A Mah Jong Handbook

by Whitney, Eleanor Noss

• ISBN13: 9780804832786
• ISBN10: 0804832781
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Journey Editions

Summary

A Mah Jong Handbook: How to Play, Score, and Win presents the complete official mah jong game in convenient format, so those totally unfamiliar with the game will be able to play after an hour's reading and players with knowledge of the game will quickly expand their grasp of the strategy and variations. Part One covers the official game, Part Two covers alternatives, variations, and additions to the official game, and Part Three explores the fundamentals of winning strategy. With illustrative hands, scoring charts, and a glossary/index of terms, A Mah Jong Handbook is an invaluable resource--a complete guidebook to the ancient but ever-fresh game of mah jong.

Table of Contents

Part One: The Official Game
The Mah Jong Set
Tiles	17	(1)
Suit Tiles	17	(1)
Honor Tiles	18	(1)
Accessories	18	(2)
Bones	18	(1)
Dice	19	(1)
Discs	19	(1)
Preliminaries
Before the Game	20	(3)
Seating Arrangement	20	(2)
Selecting the Dealer	22	(1)
Before Each Hand	23	(4)
Building the Wall	23	(1)
Breaking the Wall	24	(2)
The Deal	26	(1)
Playing
The Goal of Mah Jong	27	(1)
Regular Playing Procedure	27	(1)
``Chow''---Making a Sequence	28	(1)
``Pung''---Making a Triplet	28	(2)
``Kong''---Making a Four	30	(1)
Triplet plus Discard	30	(1)
Triplet plus Draw	31	(1)
Melded Triplet Plus Draw	31	(1)
``Out''	31	(1)
Declarations	31	(1)
Displaying the Hand	32	(1)
Draw	32	(1)
Dealer's Extra Hand	32	(1)
The Complete Game	32	(1)
Penalties	33	(1)
Etiquette	34	(2)
Scoring
Procedure in General	36	(2)
Initial Points; The Limit	38	(1)
Scoring Outline	38	(1)
Scoring Table	39	(1)
Points for Winning	40	(5)
Sets	40	(1)
Last Tile of Hand	41	(1)
Concealed Hand	42	(1)
Examples	43	(2)
Doubles for Lucky Sets	45	(11)
Concealed Self-Drawn Hand	46	(1)
Groups of Sets	47	(1)
Ways of Going Out	48	(2)
Special Inclusions	50	(1)
No-Points	50	(3)
Consistency	53	(3)
The Limit	56	(3)
Paying the Winner	59	(4)
Part Two: Alternatives, Variations, and Additions
The Mah Jong Set
Tiles	63	(1)
Flower and Season Tiles	63	(1)
Accessories	64	(1)
Discs	64	(1)
The Jongg	64	(1)
Preliminaries
Before the Game	65	(1)
Seating Arrangement	65	(1)
Selecting the Dealer	65	(1)
Before Each Hand	65	(2)
Breaking the Wall	65	(1)
Loose Tiles	66	(1)
The Deal	66	(1)
Playing
Chow, Pung and Kong	67	(1)
Arrangement of Tiles	67	(2)
Draw	69	(1)
Rules	69	(1)
Payment in a Draw	69	(1)
After a Draw	70	(1)
Dealer's Extra Hand	70	(1)
Ready	70	(2)
Ready Hand	71	(1)
Declaring ``Ready''	71	(1)
Delayed Call	72	(1)
Sacred Discard	72	(3)
Sacred Discard Rule	72	(1)
One-Four-Seven Rule	72	(1)
Declaration	73	(1)
Explanation of 1-4-7 Rule	73	(2)
Insurance Penalties	75	(1)
Three- and Five-Handed Games	75	(3)
Three-Handed Game	75	(2)
Five-Handed Game	77	(1)
Scoring
Initial Points; The Limit	78	(1)
Points for Winning	78	(1)
Sets	79	(1)
Flowers and Seasons	79	(1)
Last Tile of Hand	79	(1)
Concealed Hand	79	(1)
Doubles for Lucky Sets	79	(8)
Concealed Self-Drawn	80	(1)
Groups of Sets	80	(1)
Ways of Going Out	81	(1)
Special Inclusions	81	(3)
No-Points	84	(1)
Consistency	84	(1)
``Ready''	85	(1)
Seven Pairs	86	(1)
The Limit	87	(2)
Paying the Winner	89	(1)
``Ready'' Payment	89	(1)
Dealer's Extra Hand	89	(1)
Rounding Off the Score	90	(1)
American Scoring Rules
Settlement Among Losers	90	(1)
Scoring Table	91	(2)
One-Double Game	93	(1)
Cleared-Hand Game	94	(5)
Part Three: Strategy
Luck and Skill	99	(50)
Offensive Strategy
Arrangement of the Hand	105	(1)
Elements	105	(4)
Looking Ahead	109	(12)
Judging the Dealt Hand	109	(2)
Planning	111	(1)
Anticipating Discards	112	(1)
Potential Doubles	112	(8)
Making the Pair	120	(1)
Making Ready	121	(9)
Techniques	122	(2)
Recognizing All Chances	124	(2)
Ready Hands	126	(1)
Improving the Hand	127	(1)
After Making Ready	128	(1)
Declaring ``Ready''	129	(1)
Melded vs. Drawn Sets	130	(6)
``Chow''	130	(2)
``Pung''	132	(2)
``Kong''	134	(2)
Defensive Strategy
Discarding	136	(3)
Early Discards	136	(2)
Later Discards	138	(1)
Watching the Table	139	(6)
Player on the Right	139	(1)
Counting Tiles	140	(1)
Opponents' Discards	140	(2)
Danger Signs	142	(1)
Detecting a Ready Hand	142	(3)
Opposing a Single Player	145	(1)
Player on the Left	145	(1)
Player Opposite	145	(1)
Dealer	145	(1)
Deduction and Psychology	146	(3)
Glossary-Index	149