Mahjong Tips and Tricks - Things To Remember

Mahjong is definitely not a game of pure chance. To play well, players need to know the rules and some solid strategies. But there's something else crucial that most players overlook. Once you understand the basic Mahjong rules, the next big step is to learn all the major tips and tricks to up your game.

In this guide, we'll break down the Mahjong tips and tricks we've gathered, so you don't have to stress about it. Let's dive right in without wasting any more time!

Start The Game With A Plan

Before you even start playing, you need a clear plan for your Mahjong game. As soon as you see a tile, start thinking about your next moves. The first smart step is to decide which tiles to pick up, which ones to wait for, and which ones to discard.

• Remember, your opponents are always watching what you place on the table.
• For most experienced Mahjong players, the tiles that are thrown give them a good idea of what's in their opponents' hands, allowing them to fine-tune their strategy. This is how skilled players use an opponent's throws to their advantage.
• Be aware that bluffing isn't always the best move, as it can backfire, giving your opponents clues about your hand.

Memorizing the Tiles

You can't look for meld sequences if you're not sure which characters go together. This can be tough if you're not familiar with the Chinese writing. Some players find it helpful to use Mahjong tiles that come with Arabic numerals. Besides the regular symbols you see on mahjong tiles, these also have numbers. This means you won't need to learn traditional Chinese calligraphy just to find the tiles you're looking for.

Should You Skip the First Throw?

Skipping the first throw can be a smart move in Mahjong, as it keeps your strategy hidden from opponents. This can help you get ahead in the game early on.

The flip side is that this tactic might reveal your path to winning a particular round. If your opponents are keen to win, they'll pick up on your strategy. Even if you could have formed a set with that throw, they'll notice and become more cautious with their future throws. This could make it harder for you to form another set.

• Picking up the first throw might suggest that you're still learning the game, which opponents could use against you.
• Don't get too worried about not getting the leftovers. You're free to just 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.