Mahjong attracts players throughout the world with its intricate tile-based play, in which the exact number of tiles counts forms the basis of the sets and tactics. The standard contains 144 tiles, but the various varieties change this number in order to comply with the local rules and preferences. A better understanding of these factors must necessarily add to the appreciation of the versatility of the system and its cultural significance. This is a guide to how many tiles there are in Mahjong, what their classes are, and their consequences for play.
The Standard Set of Mahjong Tiles
The standard sets of Mahjong comprise precisely 144 tiles, which are known in three classes, the suited strokes, the honors, and the extra tiles, which permit a symmetrical play. Tiles are made use of for building the walls of the game and for making of the four-player melds which are played. These pieces are made of material which is capable of frequent handling, such material as plastic or bamboo being in frequent use. Because of this the number 144 is the standard, as far as Asia is concerned and most parts of the world.
The sets generally comprise other articles, such as dice to be used in the dealing, racks to hold the tiles, markers for the winds, and scoring, etc. The 144 tiles are made up of 108 suited pieces, 28 honors, 8 extra tiles, which together permit infinite combinations. Novices will be given their sets in full to avoid loss in playing condition. Therefore it is a good plan to procure a full standard set, to avoid difficulty in the initial stages of the game.
In expert circles it is the constant habit to make sure that the tiles are complete, as the absence of pieces would result in an absence of fairness. This standard is reproduced digitally on the various platforms and websites that manage the digital play. The various tile sets vary in this respect, but the number of tiles, excepting in special rules, is maintained indefinitely with the tile set of 144 tiles.
This system allows strategic depth, and this doesn’t overburden the complexity.
Tile Category Breakdown
Suit tiles dominate by number with 108 numeric representatives that comprise the hand’s backbone formed of the three suits. Honor tiles furnish 28 symbols that represent the meaning of the direction and dragons which can meld into a tile. Bonus tiles furnish 8 optional tiles which grant polity to the holder should he have them at the time of drawing. The overall number therefore is 144. This number allows for all possible variations of strategy.
Each category has its own proper function. Suit enables Chows (sequences), honor tiles enable Pungs and the bonus tiles give an increase to the score. For drawing purposes the player will pull from walls that have been built by way of 136 of these pieces of tiles having left out 8 for the dead walls in more advanced play. This balance obviates the creation of any disruptions and permits the uneven building of hands. Hence, the comprehension of the breakdown allows for effective play.
Manufacturers place upon the tiles a pattern that permits easy identification as to the kind of tile, this enables the novice to sort them out. Experts in tile play make use of the frequencies of the different categories to analyze opposing hands. Variations of play occasionally generate differences in the numerical reports, this however can not affect the standard set up of the game. This classification also makes for the increase of the strategic elements to jumbo.
Suited Tiles More Fully
The suited tiles comprise 108 pieces that embrace the three suits Dots, Bamboo and Characters, of these there are 36 in number to each suit numbered from 1 to 9 and there are 4 copies of each tile. The Dots are well represented by circles resembling the old coins, the Bamboo shows sticks (with a bird on the 1) and the Characters exhibit the Chinese numbered characters paired with the symbols for “wan”. In the “Uno” of the Dots, the “tieu” or “wan” of the Characters and the bamboo sticks the player employs them for either Chows (sequences) or Pungs (sets), thus entering the fundamental combinations of the game. Hence we see where the suited tiles generate the majority of winning hands.
In each suit we see that the other suits are mirrored so that interchangeable methods of procedure are admissible within numerical formations. The 1s and the 9s are majors for high-value melds and the 2s to 8s are minors with flexibility. Four identical copies per number give the user a wide choice of combinations without a lack of numbers. The suited tiles give rise to flowing, versatile styles of playing, independent though they be.
The beginners group by suits in the first arrangement, by which means they become familiar with the pieces themselves. The experts keep a tab on the number of suits thrown out, so that they may reduce the suits for their opponents. These make up 75% of the pieces of the whole set, and they afford an observance of the proper use of them. The expert player then by knowing how to play suited tiles can master the game of Mah Jongg.
Honors Explained
There are 28 honors; this is inclusive of 12 dragons and 16 winds. Although not clearly understood, they have a symbolic meaning, and denote that % of the scoring must be used on combinations and then use the proper combinations. There are four of each of the Winds, East, South, West and North and these denote the positions of the players, and the direction of the round. There are four of Red dragons, with a ch’ung character, four of Green, with the f’a character, four of White (blank or the pai character.) The honors are of great importance, as it is necessary to obtain these for the pungs to score the much desired 1000 points.
To play from the seat Wind or the Wind of the round doubles the value of the hand, which adds to the strategy. All Dragons are honored and allow points for every hand. These do not represent any number, so that play is played on groups, rather than on number structure. Thus the honor pieces bring importance to position of mind thought, and boldness of action.
The expert conceals early for surprise on concealed pungs. The novice, because of the fact they can lead them into other types of play, is cautious at play, because it might not be wise to be uneven, etc appliance in order to give an unevenness to exposure. There being only 28 of these pieces, it is prized, as are the most 28 of them.
Bonus Tiles and What They Are
Bonus or free points are made up of 8 pieces – four that are either by flowers and either by seasons drawn out of plagues, which is more than expected at, for they procure points immediately. The flowers are the plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo flowers. The seasons are spring, summer, autumn and winter. These tiles do not meld but give 1 or 2 points when revealed. The bonuses provide early inertia with no change to the hand.
In some rules a player wins twice if their wind matches a season, thus increasing the reward. These items are given numbers in the 1-4 sequence for identification in sets but pictures vary with the different countries. The results are optional in strict rules but stimulate the luck factor in skillful Mahjong. Hence, the bonuses keep games lively and help beginners.
The experts believe they give you free points and add points to a general picture. The physical sets store the bonuses separately in containers to keep them from getting mingled up. The auto sets grant them by themselves but are a part of the system. Contrary to its size this branch has a quality in it which gives you points accordingly.
Variations in Tile Counts Among the Different Countries
The Chinese classical game of Mahjong uses 144 tiles for play, including all categories for all types of play. The Japanese Riichi game has 136, excluding the bonus tiles, which gives more stress on skill and calculation than on luck. The American game has 152 with eight Jokers used as wild tiles in the game and making it necessary to have these in the social or Joker hands. In addition, there is an easy Mahjong version available on the internet, similar to a matching game — you simply select two identical tiles to remove them from the board until no tiles remain. These variations all fit the philosophy of the culture as they have evolved but the main stays have not been changed.
The reduced count in the Riichi game increases the speed because it puts the stress on concealed melds and also does something to dora. The American tile sets are furnished with the racks in which are cards issued every year. The Jokers count in most of the melds except it is not used to denote honor. The Hong Kong country sometimes has special types of pieces added but the general count is still 144. It takes in this instance the choice of tile sets according to the player’s bias for certain rules.
Those who travel with resolutions in mind for games carry pocket sets to adjust to suited variants when they reach their destination. Online playing places have switches to move up to the various tile counts.
