Mahjong Tips and Tricks - Things To Remember

Mahjong is definitely not a game of toss and turn, relying solely on luck. To truly get a handle on it, players need to commit the rules and delve into solid strategies. But there's another crucial element most players tend to skim over. Once you've got the hang of playing Mahjong, the real next step is mastering the major tips and tricks.

In this guide, we're diving deep into the Mahjong tips and tricks we've picked up, so you don't have to sweat it. Let's get straight into it – no dawdling!

Have a Game Plan Before You Start

As a player in New Zealand, you should definitely map out a plan before diving into a Mahjong game. The moment you see a tile, start thinking ahead about your next moves. The ideal first step is to decide which tiles to snag, which ones to hold out for, and which ones you'll discard without a second thought.

• Remember, your rivals are always keeping an eye on what you put down.
• For seasoned Mahjong buffs, the tiles tossed out give a solid read on what others have in their hands, allowing them to fine-tune their strategy. Savvy players can even use an opponent's discard to their own advantage.
• Be aware that bluffing might not always pay off, as it can reveal your hand, giving your opponents a heads-up.

Get to Know Your Tiles Inside Out

You can't form melds if you're unsure which characters pair up. If traditional Chinese characters throw you off, it can be a real hurdle. Consider getting a Mahjong set that includes Arabic numerals. Alongside the standard symbols on Mahjong tiles, these numerals make it much easier if you don't have to decipher calligraphy to find the tiles you need.

Consider Holding Back on the First Throw

Holding back your first throw can be a smart move in Mahjong; it doesn't give away your developing plan to your opponents and can help you build momentum early in the round.

The flip side is that this tactic might just telegraph your immediate winning strategy for that round. If your opponents are determined to win, they'll clock your intentions. Even if you could have claimed a set with that throw, they'll become more cautious with their own discards moving forward, potentially blocking you from forming more sets.

• Discarding your immediate winning tile could signal to opponents that you're still getting the hang of the game, which they might try to exploit.
• Don't stress too much if you don't grab that initial discard; you're always free to toss it later if it doesn't fit your hand.
• 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.