While mahjong is a very old game, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it hasn’t kept up with the times. Many people today play mahjong online, allowing them to play with friends around the world, or even compete against strangers. Mahjong can also be played as a gambling game, and online mahjong betting sites are becoming more common. Here, we’ll go over how to play the game, how you can get started playing online, and even how to make a bit of money if you are a skilled player.
Mahjong is played using a set of one hundred and fifty-two tiles, each of which is based on Chinese characters and symbols. While there are different variations of the game, the most common is that in which each player receives a set of thirteen tiles. Each turn, players draw and discard one tile per turn until they can complete a hand by using the fourteenth drawn tile. This hand is formed by creating four groups (known as melds) as well as a pair (a head). There are rules about how pieces are drawn, stolen from other players, how basic tiles (numbered tiles) and honours (wing and dragon tiles) are used, types of melds, and how the order of play works, which vary significantly by region.
Because the various regional versions of mahjong are so different from one another, explaining to play them all here would be impossible. However, the basic rules are easy to learn, and are remarkably similar to Western card games like rummy. There are not only a number of websites that allow you to play with friends and strangers all over the world, but also plenty of community forums on these sites that allow seasoned pros to share tips with newcomers. There are also applications for mobile devices that allow you to play mahjong online wherever, whenever.
When players gamble with mahjong online, the scoring of the game is directly translated into the amount of money paid out. The scoring system involves points, and a predetermined sum of money. Players score points by matching the winning hand, and meeting this win requirement with specific criteria. Different criteria provide different scoring values. Some types of winning criteria may even be subsets of other criteria. For example, having a meld of one Dragon tile would be a different win criterion than having all of the Dragon tiles.
Getting involved in mahjong online is quite easy, and you can typically register at a site and started playing (or gambling) in a matter of minutes. This allows you to enjoy the game of mahjong at any skill level and whenever you like, whether you want to play with friends or join a community of mahjong players over the internet.
