World Mahjong Day

Get ready.  April 30 is World Mahjong Day.  

Have you ever played?  Do you know where it came from and how you play?

We have heard that it’s a lot of fun once you understand the game.  It can even be addicting.

The game started in China, word has it in the 1800’s.   It involves four players and 144 tiles with symbols on them.

It has four ways it can become a special game.

It’s a social game since it needs four players.

It’s strategic because you have to make decisions about your tiles.

It’s dynamic since you can steal tiles from fellow players.

It’s satisfying once you learn the game.  You use your brain.

Each of the 144 tiles have symbols and each represents something different.

There are bamboos, characters, dots, dragons and winds.  Each has a particular role in the game.

One important thing to note is that there are three versions of Mahjong and the rules for using the tiles can be different for each.

The versions are Chinese, Japanese and American.

To win you need to get four sets of tiles and one pair of identical tiles.  That is a winning hand!

It may sound complicated but there are so many people that play it that it must be a game you can learn.  

Check YouTube for how to play as a beginner and then find a beginner group to get started.  You may not be able to stop once you start!

Private Home Health Care loves games that involve fun and strategy!  Mahjong sounds like just that kind of game!