Mahjong is a four-player game reminiscent of certain card games. The goal is to collect a winning combination while keeping an eye on the opponents and how close to winning they seem to be.
As in poker it is important t
o know when to play aggressively and when to resort to defensive play.
Contrary to other classic games like chess and go, there is no common rule set for mahjong. Actually there are countless different variations of the rules.
Mahjong is often played with a set of beautiful, engraved tiles, but can also be found as a card game. Maybe you have seen the tiles before in the popular computer game, mahjongg. This computer game actually doesn’t have more in common with mahjong than heptagon with bridge.
In addition to all the millions of possible “normal” mahjong hands, there are a number of special mahjong hands that either
- are defined as winning hands, even though they do not conform to the “four sets and a one pair” rule, or
- conform to the “four sets and a pair” rule but for aesthetic or other reasons are given special consideration.
All these hands listed below automatically score the limit. They are as follows:
Heaven’s Blessing | Heavenly Harmony
When East immediately goes out with a mahjong hand, after having drawn his/her 14 first tiles (and replacing any Bonus tiles).
Earth’s Blessing | Earthly Harmony
When either South, West or North player im
mediately goes
out with a mahjong hand, by claiming the first discarded tile from East player.
The Thirteen Unique Wonders | Thirteen Grades of Imperial Treasure
One 1 and one 9 from each suit, one of each Dragon, one of each Wind, and a fourteenth tile that will make up a pair with any of the others. Only the last tile may be claimed (or drawn from the Wall).
Catching the Moon from the bottom of the Sea
When a player draws the last available tile from the live section of the Wall, this tile is 1 of Dots, and the player goes out with this tile (regardless of how the actual sets in hand score).
Gathering the Plum Blossom from the Roof
When a player goes out by drawing the 5 of Dots tile as a replacement tile (for a Bonus tile or after having completed a kong) from the Dead Wall (regardless of how the actual sets in hand score).
The Three great Scholars
A pong or kong in all three Dragons, plus any pong or kong and any pair. Tiles may be claimed to complete any or all of these sets.
Four large Blessings
A pong or kong in all four Winds, plus any pair. Tiles may be claimed to complete any or all of these sets.
Twofold Plenty / Kong on Kong
When a player first completes a kong (by drawing or claiming), then with the help of the replacement tile completes another kong, and then with the help of this next replacement tile goes out.
Fourfold Plenty
A hand consisting of four kongs (any kongs) plus any pair. Tiles may be claimed to complete any or all of these kongs.
The Nine Gates | The Gates of Heaven | The Nine united Sons
A concealed hand consisting of the tiles 1-1-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-9-9 from the same suit, but no other suits and no Winds or Dragons. Any tile 1-9 from that same suit, drawn from the Wall or claimed, will now complete the mahjong hand.
Buried Treasure
A hand consisting of four pongs (but no kong), plus any pair. All tiles, including the one completing the mahjong hand, must have been drawn from the Wall and may not have been claimed.
All Honours | Greater Honours
A hand consisting of four pongs or kongs, plus a pair, entirely in Winds and Dragons in any combination. Tiles may be claimed to complete any or all of these sets.
All Green | Imperial Jade
A hand consisting entirely of all green tiles: Green Dragons plus 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 of Bamboos, in any combinations making up four sets plus a pair. One or more chows may be included. Tiles may be claimed to complete any or all of these sets.
Heads and Tails
A hand consisting of four pongs or kongs plus one pair, and which must be made up entirely of 1′s and 9′s, from any or all of the suits. Tiles may be claimed to complete any or all of these sets.
The Wriggling Snake
A pair of 1′s plus 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9, all of the same suit, and one of each wind E-S-W-N. Only the last tile, whichever it is, may be claimed (or drawn from the Wall).
Source: Dragon Kong Mahjong.
