents a clear idea of your hand.

Get to Know Your Tiles

You can't effectively form melds or sequences if you're unsure which tiles go together. If you're not familiar with the Chinese characters, this can be quite challenging. Investing in a set of Mahjong tiles that includes Arabic numerals alongside the traditional symbols on mahjong tiles could be a smart move. This way, you won't have to decipher traditional Chinese calligraphy to find the tiles you need.

Think Twice Before Your First Throw

Holding back your first throw can be a smart tactic in Mahjong, as it doesn't reveal your hand or initial strategy to your opponents. This can certainly help you get a head start in the game.

The downside to this strategy is that it might hint at your Mahjong winning hand for that round. If an opponent is keen to win, they'll already have a good idea of your game. Even if you could have formed a set with that discard, your opponents will likely become more cautious with their throws going forward, potentially hindering your ability to form further sets.

• Discarding your first hand can signal to opponents that you're still learning the game, which they might use to their advantage.
• Don't worry too much about not getting the leftovers. You're free to discard them.
• In Mahjong, players may use a variety of tiles; they simply need to wait for the right moment to assemble a strong hand that will guarantee victory.

Skipping the Gaps

Avoiding gaps between the tiles when arranging the rack is one of the best mahjong tip methods. Because mahjong players are very perceptive, maintaining gaps might reveal a player’s strategy. They are able to quickly identify the hand a player is attempting to put up and their potential actions.

To line up their tiles in combinations and determine their next movements, some new players would create a gap. Yet, it also implies that other players can use their hands similarly. Placing tiles that are not connected and leaving gaps might confuse opponents. But, doing so is only advised when a player is certain they won't become perplexed by their own tactics.

Appropriate Scoring

For new players, it is better to keep the scoring as simple as possible. If not, it could mess up their game, and they might not be able to win. The easiest approach to scoring the game is to award one point to the person who completes the first mahjong, and zero points to everyone else. Add up the points, and the one who wins the most games is declared the winner.

Players can use the other Mahjong scoring guidelines if they have a better grasp of the game. The regulations of the Chinese Official Mahjong Competition are similar to many of them. After that, they can experiment with more challenging scoring systems, such as those for Hong Kong or Ricchi Mahjong.

Point Values of The Tiles

It's also a good idea to remember that pongs have a higher point value than chows. Chows are only useful when there are four of them available to form a mahjong. Yet, making pongs rather than chows may seem counter-intuitive, particularly if a player has experience of playing poker.

• Pong is equivalent to a three-of-a-kind in poker, while chow is nearly identical to a straight.
• While chows are valued more in poker, a player could be inclined to concentrate on them, but mahjong games have distinct hand rankings.
• If new mahjong players learn the various meld combinations and take into account the point values for each, they will make fewer mistakes and advance more quickly.

Hiding the Melds

A player will get more points by keeping the melds a secret until they are prepared to declare mahjong. Therefore, they shouldn't reveal them until absolutely necessary. Mahjong beginners frequently like moving their tiles around to observe which melds they are effectively working on. Players are free to move their tiles about, but they should try to keep them all in a row.

• It is simple for the adversaries to see what a player is working on when full melds are separated, or certain tiles are set aside, so they will modify their mahjong strategy appropriately.
• A player becomes a more difficult mahjong opponent to play against by maintaining a straight row of tiles.

Discarding the Tiles

Although it may be tempting, it is not a good idea to discard any tiles a player has in their hand that don't fit. Instead, a player should focus on the tiles that their rivals are tossing away.

When a player pays close attention to the discard pile, they increase their chances of finding the discards they require and decrease their chances of accidentally discarding them into another player's mahjong hand.

What would be the wisest course of action if a player had many tiles to discard? If you are certain that your opponents won't desire them, it would be best to discard the tile that is most near other tiles that have previously been discarded.

Sticking To A Pair

A pair is a hand that every player should keep close. These are among the most adaptable tiles. A player can adhere to them as pairs or use them to form a four-of-a-kind (Kong), a three-of-a-kind (Pung), or a group of three identical tiles (Chow).

• Don't try to shatter them if they have a pair or two for this reason. In reality, when a player advances in the game, they can turn out to be their winning tiles.
• It's important for a player to promptly implement their mahjong-winning techniques.

Conclusion

To learn mahjong completely, there are some tips and tricks that a player must remember. Without them, a player would never be complete with other players, as many of them observe the game and figure out others’ strategies as well.