4 Flower tiles - The Four Flowers are numbered 1 - 4 and are optional - if used, they give bonus points when drawn.However, some sets denote the white dragon with a capital 'P' which stands for 'Pai', meaning white or pure. 12 Dragon tiles - 4 Red dragons denoted by a bright red character, 4 Green dragons denoted by a bright green character and 4 White dragons which are traditionally denoted by a completely blank tile.16 Wind tiles - 4 tiles for each of the 4 winds.The other bamboo tiles are represented by green bamboos only. 1, 5, 7 and 9 of Bamboos are represented by a picture of both red and green bamboos. The picture on each shows the appropriate number of bamboos except for the One of Bamboos which often is denoted by a sparrow or rice-bird and doesn't feature a bamboo at all. 36 Bamboo tiles in 4 sets of 9 tiles numbered 1- 9.The pictures show the Chinese symbol for the number represented. 36 Character tiles in 4 sets of 9 tiles numbered 1- 9.The picture on each shows the appropriate number of circles. 36 Circle tiles in 4 sets of 9 tiles numbered 1- 9.

Traditionally, they are made from bone or ivory but modern sets are usually plastic. We also give a version of Mah Jong for 3 players playing in a triangle.Ī set of Mah Jong (Mahjong) tiles consists of 144 tiles typically around 30 x 20 x 15mm. It is also more strategic than the Japanese style of play which is essentially a race to be the first to go out because the only person who gets paid is the one who goes Mah Jong. Some will find the British game more interesting than the Chinese game but the Chinese game is more elegant and traditional.īoth games differ significantly from the typical style of play performed in the USA, where a large and complicated set of 'special hands' have been invented beyond the initial Chinese set and where a player cannot go Mah Jong with more than one suit in hand. This version differs slightly to the typical Chinese game because only one chow is allowed per hand and the Chinese game has fewer 'special hands'. Also given are additional rules for the British game. The first rules given here are based on the original Chinese game which is the simplest and probably the most skillful form. Like many other traditional games, there are a wide variety of forms of Mah Jong which makes things somewhat difficult for anyone trying to find the definitive set of rules.

Mahjong scoring simple