Wednesday, October 13, 2010

How to Play Filipino Mahjong

Objective:

To win, you must have 17 tiles.  The simplest winning hand consists of 5 sets of pongs (three of a kind) or chows (consecutives numbers or straight) and one pair (mother).  You can also win with 7 pairs and 1 set of three (pong or chow).  Kongs or Secrets can also be part of a winning hand.

Suits:

Balls, Sticks, Characters (or Chars) and Flowers

Balls: 1-9

MJt1.pngMJt2.pngMJt3.pngMJt4.pngMJt5.pngMJt6.pngMJt7.pngMJt8.pngMJt9.png


Sticks: 1-9


MJs1.pngMJs2.pngMJs3.pngMJs4.pngMJs5.pngMJs6.pngMJs7.pngMJs8.pngMJs9.png

Characters (Chars): 1-9

MJw1.pngMJw2.pngMJw3.pngMJw4.pngMJw5.pngMJw6.pngMJw7.pngMJw8.pngMJw9.png

Flowers (Everything else):

Wind tiles: East Wind (東, dōng east), South Wind (南, nán south), West Wind (西, west), and North Wind (北, běi North).

MJf1.pngMJf2.pngMJf3.pngMJf4.png

Dragon tiles: Red Dragon, Green Dragon, and White Dragon.

MJd1.pngMJd2.pngMJd3.png

Four of the flower tiles represent the four noble plants of Confucian reckoning:  plumorchid, chrysanthemum, and  bamboo.

MJh5.pngMJh6.pngMJh7.pngMJh8.png

The other four flower tiles (or season tiles) represent seasons:  springsummerautumn, and  winter.

MJh1.pngMJh2.pngMJh3.pngMJh4.png


Set-up:

Four players shuffle the tiles and start building four walls, two tiles tall.


Each player takes a turn to roll the dice.  The highest roll starts the game by rolling the dice once more.  The number thrown determines who picks up their tiles first.  If the thrower rolls a double, all bets are doubled in the game (If this is agreed upon).  The thrower counts as 1. Counting goes counter-clockwise.

For example, if the number on the dice is 8, the person to the right of the thrower (he/she ends up as 8) will count 8 stacks on a wall other than their own and then pull the last set on top of the wall, designating that as the flower wall.




The first person then gets 8 tiles (four stacks of 2) on the non-flower wall. Counter-clockwise, everyone gets their 8 tiles.
Each player is responsible for “serving” the portion of the wall that faces them, in order to speed play.

On the second round, the first person gets 9 tiles. (four stacks of 2, plus 1).

The first person may elect to get the extra tile at any time though.

Each player sets aside their flowers.
Proper etiquette dictates that melded flowers are to be placed to each player’s right.

The dealer (also known as the mano), selects flower replacements from the flower wall.  Counter-clockwise, everyone else gets their flowers.  If you pick up another flower, you must wait until it comes back around to you before you can pick up another card.  This continues until all flowers have been discarded and replaced.


 The players may then want to “organize” their hands, arranging the tiles in order of suits in the hand with each player's hand concealed from the other three as in dominoes.


Game Play:

The dealer (or mano, who has 17 tiles) then discards the first tile.
 
Players can either call out Pong/Kong/Mahjong (anytime) or Chow (only person to your left or mahjong). A Pong/Kong supercedes Chow.  Mahjong supercedes Pong. The player shows these tiles face down and play continues to the right of this person.


A Pong is three-of-a-kind of the same suit.  You can only Pong a single tile to complete a pair to win.
  • For example:
    MJt9.pngMJt9.pngMJt9.png; MJs3.pngMJs3.pngMJs3.png; MJf2.pngMJf2.pngMJf2.png; MJd2.pngMJd2.pngMJd2.png.

A Kong is four-of-a-kind of the same suit.
  • For example:MJd1.pngMJd1.pngMJd1.pngMJd1.png; MJs7.pngMJs7.pngMJs7.pngMJs7.png.

Chow is three consecutive numbers of the same suit. (Straight).
  • For example:
    MJs1.pngMJs2.pngMJs3.png; MJs3.pngMJs4.pngMJs5.png; MJs7.pngMJs8.pngMJs9.png; MJt5.pngMJt6.pngMJt7.png.

Mahjong is a completed hand.


If no one wants what is discarded, the next player picks up from the draw wall (not the flower wall).  The player either adds the tile to their hand or places it in the discard pile in the center of the table.



A player can only pick up the last discarded tile.  All tiles prior to this are considered "dead".

 As a courtesy to others, each player names his discard in placing it on the table. Each discard should be placed face up where all may see it plainly and not tossed or shoved among other discards.


If a flower tile is picked up during a player's turn, a replacement tile is picked up from the flower wall until no flower is picked up.  The player then discards one of their tiles (either the one that was picked up or another one from their hand).  Always make sure that one or two tiles are on top of the flower wall to designate it as where to pick up flower replacements.


Winning


When you only have one tile left to complete your hand, you are "waiting".

If you are waiting for a tile that has either been discarded totally or someone else has in their hand and there is no way to win, you are "dead waiting".

If you are waiting for your winning tile after cards are dealt, you are "standing waiting".

If you have two pairs and need one of those pair to complete your hand, you are "waiting back to back".

You are "waiting up and down" if you have two consecutive numbers and can either complete the hand at the beginning or the end of the sequence. (e.g. You have 2 and 3 balls tiles.  You can either win with a 1 ball or 4 balls).

If you win by picking up from the wall, it's Bunot. You get paid double.

If two or more people are waiting for the same tile, the person closest to the discarder has priority.

When you win, you can call out "todas!" or "mahjong!"

Examples of winning hands:
  • MJw1.pngMJw1.png - MJs3.pngMJs3.pngMJs3.png - MJt3.pngMJt3.pngMJt3.png - MJs8.pngMJs8.pngMJs8.png -
    MJw6.pngMJw6.pngMJw6.png - MJs1.pngMJs1.pngMJs1.png
  • MJt1.pngMJt2.pngMJt3.png - MJt4.pngMJt5.pngMJt6.png - MJt7.pngMJt7.pngMJt7.png - MJt8.pngMJt8.png -
    MJt9.pngMJt9.pngMJt9.png - MJw9.pngMJw9.pngMJw9.png

You can also win with seven pairs and one set of three.

The winner throws the dice to begin the next game.

Draw:

If no one wins when all the tiles are depleted, the discarded tiles are reshuffled and walls are set up again.

Incentives or Ambitions:

Secret (Kong only known to you).  Place the four tiles face down.  Pick up from flower pile and then discard one. Quarter pay right away. Sometimes a player holds a “secret” in their hand for a time, instead of declaring it at once, hoping to use the tiles or part of them to complete one or more sequences. This is allowable and is sometimes useful.

Kong (Displayed).  Pick up from flower pile and then discard. Half pay right away.

Sagasa.  When a tile you pick up from the wall can complete something you have ponged.  Add the tile to your Pong. Pick up from the flower pile and then discard. Half pay right away. You cannot Sagasa a tile from the discard pile.

13 flowers.  Whenever a player accumlates 13 flowers during a game, Quarter pay right away.

No flowers. Can get paid in the beginning and at the end if you mahjong with no flowers, you get paid again.  Quarter pay.

Seven pairs.  Plus one triple. Half pay.

All up. - None of your tiles are shown when you mahjong. Quarter pay.

Escalera.  1-9 of the same suit.

Flushes.  All the same suit.

Before the Fifth.  When a player declares mahjong before the fifth tile is discarded


Back to Back.  - You have two pairs in your waiting hand.  Pong of either pair results in mah jong.  Quarter pay.

All down. - All tiles except your waiting hand are showing.


All chow. - Everything in winning hand, showing or not, are chows. Quarter pay


All pong. - Everything in winning hand, showing or not, are pongs. Quarter pay

Single. - Only one tile needed to win. Quarter pay.


Pop eye. - When playing with jokers, if a player gets all four jokers anytime within the game, they win.

Paningit (or in-between). - Filling only possible place to win. For example, your waiting hand is a one ball and three balls.  You need two balls to win.  Paningit supercedes Single.

Bisaklat -  When the mano has a complete hand before the game starts and automatically wins!





Variations

Goulash - At the beginning of the game, each player chooses three tiles that they wish to discard and places them face down in the center of the table.  The mano  then picks one tile from each pile (excluding his/her own).  Going counterclockwise, each person picks up 3 tiles.  Regular game of mahjong continues after this.

Joker - At the beginning of the game, the dice is thrown again.  One counts the stacks with the resulting number, then turns over the tile.  This tile will serve as the Joker or Wildcard of the game.

Re-Die - Method of switching seats.  Tiles 1-4 are shuffled and placed down at the middle of the table.  Each person picks up a tile.  The number determines where the new seat will be.

Jai Alai.  - After a win, the winner gets a marker.  Bunot gets an extra marker.  Double also gets an extra marker.  The first person to five markers gets an extra dollar (or whatever payment was predetermined).  Afterwards, everyone gives back their chips to start another Jai Alai.  It is possible to carry over a marker into the next Jai Alai.  For example, if you have 4 markers, then Bunot, you end up with 6 markers.  You give back 5 markers and carry over 1 to the next game.


When the dealer throws the dice, a player who has been losing can yell out "Plus x!", where x is a number.  This is a request from the loser to add x to the resulting number on the dice.  The dealer can then agree to the new number or not.

If losing, the mano, can change the number of tiles that each person gets during each round of distributing tiles.  Instead of getting 8 tiles, each person can get 2 stacks of two, or 3 stacks of two, or 5 stacks of two, etc.  Continue until all 16 tiles are distributed.
 

Strategy and Etiquette

Although Tom Sloper's site doesn't concentrate on Filipino Mahjong,  the concepts can be applied to it:  Strategy and Etiquette

I will include the one's I like the most here as well as some of my own.

Strategy


  • Keep a pair - It's harder to make a pair than a Pong.  Usually, If I have more than one pair,  I will play them out until I decide which one will serve as the mother.  By looking at the discard pile and other player's showing tiles, you can see what your chances are of turning those pairs into Pongs.
  • "1-4-7 rule" - If the player to your right discards a 4, and you don't have another of those to discard, you /might/ be all right if you discard a 1 or a 7. Remember that these number sequences are key: 1-4-7, 2-5-8, 3-6-9. Between any two numbers in these sequences there can be an incomplete chow; if a player throws one number, then that player probably does not have a chow that would be completed by that number or the number at the other end. Discarding tiles IDENTICAL to what another player discards is always good, if you can.
  • If you are waiting for a Pong to win, but you pick up a card that can turn your waiting hand into a Chow, change your hand because the Chow gives you two ways of winning, but the Pong only gives you one chance.
  • Keep your discards on either side of your rack.  By discarding tiles within your hand, you will allow the other players to figure out your hand.
  • Don't always organize your tiles in the same manner (e.g. Sticks, followed by Balls, followed by Chars).  Switch it up.  Line your Chows up backwards sometimes. Split up your suits.
  • As the wall depletes, try not to discard tiles that haven't been discarded before.
  • Examine each tile you take from the wall with equal time even if you do not need that tile.
  • Do not place all your discards in the same spot on the table.  Other players can figure out your hand easier by seeing all your discards.
  • Do not place gaps in your hand.  This shows players your progress in your game.
Etiquette

  • Do not look at the tile you pick in the center of the table.  Other players may see it.
  • Do not rest your hand in the playing area.  It may block others from seeing the discard tiles.
  • Try to leave the table only in between hands.
  • Clearly announce the tile you are discarding.
  • When a winner displays their mahjong hand, do not expose your hand right away.  Let them enjoy their win first.
  • Do not take too long while thinking about your tiles.
  • When taking from the flower wall, make sure there are loose tiles on top designating it as the flower wall.  If the next player takes from the wrong end, it is your fault for not replacing the tiles.
  • You can only amend a mistake if you have not discarded your tile yet.  Once you discard your tile, you must live with your mistake.
  • Agree with the house rules.
  • When rolling the dice, if one or both dice land outside the four walls, the dice must be re-thrown.
  • A player cannot leave a game unless the pre-determined rounds are played or if all other players agree.
Sources

Family Word of Mouth
http://mahjongarchives.tripod.com/post/1998/9809-03.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong
http://prosolar0.tripod.com/mahjongg.htm
http://www.sloperama.com/
http://www.google.com/interstitial?url=http://www.mahjongmuseum.com/filirule.htm

78 comments:

Anonnymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonnymous said...

Hi, I have a question.

If you are going for seven pairs, can you do a Kang or Secret? If so, do you consider the Kang or Secret as part of the seven pairs? What are the rules on that?

mahjongero569 said...

you forgot about 'up and down' when a play has the option of 2 tiles to win for example: i have 4 char and 5 char, i need either 3 char or 6 char to win. and bisaklat! when the mano has a complete hand before the game starts and automatically wins!

Theresa A said...

@mahjonero569 Thanks for pointing out that I missed "Up and down", I will edit the page shortly.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous (from 5/31/11) - you can use a Kong or Secret for your Seven Pairs as long as you dont get a replacement tile from the flower wall (as you normally would when you get that Kong/Secret). You can then count a Kong/Secret as two pairs.

Ging - maybe also mention all the different varieties of jokers (first bunot, flower wall, Win-Drag, Dreaming, etc)?

Unknown said...

but it is weird. it makes sense for me to get seven pairs And a secret. ok, i have 16 tiles and i pick one from the wall (now 17 tiles) and ended up with a secret. so i pick one from the flower wall and discard it (17 tiles still) but i have 13 tiles that is not face down or revealed. i have 6 pairs and wait for one tile to be pair with the last tile to make seven pairs. how come this doesnt work?

Unknown said...

The player then discards one of their tiles (either the one that was picked up or another one from their hand). Always make sure that one or two tiles are on top of the flower wall to designate it as where to pick up flower replacements.
Italian design ideas

Unknown said...

when is a discarded tile considered dead and cannot be use to complete your mahjong?

Unknown said...

Can anyone make a page for all mahjong ambitions....

Unknown said...

I WANT TO PLAY MAHJONG NOW. ARE THERE PLAYERS I CAN PLAY With?

Unknown said...

I WANT TO PLAY MAHJONG NOW. ARE THERE PLAYERS I CAN PLAY With?

Unknown said...

I want to play mahjong this er moment. Where do I start?

Unknown said...

I want to play mahjong this er moment. Where do I start?

Unknown said...

hi. im from tacloban city, leyte.. the most popular majong here is different than the rest. its single wall file with 64 tiles at the center for the players to play as their hand. im wondering., whats the name of this majong variation?

Theresa A said...

@Perla Vasquez - A discarded tile is considered dead once the next player begins their turn. Once the next player begins their turn the last tile is no longer in-play, except for that person. So players need to pay attention to the last discarded tile. Sometimes mahjong play goes fast just for that reason alone.

@David Martin Leon - I'm not sure what this variation of mahjong is called.

Unknown said...

what is "release"?

Unknown said...

Mahjong Games

Unknown said...

Hi, I have a question.

If you are going for seven pairs, can you do a Kang or Secret? If so, do you consider the Kang or Secret as part of the seven pairs? What are the rules on that?
is it required a file from the flower wall?? or not??

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
See Dominic Grow said...

I just learned how to play this weekend and would like to play online.
Is there an app or website you can suggest?

Theresa A said...

@ Ramon Davis

If you Kang, and you get paid for the ambition, you no longer can go for seven pairs.
If you Kang, you can also request not to be paid, which will allow you to continue to go for seven pairs, but this lets your opponents know your intentions.
If you pick up a tile that you be used as a Secret, it is better to just leave them standing in your wall, and then throw something else out.
If you call out Secret, and get paid for your ambition, you can no longer go for seven pairs.

Sin Flor said...

Release is the highest paid "todas" in mahjong. You can only do a release if you have a joker. Your joker will be used as waiting single of any card

Sin Flor said...

"Kang without"

Sin Flor said...

You can still fo seven pairs but excluding the secret or kang as part of the seven pairs. The secret will be considered as back

Sin Flor said...

There are also other "major ambitions" in playing mahjong. It depends on the house rules. Here are the mahir ambitions that I know of: Escalera, Siete Pares (Seven Pairs), Sin Flores (No Flowers), Before the Fifth, One Color (All Flush), and Hard Way.

Sin Flor said...

Sometimes, players agree to make other ambitions as major ambitions or vice versa

Sin Flor said...

Other ambitions: All Pong, All Up, All Down, All Chow, Sin Joker, Paningit, Single,

Sin Flor said...

In some places, the players play for jai alai and kalembang. In a jai alai, 5 markers are needed to win a jai alai. In kalembang, 10 markers are needed.

Sin Flor said...

Talbog (1 marker), Talbog Ambicion (2 markers), Bunot (2 markers), Jackpot/Bisaklat (2 markers), Bunot Ambicion (3 markers), Release (3 markers)

Sin Flor said...

If a player's meld is talbog with major ambition, the player who was "talbog" pays the price and the other two players pay half

Sin Flor said...

If it is talbog with double ambitions or more, all players pay the full price as the one who was talbog or tinodasan

Sin Flor said...

If the rules in paying is 50 10 20, Bunot without any ambition is payed as 70. Ordinary todas or talbog sin ambiciones is payed 50

Unknown said...

Hi i have a question: if you have a secret and hasn't declared it, can you make a chow on your turn and declare your secret on the same turn?

Anonymous said...

Itatagalog ko po ang tanong ko:

Ang tiles ko is ganito.. Pair ng 8 char at 7 and 5 balls at 123 balls.. sa deck ko may pong akong 1 balls. Yung sinusundan ko nag-discard ng 4 balls, I chow it with my 2&3 balls, tapos sinagasa ko yung 1 ball ko sa pong ko na 1 balls. Kumuha ako sa flower deck, then discard.. Sabi ng mga kalaro ko bawal daw yun, kasi dapat pina-ikot ko muna, at pagbalik sakin, saka ko raw i-sagasa.. Kailangan bang ipaikot muna yung bunot bago ko sinagasa or pwede direct na after pag-chow? Please reply..thanks..

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Unknown said...

What is joker eye? How do you play it?

Anonymous said...

yes, that’s true. Sa amin same rule yan, dapat paikotin mo muna then saka mo sagasa. Malas mo lang kung bago ulit umikot sayo may nag todas na😊

BienJr said...

If you have a melded pung and was able to pick a tile to complete the melded pung into a kong or sagasa, can you instead not declare this as sagasa and use it in the 7pairs ambisyun?

Unknown said...

What about last card..

Unknown said...

I don't agree with that. Secret or sagasa or kang should be considered as your chow in seven pairs.

BoooDs said...

Nope. You have the option for kang considered as a pong or kang without pay (two pairs). If you choose the former, you need to draw one tile from the flower wall. Kang without forces you to go for seven pairs tho.

BoooDs said...

You can. But it will be a very difficult draw. Good luck

BoooDs said...

In out rules we can declare a secret in our turn... so yes you can. Dont forget to draw a flower tile. :)

Obetsky said...

If i declared kong "without", pede ba itodas ng player on my right yung tile na yun? Or todas nya lang dapat kapag "with pay"?

r2alarraga said...

If you need a chow to win, can you only win if the person to your left discards the tile you need or can you win from anyone discarding the tile?

Theresa A said...

@r2alarraga No. If you need a chow to win, you can pick it up from anyone discarding the tile.

Unknown said...

Pwede po ba yung double ambition 7pairs and plasis?

Unknown said...

Kc pwede sya escalera plasis so meaning pwede din 7pairs and plasis

Unknown said...

Yes,bawal yan

Unknown said...

Tanong lang po, pag grab or rob, babayaran ba muna yong nagsagasa bago grab

Unknown said...

ano nman po ung sinasabi nila na regular syete pares,pasandig at islide

BJ said...

Hi, great guide! I've got a question: When determining the joker, if the tile that's turned over is a flower, what's the procedure at that point?

share said...

share

share said...

free mahjonggameplayis played with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols, although some regional variations may omit some tiles or add unique ones. In most variations, each player begins by receiving 13 tiles.

Unknown said...

Hi. My question is if u are waiting to win with a trio for seven pairs but also wait on a back to back in other words have convertible cards can you claim a hard way on the 7 pairs even if u can win in another way via back to back as I previously mentioned. I will appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

Theresa A said...

@BJ you will need to pick another tile, return the one you picked in a random spot on the wall

Theresa A said...

@unknown Yes, you can claim the hard way with 7 pairs. You will get paid more (is playing for money). But you risk the chance of losing or having no winners.

Theresa A said...

@unknown Yes, you can have double ambition of 7 pairs and plasis

Unknown said...

How do you declare a win with escalera? and can you steal a tile for an escalera win?

Gene Paz said...

Your opening statement is as follows "... You can also win with 7 pairs and 1 set of three (pong or chow). Kongs or Secrets can also be part of a winning hand." Are these two sentences related? In other words, can I win with 7 pairs PLUS a Kong or a Secret (to substitute for a Pong or a Chow)?

Red said...

Hi
Please explain hard way...
I have a pong already if 7balls down.. then after a round I bunot 7balls again and declared it as sagasa but at that point my mother wins with the 7balls.. now my question is .. is that bunot hard way or just hard way..
Bunot paywall or the others pay half..
Thanks

Red said...

Hi
Please explain hard way...
I have a pong already if 7balls down.. then after a round I bunot 7balls again and declared it as sagasa but at that point my mother wins with the 7balls.. now my question is .. is that bunot hard way or just hard way..
Bunot paywall or the others pay half..
Thanks

Red said...

Hi
Please explain hard way...
I have a pong already if 7balls down.. then after a round I bunot 7balls again and declared it as sagasa but at that point my mother wins with the 7balls.. now my question is .. is that bunot hard way or just hard way..
Bunot paywall or the others pay half..
Thanks

Lxa said...

If you have a group of friends who play Filipino Mahjong, now you can meet and play together online at Mahjong Friends Online. It is free, no registration, you can play in a browser on any computer, or download an app for iPad/iPhone or Android.

The game gives you table and tiles, and you can play any Mahjong rules with them. It has everything you need for Filipino Mahjong, just remember to go to Settings and to turn on 16 Tile Hands. You can even flip a joker on the wall and put points in the middle of the table for Jai Alai.

The best way to play is when you are with your friends on Zoom (or some other voice chat) and you are talking while playing. You can also write text messages inside the game itself.

It is a beautiful game, and it feels almost like playing with real tiles.

Sick.Reality said...

May I have an example of a winning hand with a kang?

Sick.Reality said...

Does a winning hand with a kang has 17 tiles or 18 tiles?

Unknown said...

Can anyone explain the rule for a “Second Bisaklat” if the Mano doesn’t have a “Bisaklat” hand?

A said...

Anyone playing in Toronto right now? Pinoy Mahjong rules?

A said...

Meaning when someone wins on the first tile thrown by the Mano.

A said...

18. 4 tiles Melded plus 13 remaining tile plus the winning tile.

A said...

Is it working?

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DJ Force said...

I also play 2nd B (2nd Bisaclat) where the winner gets mahjong on the 1st tile thrown.

Unknown said...

May tanong lang po sana ako about 7 pairs .. pag nag "kang" po kayo una hindi na po ba pwede mag chow like yung ai or bahay ba tawag noon like 123? Tapos sa pang ilang rounds "tudas" na for 7 pairs pwede po ba yun?

Unknown said...

in our game once you pay for kangs or secret it is no longer considered as for 7 pairs

Donlynpower said...

Correct no longer seven consider as forfeited your seven pairs

Donlynpower said...

The truth is simple it's the majhong rules there so many new players did not understand concept of the game don't get confused be advice the best thing you can do is ask before the games start make sure everyone on the same page agreed all the rules applied at game to avoid any arguments later on the game.

Donlynpower said...

Here's how to play seven pairs very straight forward so you don't confused first thing ask everyone in the quorum before starting the game makes sure agreed to avoid later arguments ok now bout the kang trio same numbers on your seven pairs you can pong but you cannot make or take another tile from the flower file also the same one secrets otherwise valid as seven pairs cause is majohnh rules but you can also break rules by agreeing all the players on the table to the way all you've to play simple