Mahjong Board Game 1.1.2

Mahjong is a tile-based game that originated in China during the Qing dynasty and has gained worldwide popularity since the early 20th century. It is typically played by four players, although three-player variations are common in regions like Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. The game, along with its local adaptations, enjoys significant prominence in Eastern and Southeastern Asia and has garnered considerable interest in Western nations as well. Furthermore, the game has successfully transitioned into a widespread online format.

Similar to the Western card game rummy, Mahjong requires a combination of skill, strategy, calculation, and a touch of luck. Participants engage with a set of 144 tiles adorned with Chinese characters and symbols. While there are some variations in certain regions involving the exclusion or addition of specific tiles, most iterations entail each player starting with 13 tiles. Throughout the gameplay, individuals draw and discard tiles to assemble a legal hand by utilizing the 14th drawn tile to form four melds (or sets) along with a pair known as an "eye." Notably, players can declare victory with a select few special hands.

The game adheres to various standard regulations governing tile drawing, tile theft from opponents, the differentiation between simples (numbered tiles) and Honors (winds and dragons), eligible meld types, tile distribution, and gameplay sequence. Despite these fundamental consistencies, regional discrepancies in rules prevail. Divergent scoring systems, specific criteria for valid winning hands, and unique private table regulations delineate distinct mahjong styles across different locales.