Mahjong (also spelled mahjongg, sometimes hyphenated or syllabicated) is a game for four players that originated in China. Mahjong involves skill, strategy, calculation, and luck. The object of the game is to build complete suits usually of threes, from either 13 tiles. The first person to achieve this goal wins the game. The winning tile completes the player's set of either 14 tiles. It is often compared to the card game rummy because the gameplay share similar elements: namely developing straight flushes and three-of-a-kinds to make a complete hand. In Asian countries it is often used for gambling.
Variations
Mahjong is played all over the world in many different countries. And so, many variations exist (just as many variations of poker exist). A few of the most widely-known rules are:
- Chinese Classical
- Hong Kong Old Style and New Style
- Chinese Official (Mahjong Competition Rules)
- Japanese Classical
- Japanese Modern (Riichi)
- American
- Western
- Babcock
- Taiwanese
- Filipino
- Vietnamese
- Zung Jung (World Series of Mahjong Rules)