Mahjong Tips and Tricks - Things To Remember

Mahjong isn't just a game of chance; it requires players to master rules and strategies. But there's another crucial element that many overlook. Once you know the basics of playing Mahjong, the next step is to learn the major tips and tricks to really excel.

In this guide, we'll share some top Mahjong tips and tricks to help you on your way. Let's dive straight in!

Start with a Plan

Before you even pick up a tile, have a strategy in mind. The moment you see your initial hand, you should start thinking about your next moves. The best first step is to decide which tiles to keep, which to aim for, and which ones you definitely don't want in your hand.

• Remember, your rivals are constantly watching your discards. They're using that information to guess your hand and plan their own strategy.
• Experienced Mahjong players often get a solid read on your hand just by observing what you discard. They can then exploit this knowledge to their advantage.
• Be mindful that bluffing isn't always a winning move. It can backfire, giving your opponents insight into your hand.

Get to Know Your Tiles

You can't effectively form melds if you're not sure which tiles go together. If you're not familiar with the standard symbols, it can be quite a challenge. For those struggling with the traditional Chinese characters, consider a Mahjong set that includes Arabic numerals alongside the conventional symbols on mahjong tiles. This way, you won't need to learn traditional calligraphy just to find the tiles you're looking for.

Consider Skipping the First Throw

Holding onto your first discard can be a smart tactic, as it doesn't reveal your hand or strategy to your opponents. This can help you advance in the game more smoothly in the early stages.

However, there's a downside. If you're aiming for a specific winning hand, holding back your initial throw might expose your intentions. If your opponents are keen to win, they'll notice this and might become more cautious with their subsequent throws. This could make it harder for you to win future sets, even if you missed out on a potential win with that first discard.

• Discarding your first tile freely might suggest to opponents that you're still finding your feet in the game. Savvy players could use this against you.
• Don't get too hung up on not receiving a specific tile early on; you can always discard tiles you don't need.
• 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.