Out of China has come this stately game with the lure of Oriental mysticism to whet jaded appetites and with possibilities for study that challenge the keenest intelligence.There is a mysticism about the Oriental and his mode of life that challenges the imagination and induces a curiosity hard to decipher. The dress of the Chinese, their strange customs, their difficult language, and their apparently impenetrable mask-like faces appeal to the fancy and throw a veil of mystery around even the commonplace.The origin of this game is lost in the mist of centuries past. There is, though, an oral tradition to the effect that it was originated in the Court of the King of Wu, now known as Ning-Po, during the year of 472 B.C. to entertain his consort and her court ladies and to help them while away the time which lay heavily on their hands. This was about the time of Confucius. It is, however, known to have been the Royal game, restricted to the use of Emperors and their friends of the Mandarin class for two thousand years. To them it was known as Pe-Ling (pronounced Bah-Ling) taking its name from the "bird of a hundred intelligences," the lark-like creature sacred in the Chinese faith which now may be seen reproduced on most Chinese tapestries and embroideries. The penalty paid by one of any other class for playing Pe-Ling at that time, was the loss of his head. Later—no one knows just when—the privilege of playing this wonder game was extended to the merchant or middle classes—and when, some 70 years ago—a social uprising threatened, one of the concessions granted to calm the unrest was the universal privilege of playing this game. In this way was caused the confusion of names for the game which exists even to-day in China; for, with the abolishing of Pe-Ling, each province applied their own name and pronunciation to the game, with the result that now we have from twelve to eighteen different names, by which the game is known. A few of these are Ma-Cheuk, Mah-Jong, Mah-Juck, Mah-Diao and Mah-Jongg.Pung Chow is made to withstand the climatic conditions which soon destroy the article imported under the name of Mah-Jongg and the other corruptions of Mah-Diao, and it is the true and original Chinese game translated by the addition of numerals just enough to be readily understood and not enough to spoil the artistry of the tiles. The addition of numerals has been overdone in the marking of many of the cheaper imported sets, and give the appearance of having had numerals sprinkled on them regardless of where they may land and permitted to stay.The fundamentals of this game are simple and require only practice to master. The science of Pung Chow must in the greater part be studied out by the individual player and one may spend the rest of his life in attaining to past mastery in its thousand-fold intricacies.SUMMARY OF THE GAMEBefore going thoroughly into the details of the playing of the game, it is better to give a general view of the play and its object.Pung Chow is played by thoroughly shuffling all of the tiles face down in the middle of the table, and forming them in a double-tiered, hollow square, called the wall. This wall is then broken at some point determined by the dice and each player draws an original hand of 13 tiles. This leaves about two-thirds of the wall intact, and the rest of the play is devoted to drawing and discarding from this remainder of the wall; each player improving and matching his own individual hand until having arranged it into four sets and a pair, some player wins. A set is three of a kind, four of a kind or three in a sequence. Every set has a scoring value, and the players add their scores and settle after every hand. A player may win with a score as low as 22 points or scores may run to 380,928 points. These possibilities will unfold as the following pages on the details of the play are read.Illustration No. 1. The Thirty-four different tiles and countersIllustration No. 1.The thirty-four different tiles and the countersDESCRIPTION OF TILESThe game is played with 136 tiles, which are divided into four distinct and separate suits. These four suits are called theBamboo,Dot,CharacterandHonor Suits.The first three of these suits score equally and are arranged in the same manner, that is, there are 36 tiles in each, numbering from one to nine, and there are four tiles of each numeral.The fourth suit, known as the honor suit, is divided into three parts: theDragons, theWindsand theMandarins. Of theDragons, there are four apiece of three different kinds, the Red, Green and White Dragons. TheWindsare North, South, East and West with four tiles alike for each. TheMandarins(also calledSeasons, andFlowers), are 8 in number, and as they are only used in limit hands, will be discussed later.From Illustration No. 2 a player will see that there are four of every different tile in the set, and that there are 34 different tiles.Illustration No. 2—The complete set of tilesIllustration No. 2—The complete set of tilesPROCEDURE OF PLAYA. East Wind.Position of the players for the first game is determined by a throw of the dice; all players throw once, the one throwing the highest number becoming firstEast Wind. In the event of a tie, players tieing throw again. The player sitting oppositeEast Windwill be known asWest Wind, to the right ofEast WindasSouth Wind, andtheleft ofEast Wind, asNorth Wind. The dice need only be thrown to determineEast Windfor the first game of an evening's play, for if the player representingEast Windwins, or if the game is a draw, he remainsEast Wind. If he loses, the player to his right becomesEast Wind, he in turn becomingNorth Wind.East Windis sometimes calledBanker, for he must pay double stakes when he loses, and wins double stakes when he wins.Illustration No. 3. Positions of Winds about Table.Illustration No. 3. Positions of Winds about Table.B. Building and Breaking the Wall.Before building the wall the tiles must all be turned face down on the table and thoroughly shuffled. Then each player proceeds to build one side of the wall by taking 34 of the tiles at random, and arranging them side by side in a row 17 tiles long and 2 tiers high.Illustration No. 4.Illustration No. 4.Each player then moves his side of the wall forward, the four sides forming a hollow square. This represents a Chinese wall or fort common in the protection of cities.Illustration No. 5.Illustration No. 5.To find the point at which the wall is to be broken,East Windalways throws the dice. The number thrown will indicate the player who is to break the wall. The player is found byEast Windcounting around the table to the right, starting with himself as "one," until he reaches the number thrown which will designate the player to break the wall.Illustration No. 6.Illustration No. 6.In this illustration, ifEast Windthrew a "7," starting with himself as one,Southwould be 2,West3,North4,East5,South6, andWest7, designatingWestas the player to break the wall.The player who has been designated to break the wall then throws the dice to determine the exact tile at which he shall break the wall, adding this throw toEast Wind. This sum will indicate the tile at which the wall is to be broken, the player to break the wall counting the sum off from the right end of his own side, i.e., if 14isthe sum of the two throws, the wall will be broken by lifting out the 14th tile from the right with the one under it and placing both on the top of the wall to the right of where it was broken. These two are called loose tiles and they mark the end of the wall.Illustration No. 7.Illustration No. 7.East Windthrew "7" indicatingWest Windas the wall-breaker.West Windthen threw "7" designating the 14th tile from the right end of his side of the wall, as the exact spot where the wall was to be broken. The loose tiles are shown in correct position.C. Drawing the Original Hand:Each player then draws the 13 tiles which go to make up his original hand.East Windstarts the drawing by taking the first four tiles (2 blocks of 2 each) at the beginning of the wall, the player on his right the next four and so on around the table three times which will give each player 12 tiles. Then one tile apiece is drawn in regular order giving every player 13 tiles, exceptEast Windwho draws an extra tile as he must make the first discard.D. Playing the Hand:Illustration No. 8. The wall—after the original hands have been drawn.Illustration No. 8.The wall—after the original hands have been drawn.Wall showing draw.Each player then takes his original hand and arranges it to suit his own convenience. It is advised, however, that he arrange it in suits in order to see at a glance, the value of any one tile to his hand in the drawing and discarding of which the rest of the game consists.When the hands have been arranged,East Windstarts the play by discarding any tile in his hand, face up in the center of the table. It is because of this first discard that he drew an extra tile. The play then goes to the right, it becoming the turn ofSouth Windto draw the next tile in the wall and discard any one he may choose.West Windthen draws and discards and so on around the table, constantly in a counter-clockwise direction.The players during this drawing and discarding are gradually improving their hands, and matching them into four sets and an extra tile, a set beingthree of a kind,four of a kind, orthree in a sequence.Illustration No. 9. Examples of Three of a kind, Four of a kind, Three in sequenceIllustration No. 9.Examples ofThree of a kind Four of a kind Three in sequenceWhen a player accomplishes this, he must only match the extra tile forming apairand thus, completing his hand, having four complete sets and a pair. He announces "Mah-Jongg" wins, the game is over, the scores are settled and the wall built up for the next game.Illustration No. 10. Several completed handsIllustration No. 10.Several completed handsAs completing a hand entirely by draw from the wall would be a difficult task, the players are permitted to make use of any discard,as it is discarded, provided they have the required tiles already in their hand as explained below in "Chow" and "Pung."E. To Chow:A player having two tiles in his hand which, together with the tile just discarded by the player before him (to his left), would form a sequence or run of three, may by announcing "Chow" pick up the discard, add it to the two in his hand, and place the three in sequence face up on the table to the right of his hand. This appropriating the discard serves as the player's draw and he must then discard and the play goes on in the usual manner.For example: If one has a 5-6 ofcharacterand the player preceding him discards either a 4 or a 7 ofcharacter, he may "Chow" the tile, and discard; or ignore it and draw from the wall and discard, in hopes of building a better hand, as often will be found advisable.The main point to be remembered in "Chowing" is that a player may "Chow"only in his regular turn, i.e., he may "Chow" only tiles discarded by the player to his left and thenonly when he has the other two tiles in his handto form the sequence. Sequences can only be built up in sets of three.Illustration No. 11.Illustration No. 11.In this illustration the player having a 4 and 6 of character in his hand has "chowed" the 5 character which the player to his left discarded and after setting out his sequence, discards himself, leaving the usual 13 tiles in his hand.F. To Pung:A player may also appropriate another player's discard to fill a set of three of a kind or four of a kind by announcing "Pung." In order to do this, the player must havea pair, orthree of a kind in his handto match with the discard, thus completing three or four of a kind, which he places, as in the case of a "Chow," to the right of his hand, face up on the table. For example: A player having a pair or three fives of the character suit, maypungwhen another player discards a five character, expose his set and discard, the play going on in the regular direction from him.It is not necessary for it to be the player's turn to draw in order to "Pung" as it is in the case of a "Chow." A player having a pair similar to a tile discarded, may announce "Pung" and appropriate the tile,regardless of who discarded it and of whose turn it is to draw. Also after a player "Pungs" and discards, the play goes on from him to the right. It can be seen that due topungingone or even two players are liable to lose their turn.Illustration No. 12.Illustration No. 12.In this illustration,Eastplayed in regular turn andSouthdrew the 9character, which, having no use for, he discarded.Easthaving a pair of ninescharacterin his hand "Punged," completing the set and causingWestandNorth Windsto lose their turns.Eastthen exposed his set of nines next to the sequence of three he had previouslychowedand exposed, discarded and play went on in the usual routine,Northdrawing and discarding.There are a few rules applying to the "Chow" and "Pung." They are as follows:1. All tiles must be "punged" or "chowed"as they are discarded; for a tile discarded by a player and allowed to remain in discard until the next player discards, becomes "dead" andcannot betouched during the rest of the game.2. It has been stated that one cannot "pung" unless it makes up three or four of a kind. This is true with one exception. In the case: when a tile will complete a player's hand allowing him to "Mah-Jongg," the tile may be punged. Example: A player with four sets and an odd tile maypunga tile which matches his odd one. The rule is that "a player may at any time 'Pung' a discard which will complete his hand and allow him to Mah-Jongg."3. The denomination and suit of each tile must be announced as it is discarded, a player discarding a 3 ofcharacter, announcing3 character, to prevent confusion of a player who may be studying his hand. This is more of a courtesy of the game, than a rule.4. A "Pung" has precedence over a "Chow" and if one player can pung the same discard that another player can chow, the former has the right to appropriate the tile.5. If a player can pung a discard which will complete hishandand another player can pung the same discard to complete aset, the former has the right to take the discard.6. If two players pung the same tile to complete their hands, the precedence is given to the player claiming the tile nearest to the discarder in a counter-clockwise direction around the table.FOUR OF A KIND:Before speaking of "four of a kind," it is better to give the reason for exposing a set made up of a pair and a punged discard, and make clear at the same time, what is to be done when three of a kind are completed by draw.A set made up of a pair and a punged discard must be "exposed" by setting it out face up, on the table to the right of the players' tiles, first, to show to the other players that he had the required pair, which gave him the right to appropriate the discard, and secondly, to separate the set from those completed entirely by draw from the wall. Sets completed by help of an appropriated (punged) discard, have only one-half the scoring value of exactly the same sets, completed by draw from the wall and kept in the hand.Thus there are many advantages in drawing the third tile to complete a set of three of a kind when compared to "punging" the same, for in the former case, the set has twice as much scoring value, they are kept concealed in the hand and the opponents can only guess as to how nearly complete a concealed hand may be. A concealed set is counted as one of the four sets required to win, just as an exposed set would be, and a player having a set of three of a kind concealed has very good chances of filling it and thus forming four of a kind which counts a great deal higher.A player may complete a set of four of a kind either by draw from the wall or "punging" an opponent's discard, if he has three of a kindalready in his hand. Ineithercase he must place the completed set on the table to the right of his tiles; all four face up if he "punged" the fourth, the two end tiles face down if he has "drawn" the fourth.The player must immediately draw a "loose tile" (one of the two tiles on top of, and marking the end of the wall). Usually the one farthest from the end is taken, the one on the end moved up, and replaced by a tile from the end of the wall itself.The "loose tile" was drawn because every time a player completes a set of four of a kind, he causes the rest of his hand to be one tile short. This must be made up every time four of a kind is filled by an extra tile drawn from the "loose" tiles.Illustration No. 13.Illustration No. 13.In this illustration the player had three one dots in his hand when one of the opponents discarded the fourth one dot. This player "punged" it, matched the four of a kind, exposed them, drew a "loose tile" and discarded.Illustration No. 14.Illustration No. 14.In this illustration the player had three one dots in his hand anddrewthe fourth in his regular turn to draw. This set counts in scoring as much as it would in his hand but must be exposed in order to draw the "loose tile." Therefore the end tiles are turned down to show that in counting the score that the set is counted as if it were held in the hand.Illustration No. 15.Illustration No. 15.In this illustration the player has one set of 3 one dots punged and completed, and is now trying to match up the rest of his hand. If another player discards a one dot he cannot touch it and must let it go by. However, if he draws the fourth one dot himself, he may add it on to his set of 3, draw a loose tile and discard as usual. As can be seen from the last three illustrations, the rule in the case of four of a kind is as follows:In any set which a player may have exposed on the table there must not be more than(1)punged tile.A player having three of a kind in his hand maypungthe fourth when it is discarded or having three of a kind on the table and drawing the fourth may add it to his 3 exposed tiles. The rule, however, bars him from appropriating some one else's discard to make a fourth for an exposed set of three of a kind because in order to appropriate this discard he would have to pung it. This he has not the privilege of doing, because he already must have one "punged" tile in his exposed set or it wouldn't be exposed.MAH-JONGG OR MAH-DIAOAs has been mentioned before when a player has matched his hand into four (4) sets and by a draw or a pung has mated the final pair he wins and announces "Mah-Jongg" or "Mah-Diao" (Dee-O), either being correct and in common usage, the latter being the most logical because of its English translation "mating the pair." A player must at all times during the game have thirteen (13) tiles, his draw every round momentarily giving him fourteen (14), his discard leaving him the thirteen (13). Then for every four of a kind that he fills he should have an extra tile in his hand on account of the extra loose tile draw.Thus one is able at any time during the game to check his hand and ascertain whether or not he has the correct number of tiles in it. If he has not sets of four of a kind he should have thirteen tiles in his hand. If hehasone set of four of a kind he should have fourteen tiles in his hand, two sets of four of kind 15 tiles, and so on.If, at any time during the game, a player has an incorrect number of tiles in his hand, it becomes "dead." He must continue drawing and discarding, but when the scores are settled his score does not count and therefore he must pay all players. His only chance lies in endeavoring to prevent the other players from completing their hands, by holding the tiles which he believes they need and thus causing a draw game.SETTLING THE SCORESWhen the first player to complete his hand calls "Mah-Jongg" the game is ended, and all players expose their hands and count up their scores. The winner of the game collects full value of his score from each of the other players and throwing his hand into the discard is thru for that game.The remaining three players then settle among themselves thedifferenceof their scores, the high hand of the three collecting the difference between his score and each of the remaining two players. Then throwing his hand into the discard, leaves the remaining two to settle their scores, the highest hand of which collects the difference.It must be remembered here that East Wind (or banker) pays or collects double, if he loses or wins.Scores are most conveniently settled by the use of the counters which are furnished with the sets. These are spotted to denote different denominations and at the end of every hand the actual scores or differences in scores are settled between players by the exchange of these counters. There are several styles of counter sets. The one in most common usage contains counters valued as follows:Points1 Gold dot1,0005 Black dots5001 Black dot10010 Red dots102 Red dots2SUGGESTIONS FOR CAREFUL PLAYING OF HANDSIn a game of this nature where every hand is different from the preceding one and so much depends on the draw, it is very hard to lay down any specific rules of how it should be played. There are, however, a few points which would help if kept in mind during the play. A player should study his original hand and after the first few draws and discards form a general plan of what he is going to try and fill in his hand and decide on how high a score he will have a good chance of making. This will be decided by:1. The condition of his own hand.2. The discards of the other three players.If he has an exceptionally strong hand in any one suit he will play for that suit regardless of the other players. If he has a well-divided hand, by watching the other players' discards, he will be able to form a fairly good opinion of what they are doing with their hand.After judging his hand, visualizing the sort of hand that he is to try to fill, he should use his own judgment in drawing and discarding, constantly watching his own hand for opportunities and his opponents' discards for disclosures, and upon the slightest suspicion that one of these opponents is nearing the completion of his hand, should immediately forego any thoughts of a higher hand himself and seek to complete his own hand as quickly as possible.Summing this up; a player should plan and play to win at all times with as high a hand as possible, then as the wall grows shorter and the probability of one of the opponents completing his hand grows larger, the player should reconsider, and1. If he has at that stage an exceptionally good hand which will win back for him from the other two players that which he loses to the winner, should go on improving his hand and take the chance of another player winning.2. If he has just an ordinarily good hand he should stop playing to improve his hand and start to complete it as quickly as possible, i.e., form sequences and mix suits, in order to win before the other players and save himself.3. If his hand has not improved at all or very little since the beginning of the game and he has small chance of completing his hand in any way before some other player does, his only plan is to hold the tiles which he thinks would help the other players and discard only those which he is sure they will not pung. These tiles can be ascertained by carefully searching the discards in the center of the table and the sets already exposed by the other players. By playing this way he may be able to cause the game to be a draw.There are a few other points which are taken up in the last four layouts in Part I.USE OF THE MANDARINS(Flowers and Seasons)TheMandarins, also calledFlowersandSeasons, are eight in number, two for each of the four winds. They may be eliminated from the set and are not usually used in the play, as they add a large element of chance into the game.If they are used, each side of the wall is increased by two tiles, making each side a double tiered row of 18 tiles side by side.Then, if a player draws one of his ownwind mandarins, he exposes it on the table and draws a "loose tile," themandarinof his own wind permitting him to double his score once. If then he draws the othermandarinof his own wind he repeats the above process and may double his total score again. Where "SeasonsandFlowers" are used instead ofmandarinsthe numbers on them, 1, 2, 3 and 4, representEast, South, West and North windsrespectively. The red numbers are the "Seasons" and the green numbers are the "Flowers." They are used exactly as are themandarins, i.e., One's own "Season" will double the value of his hand, aswillhis own "Flower." Both of them will double the value twice.SCORE CARDIt will be seen at a glance that the scoring values are divided into three parts. First, the bonus scores which only the winner can use; secondly, the combination scores which all four players can use; finally the doubling honors which all four players may use, so it is that in settling the scores the winner starts at the top with twenty (20) points for "Mah-Jongg" or for winning and goes down the list scoring ten points, if he has no sequence in his hand and so on thru the bonus scores, adding to these whatever scores he obtains from combinations in his hand or on the table and doubling the sum as many times as he has doubling honors.In the bonus scores for the winning hand only there are six items:1. "Mah-Jongg" which gives 20 points for winning the hand.2.No sequence in hand or on table.This is a bonus of 10 points given to a player if he wins without use of sequences.3.Drawing the winning piece.This is a bonus of 2 points given to the winning player if hedrawsthe tile which completes his hand from the wall. Of coursepungingthe winning tile will forfeit this bonus.4.Filling the only place to win.This is a bonus of 2 points given to a player who fills the only possible place to win, i.e., winning by matching the pair or drawing the middle tile of a sequence.5.Winning on a draw from a loose tile.This of course is a bonus of ten points given to the winning player if any of his loose tile draws have been fortunate enough to complete his hand.6.No other score than "Mah-Jongg" in hand or on table.This is a bonus of ten points given to the winning player having only 20 points for "Mah-Jongg" as his score, and is a hand made up of four sequences and a pair in which there is no score, a sequence having no scoring value whatsoever. Of course even drawing the winning piece will forfeit this bonus as can easily be seen.In the combination scores exposed sets are those on the table; face up to the right of the player, concealed sets are those which are in his hand at the time of winning. As will be seen by the score card, concealed sets having been made up by the player without the assistance of a pung or chow score twice as much as the same set would if it were on the table. This together with the fact that sets of ones, nines, winds or dragons score twice as much as sets of twos, threes, fours, fives, sixes, sevens and eights should be helpful in memorizing the score which is essential to the careful playing of each hand.As for the doubling honors, each set or combination doubles the total score once, and if there are fivedoubling honorsin a hand, the total score should be doubled five times—for example: a player goesMah-JonggorMah-Diaohaving 32 points in bonus scores, 18 in combination scores, making his total score 50. Then if he has fivedoubling honorshis final score is 1,600 points, i.e., 50-100-200-400-800-1,600.EXAMPLE OF HANDS AND HOW THEY ARE SCOREDExample No. 1Example No. 1.For Mah-Jongg20For Three 2 Dots222Total ScoreNo double honors:22Final ScoreIn this hand the player punged the 2 dot which completed his hand, 20 forMah-Jonggas the only bonus score he has because: 1. He has sequences. 2. He did not draw the winning piece. 3. He did not fill the only place to win. 4. He has other score thanMah-Jongg. 5. He did not win on a loose tile draw. In combination value, he has only two points for the set of three 2 dots, the sets of sequences helping complete the hand, but scoring nothing. There are no doubling honors in the hand so the final score is 22. This is the lowest winning hand that can be scored.Example No. 2Example No. 2Winner chowed the 1 character to complete hand. Score isMah-Jongg20No other scores on hand or on table1030Total ScoreNo combination scores or doubling honors30Final ScoreExample No. 3Example No. 3Mah-Jongg—2020No sequences—1010Filling only place to win—22Drawing wins p.—22343 ones concealed83 threes concealed43 fives exposed23 fours exposed250Total ScoreNo doubling honors:50Final ScoreExample No. 4Example No. 4Mah-Jongg20No sequence10Drawing winning piece2323 sixes (concealed)43 twos (exposed)23 dragons (exposed)43 threes (exposed)244Total ScoreDouble once for red dragons88Final ScoreExample No. 5Example No. 5Mah-Jongg20No sequence10Drawing winning piece2Filling only place to win2343 twos (exposed)23 nines (exposed)43 ones (exposed)43 dragons (exposed)448Total ScoreDouble once for green dragons96Double once for all one suit except winds or dragons192Final ScoreExample No. 6Example No. 6Mah-Jongg20No sequence10Drawing winning piece2Filling only place to win2344 nines (concealed)323 sevens (exposed)23 fours (concealed)43 ones (concealed)880Total ScoreDouble three times for all one suit160320640Final ScoreExample No. 7Example No. 7Mah-Jongg20No sequence10304 dragons (concealed)324 winds (exposed)163 dragons (exposed)43 dragons (concealed)890Total ScoreDouble three times for all one suit (honor)180360720Double once for red dragons1440Double once for white dragons2880Double once for green dragons5760Final ScoreIf this hand is held by the East Wind he may double again for having a set of his own wind, making his score 11,520, and being East Wind, he collects double from each player when he wins, making his total 23,040 from each of the other three players or 69,120 in all.Example No. 8Example No. 8Mah-Jongg20No sequence10303 dragons (exposed)43 fours (exposed)23 eights (exposed)23 dragons (concealed)846Total ScoreDouble once for white dragons92Double once for green dragons184Final ScoreIf player is East Wind, he collects double, or 368 from each player. If any other wind, he collects 368 from East Wind and 184 from the other two players.Example No. 9Example No. 9Mah-Jongg20No sequence1030Total ScoreDouble three times for all one suit60120240Final ScoreNote: In this hand the player did not even fill the only place to win as a 6 character would have won also.If player is East Wind, he collects 480 from each of the other three players. If any other wind, he collects 480 from East Wind and 240 from the other two players.Example No. 10Example No. 10Mah-Jongg20No sequence10Winning on loose tile draw10Drawing winning piece2Filling only place to win244Total Score4 nines (exposed)324 ones (concealed)164 dragons (exposed)164 dragons (exposed)16124Total ScoreDouble once for red dragons248Double once for green dragons496Final ScoreExample No. 11Example No. 11Mah-Jongg20No sequence10Drawing winning piece2323 winds (concealed)83 dragons (concealed)83 twos (concealed)43 nines (concealed)860Total ScoreDouble once for all one suit except winds or dragons120Double once for red dragons240Double once for own wind480Final ScoreThis illustration assumes player to be North Wind. This player collects double, or 960, from East Wind and 480 each from South and West Winds.Example No. 12Example No. 12Mah-Jongg20203 fives (exposed)23 winds (exposed)42 dragons228Total ScoreDouble once for all one suit except winds or dragons56Final ScoreNote: Two points for pair of red dragons. Dragons and own wind are only pairs that score, and they are limited to two points.Example No. 13Example No. 13PLAYER IS EAST WINDMah-Jongg20No sequence10303 winds (exposed)43 ones (exposed)43 fours (exposed)23 dragons (exposed)848Total ScoreDouble once for all one suit except winds or dragons96Double once for red dragons192Double once for own wind384Collect double from each player being east wind and winning768Final Score from each playerExample No. 14Example No. 14PLAYER IS WEST WINDMah-Jongg20No sequence10Draw winning piece2323 winds (concealed)83 winds (concealed)84 winds (concealed)323 winds (exposed)484Total ScoreDouble 3 times for allonesuit (honor)168336672Double once for own wind1344Collects 2688 from East Wind and 1344 apiece from North and South Winds.PLAYER IS EAST WINDExample No. 15Example No. 15Mah-Jongg20No sequence10Only place to win2324 ones (concealed)324 nines (concealed)324 fours (exposed)84 sevens (exposed)8112Total ScoreDouble 3 times for all one suit224448896Double once because player is East wind and won1792Final Score from each playerPLAYER IS EAST WINDExample No. 16Example No. 16Mah-Jongg20203 fours (concealed)43 dragons (concealed)832Total ScoreDouble 3 times for winning on64Original hand128256Double once for red dragons512Collects double because is East wind and won1024Final Score from each playerPLAYER IS SOUTH WINDExample No. 17Example No. 17Mah-Jongg20Drawing winning piece2Filling only place to win2243 ones (concealed)83 fours (concealed)44 winds (concealed)322 own wind270Total ScoreDouble once for all one suit except winds or dragons140Final ScoreCollects double, or 280, from East wind; 140 from North and South respectively.PLAYER IS NORTH WINDExample No. 18Example No. 18Mah-Jongg20No sequence10304 ones (concealed)324 nines (concealed)164 nines (concealed)323 dragons (concealed)8118Total ScoreDouble once for green dragons236Final ScoreCollects double, or 472, from East wind: 236 from West and South winds respectively.Example No. 19Example No. 19PLAYER IS WEST WINDMah-Jongg20203 winds (concealed)83 dragons (exposed)432Double once for all one suit except winds or dragons64Double once for white dragons128Double once for own wind256Collects 512 from East wind, 256 from North and South, respectively.PLAYER IS EAST WINDExample No. 20Example No. 20Mah-Jongg20No sequence10Winning on loose tile draw10Drawing winning piece2Filling only place to win2444 dragons (concealed)324 dragons (concealed)324 dragons (concealed)324 winds (concealed)32172Total ScoreDouble 3 times for all of one suit (honor)3446881376Double once for green dragons2752Double once for white dragons5504Double once for red dragons11008Double once for own wind22016Double once because everyone must pay East wind double when he wins44032Final ScoreEast wind collects this amount from each of the other three players, making a total of 132,096 points that East may win in one hand. This is the highest hand which is probable. There is a hand composed of sets of 3 of a kind, similar to this, which, if drawn on the original draw, will yield more points than this, but it is highly improbable that the hand will ever actually be drawn by any given player.
Out of China has come this stately game with the lure of Oriental mysticism to whet jaded appetites and with possibilities for study that challenge the keenest intelligence.
There is a mysticism about the Oriental and his mode of life that challenges the imagination and induces a curiosity hard to decipher. The dress of the Chinese, their strange customs, their difficult language, and their apparently impenetrable mask-like faces appeal to the fancy and throw a veil of mystery around even the commonplace.
The origin of this game is lost in the mist of centuries past. There is, though, an oral tradition to the effect that it was originated in the Court of the King of Wu, now known as Ning-Po, during the year of 472 B.C. to entertain his consort and her court ladies and to help them while away the time which lay heavily on their hands. This was about the time of Confucius. It is, however, known to have been the Royal game, restricted to the use of Emperors and their friends of the Mandarin class for two thousand years. To them it was known as Pe-Ling (pronounced Bah-Ling) taking its name from the "bird of a hundred intelligences," the lark-like creature sacred in the Chinese faith which now may be seen reproduced on most Chinese tapestries and embroideries. The penalty paid by one of any other class for playing Pe-Ling at that time, was the loss of his head. Later—no one knows just when—the privilege of playing this wonder game was extended to the merchant or middle classes—and when, some 70 years ago—a social uprising threatened, one of the concessions granted to calm the unrest was the universal privilege of playing this game. In this way was caused the confusion of names for the game which exists even to-day in China; for, with the abolishing of Pe-Ling, each province applied their own name and pronunciation to the game, with the result that now we have from twelve to eighteen different names, by which the game is known. A few of these are Ma-Cheuk, Mah-Jong, Mah-Juck, Mah-Diao and Mah-Jongg.
Pung Chow is made to withstand the climatic conditions which soon destroy the article imported under the name of Mah-Jongg and the other corruptions of Mah-Diao, and it is the true and original Chinese game translated by the addition of numerals just enough to be readily understood and not enough to spoil the artistry of the tiles. The addition of numerals has been overdone in the marking of many of the cheaper imported sets, and give the appearance of having had numerals sprinkled on them regardless of where they may land and permitted to stay.
The fundamentals of this game are simple and require only practice to master. The science of Pung Chow must in the greater part be studied out by the individual player and one may spend the rest of his life in attaining to past mastery in its thousand-fold intricacies.
Before going thoroughly into the details of the playing of the game, it is better to give a general view of the play and its object.
Pung Chow is played by thoroughly shuffling all of the tiles face down in the middle of the table, and forming them in a double-tiered, hollow square, called the wall. This wall is then broken at some point determined by the dice and each player draws an original hand of 13 tiles. This leaves about two-thirds of the wall intact, and the rest of the play is devoted to drawing and discarding from this remainder of the wall; each player improving and matching his own individual hand until having arranged it into four sets and a pair, some player wins. A set is three of a kind, four of a kind or three in a sequence. Every set has a scoring value, and the players add their scores and settle after every hand. A player may win with a score as low as 22 points or scores may run to 380,928 points. These possibilities will unfold as the following pages on the details of the play are read.
Illustration No. 1. The Thirty-four different tiles and countersIllustration No. 1.The thirty-four different tiles and the counters
The game is played with 136 tiles, which are divided into four distinct and separate suits. These four suits are called theBamboo,Dot,CharacterandHonor Suits.
The first three of these suits score equally and are arranged in the same manner, that is, there are 36 tiles in each, numbering from one to nine, and there are four tiles of each numeral.
The fourth suit, known as the honor suit, is divided into three parts: theDragons, theWindsand theMandarins. Of theDragons, there are four apiece of three different kinds, the Red, Green and White Dragons. TheWindsare North, South, East and West with four tiles alike for each. TheMandarins(also calledSeasons, andFlowers), are 8 in number, and as they are only used in limit hands, will be discussed later.
From Illustration No. 2 a player will see that there are four of every different tile in the set, and that there are 34 different tiles.
Illustration No. 2—The complete set of tilesIllustration No. 2—The complete set of tiles
Position of the players for the first game is determined by a throw of the dice; all players throw once, the one throwing the highest number becoming firstEast Wind. In the event of a tie, players tieing throw again. The player sitting oppositeEast Windwill be known asWest Wind, to the right ofEast WindasSouth Wind, andtheleft ofEast Wind, asNorth Wind. The dice need only be thrown to determineEast Windfor the first game of an evening's play, for if the player representingEast Windwins, or if the game is a draw, he remainsEast Wind. If he loses, the player to his right becomesEast Wind, he in turn becomingNorth Wind.
East Windis sometimes calledBanker, for he must pay double stakes when he loses, and wins double stakes when he wins.
Illustration No. 3. Positions of Winds about Table.Illustration No. 3. Positions of Winds about Table.
Before building the wall the tiles must all be turned face down on the table and thoroughly shuffled. Then each player proceeds to build one side of the wall by taking 34 of the tiles at random, and arranging them side by side in a row 17 tiles long and 2 tiers high.
Illustration No. 4.Illustration No. 4.
Each player then moves his side of the wall forward, the four sides forming a hollow square. This represents a Chinese wall or fort common in the protection of cities.
Illustration No. 5.Illustration No. 5.
To find the point at which the wall is to be broken,East Windalways throws the dice. The number thrown will indicate the player who is to break the wall. The player is found byEast Windcounting around the table to the right, starting with himself as "one," until he reaches the number thrown which will designate the player to break the wall.
Illustration No. 6.Illustration No. 6.
In this illustration, ifEast Windthrew a "7," starting with himself as one,Southwould be 2,West3,North4,East5,South6, andWest7, designatingWestas the player to break the wall.
The player who has been designated to break the wall then throws the dice to determine the exact tile at which he shall break the wall, adding this throw toEast Wind. This sum will indicate the tile at which the wall is to be broken, the player to break the wall counting the sum off from the right end of his own side, i.e., if 14isthe sum of the two throws, the wall will be broken by lifting out the 14th tile from the right with the one under it and placing both on the top of the wall to the right of where it was broken. These two are called loose tiles and they mark the end of the wall.
Illustration No. 7.Illustration No. 7.East Windthrew "7" indicatingWest Windas the wall-breaker.West Windthen threw "7" designating the 14th tile from the right end of his side of the wall, as the exact spot where the wall was to be broken. The loose tiles are shown in correct position.
Illustration No. 7.East Windthrew "7" indicatingWest Windas the wall-breaker.West Windthen threw "7" designating the 14th tile from the right end of his side of the wall, as the exact spot where the wall was to be broken. The loose tiles are shown in correct position.
East Windthrew "7" indicatingWest Windas the wall-breaker.West Windthen threw "7" designating the 14th tile from the right end of his side of the wall, as the exact spot where the wall was to be broken. The loose tiles are shown in correct position.
Each player then draws the 13 tiles which go to make up his original hand.East Windstarts the drawing by taking the first four tiles (2 blocks of 2 each) at the beginning of the wall, the player on his right the next four and so on around the table three times which will give each player 12 tiles. Then one tile apiece is drawn in regular order giving every player 13 tiles, exceptEast Windwho draws an extra tile as he must make the first discard.
Illustration No. 8. The wall—after the original hands have been drawn.Illustration No. 8.The wall—after the original hands have been drawn.
Wall showing draw.
Each player then takes his original hand and arranges it to suit his own convenience. It is advised, however, that he arrange it in suits in order to see at a glance, the value of any one tile to his hand in the drawing and discarding of which the rest of the game consists.
When the hands have been arranged,East Windstarts the play by discarding any tile in his hand, face up in the center of the table. It is because of this first discard that he drew an extra tile. The play then goes to the right, it becoming the turn ofSouth Windto draw the next tile in the wall and discard any one he may choose.West Windthen draws and discards and so on around the table, constantly in a counter-clockwise direction.
The players during this drawing and discarding are gradually improving their hands, and matching them into four sets and an extra tile, a set beingthree of a kind,four of a kind, orthree in a sequence.
Illustration No. 9. Examples of Three of a kind, Four of a kind, Three in sequenceIllustration No. 9.Examples ofThree of a kind Four of a kind Three in sequence
When a player accomplishes this, he must only match the extra tile forming apairand thus, completing his hand, having four complete sets and a pair. He announces "Mah-Jongg" wins, the game is over, the scores are settled and the wall built up for the next game.
Illustration No. 10. Several completed handsIllustration No. 10.Several completed hands
As completing a hand entirely by draw from the wall would be a difficult task, the players are permitted to make use of any discard,as it is discarded, provided they have the required tiles already in their hand as explained below in "Chow" and "Pung."
A player having two tiles in his hand which, together with the tile just discarded by the player before him (to his left), would form a sequence or run of three, may by announcing "Chow" pick up the discard, add it to the two in his hand, and place the three in sequence face up on the table to the right of his hand. This appropriating the discard serves as the player's draw and he must then discard and the play goes on in the usual manner.
For example: If one has a 5-6 ofcharacterand the player preceding him discards either a 4 or a 7 ofcharacter, he may "Chow" the tile, and discard; or ignore it and draw from the wall and discard, in hopes of building a better hand, as often will be found advisable.
The main point to be remembered in "Chowing" is that a player may "Chow"only in his regular turn, i.e., he may "Chow" only tiles discarded by the player to his left and thenonly when he has the other two tiles in his handto form the sequence. Sequences can only be built up in sets of three.
Illustration No. 11.Illustration No. 11.In this illustration the player having a 4 and 6 of character in his hand has "chowed" the 5 character which the player to his left discarded and after setting out his sequence, discards himself, leaving the usual 13 tiles in his hand.
Illustration No. 11.In this illustration the player having a 4 and 6 of character in his hand has "chowed" the 5 character which the player to his left discarded and after setting out his sequence, discards himself, leaving the usual 13 tiles in his hand.
In this illustration the player having a 4 and 6 of character in his hand has "chowed" the 5 character which the player to his left discarded and after setting out his sequence, discards himself, leaving the usual 13 tiles in his hand.
A player may also appropriate another player's discard to fill a set of three of a kind or four of a kind by announcing "Pung." In order to do this, the player must havea pair, orthree of a kind in his handto match with the discard, thus completing three or four of a kind, which he places, as in the case of a "Chow," to the right of his hand, face up on the table. For example: A player having a pair or three fives of the character suit, maypungwhen another player discards a five character, expose his set and discard, the play going on in the regular direction from him.
It is not necessary for it to be the player's turn to draw in order to "Pung" as it is in the case of a "Chow." A player having a pair similar to a tile discarded, may announce "Pung" and appropriate the tile,regardless of who discarded it and of whose turn it is to draw. Also after a player "Pungs" and discards, the play goes on from him to the right. It can be seen that due topungingone or even two players are liable to lose their turn.
Illustration No. 12.Illustration No. 12.In this illustration,Eastplayed in regular turn andSouthdrew the 9character, which, having no use for, he discarded.Easthaving a pair of ninescharacterin his hand "Punged," completing the set and causingWestandNorth Windsto lose their turns.Eastthen exposed his set of nines next to the sequence of three he had previouslychowedand exposed, discarded and play went on in the usual routine,Northdrawing and discarding.
Illustration No. 12.In this illustration,Eastplayed in regular turn andSouthdrew the 9character, which, having no use for, he discarded.Easthaving a pair of ninescharacterin his hand "Punged," completing the set and causingWestandNorth Windsto lose their turns.Eastthen exposed his set of nines next to the sequence of three he had previouslychowedand exposed, discarded and play went on in the usual routine,Northdrawing and discarding.
In this illustration,Eastplayed in regular turn andSouthdrew the 9character, which, having no use for, he discarded.Easthaving a pair of ninescharacterin his hand "Punged," completing the set and causingWestandNorth Windsto lose their turns.Eastthen exposed his set of nines next to the sequence of three he had previouslychowedand exposed, discarded and play went on in the usual routine,Northdrawing and discarding.
There are a few rules applying to the "Chow" and "Pung." They are as follows:
1. All tiles must be "punged" or "chowed"as they are discarded; for a tile discarded by a player and allowed to remain in discard until the next player discards, becomes "dead" andcannot betouched during the rest of the game.
2. It has been stated that one cannot "pung" unless it makes up three or four of a kind. This is true with one exception. In the case: when a tile will complete a player's hand allowing him to "Mah-Jongg," the tile may be punged. Example: A player with four sets and an odd tile maypunga tile which matches his odd one. The rule is that "a player may at any time 'Pung' a discard which will complete his hand and allow him to Mah-Jongg."
3. The denomination and suit of each tile must be announced as it is discarded, a player discarding a 3 ofcharacter, announcing3 character, to prevent confusion of a player who may be studying his hand. This is more of a courtesy of the game, than a rule.
4. A "Pung" has precedence over a "Chow" and if one player can pung the same discard that another player can chow, the former has the right to appropriate the tile.
5. If a player can pung a discard which will complete hishandand another player can pung the same discard to complete aset, the former has the right to take the discard.
6. If two players pung the same tile to complete their hands, the precedence is given to the player claiming the tile nearest to the discarder in a counter-clockwise direction around the table.
Before speaking of "four of a kind," it is better to give the reason for exposing a set made up of a pair and a punged discard, and make clear at the same time, what is to be done when three of a kind are completed by draw.
A set made up of a pair and a punged discard must be "exposed" by setting it out face up, on the table to the right of the players' tiles, first, to show to the other players that he had the required pair, which gave him the right to appropriate the discard, and secondly, to separate the set from those completed entirely by draw from the wall. Sets completed by help of an appropriated (punged) discard, have only one-half the scoring value of exactly the same sets, completed by draw from the wall and kept in the hand.
Thus there are many advantages in drawing the third tile to complete a set of three of a kind when compared to "punging" the same, for in the former case, the set has twice as much scoring value, they are kept concealed in the hand and the opponents can only guess as to how nearly complete a concealed hand may be. A concealed set is counted as one of the four sets required to win, just as an exposed set would be, and a player having a set of three of a kind concealed has very good chances of filling it and thus forming four of a kind which counts a great deal higher.
A player may complete a set of four of a kind either by draw from the wall or "punging" an opponent's discard, if he has three of a kindalready in his hand. Ineithercase he must place the completed set on the table to the right of his tiles; all four face up if he "punged" the fourth, the two end tiles face down if he has "drawn" the fourth.
The player must immediately draw a "loose tile" (one of the two tiles on top of, and marking the end of the wall). Usually the one farthest from the end is taken, the one on the end moved up, and replaced by a tile from the end of the wall itself.
The "loose tile" was drawn because every time a player completes a set of four of a kind, he causes the rest of his hand to be one tile short. This must be made up every time four of a kind is filled by an extra tile drawn from the "loose" tiles.
Illustration No. 13.Illustration No. 13.In this illustration the player had three one dots in his hand when one of the opponents discarded the fourth one dot. This player "punged" it, matched the four of a kind, exposed them, drew a "loose tile" and discarded.
Illustration No. 13.In this illustration the player had three one dots in his hand when one of the opponents discarded the fourth one dot. This player "punged" it, matched the four of a kind, exposed them, drew a "loose tile" and discarded.
In this illustration the player had three one dots in his hand when one of the opponents discarded the fourth one dot. This player "punged" it, matched the four of a kind, exposed them, drew a "loose tile" and discarded.
Illustration No. 14.Illustration No. 14.In this illustration the player had three one dots in his hand anddrewthe fourth in his regular turn to draw. This set counts in scoring as much as it would in his hand but must be exposed in order to draw the "loose tile." Therefore the end tiles are turned down to show that in counting the score that the set is counted as if it were held in the hand.
Illustration No. 14.In this illustration the player had three one dots in his hand anddrewthe fourth in his regular turn to draw. This set counts in scoring as much as it would in his hand but must be exposed in order to draw the "loose tile." Therefore the end tiles are turned down to show that in counting the score that the set is counted as if it were held in the hand.
In this illustration the player had three one dots in his hand anddrewthe fourth in his regular turn to draw. This set counts in scoring as much as it would in his hand but must be exposed in order to draw the "loose tile." Therefore the end tiles are turned down to show that in counting the score that the set is counted as if it were held in the hand.
Illustration No. 15.Illustration No. 15.In this illustration the player has one set of 3 one dots punged and completed, and is now trying to match up the rest of his hand. If another player discards a one dot he cannot touch it and must let it go by. However, if he draws the fourth one dot himself, he may add it on to his set of 3, draw a loose tile and discard as usual. As can be seen from the last three illustrations, the rule in the case of four of a kind is as follows:
Illustration No. 15.In this illustration the player has one set of 3 one dots punged and completed, and is now trying to match up the rest of his hand. If another player discards a one dot he cannot touch it and must let it go by. However, if he draws the fourth one dot himself, he may add it on to his set of 3, draw a loose tile and discard as usual. As can be seen from the last three illustrations, the rule in the case of four of a kind is as follows:
In this illustration the player has one set of 3 one dots punged and completed, and is now trying to match up the rest of his hand. If another player discards a one dot he cannot touch it and must let it go by. However, if he draws the fourth one dot himself, he may add it on to his set of 3, draw a loose tile and discard as usual. As can be seen from the last three illustrations, the rule in the case of four of a kind is as follows:
In any set which a player may have exposed on the table there must not be more than(1)punged tile.
A player having three of a kind in his hand maypungthe fourth when it is discarded or having three of a kind on the table and drawing the fourth may add it to his 3 exposed tiles. The rule, however, bars him from appropriating some one else's discard to make a fourth for an exposed set of three of a kind because in order to appropriate this discard he would have to pung it. This he has not the privilege of doing, because he already must have one "punged" tile in his exposed set or it wouldn't be exposed.
As has been mentioned before when a player has matched his hand into four (4) sets and by a draw or a pung has mated the final pair he wins and announces "Mah-Jongg" or "Mah-Diao" (Dee-O), either being correct and in common usage, the latter being the most logical because of its English translation "mating the pair." A player must at all times during the game have thirteen (13) tiles, his draw every round momentarily giving him fourteen (14), his discard leaving him the thirteen (13). Then for every four of a kind that he fills he should have an extra tile in his hand on account of the extra loose tile draw.
Thus one is able at any time during the game to check his hand and ascertain whether or not he has the correct number of tiles in it. If he has not sets of four of a kind he should have thirteen tiles in his hand. If hehasone set of four of a kind he should have fourteen tiles in his hand, two sets of four of kind 15 tiles, and so on.
If, at any time during the game, a player has an incorrect number of tiles in his hand, it becomes "dead." He must continue drawing and discarding, but when the scores are settled his score does not count and therefore he must pay all players. His only chance lies in endeavoring to prevent the other players from completing their hands, by holding the tiles which he believes they need and thus causing a draw game.
When the first player to complete his hand calls "Mah-Jongg" the game is ended, and all players expose their hands and count up their scores. The winner of the game collects full value of his score from each of the other players and throwing his hand into the discard is thru for that game.
The remaining three players then settle among themselves thedifferenceof their scores, the high hand of the three collecting the difference between his score and each of the remaining two players. Then throwing his hand into the discard, leaves the remaining two to settle their scores, the highest hand of which collects the difference.
It must be remembered here that East Wind (or banker) pays or collects double, if he loses or wins.
Scores are most conveniently settled by the use of the counters which are furnished with the sets. These are spotted to denote different denominations and at the end of every hand the actual scores or differences in scores are settled between players by the exchange of these counters. There are several styles of counter sets. The one in most common usage contains counters valued as follows:
In a game of this nature where every hand is different from the preceding one and so much depends on the draw, it is very hard to lay down any specific rules of how it should be played. There are, however, a few points which would help if kept in mind during the play. A player should study his original hand and after the first few draws and discards form a general plan of what he is going to try and fill in his hand and decide on how high a score he will have a good chance of making. This will be decided by:
1. The condition of his own hand.
2. The discards of the other three players.
If he has an exceptionally strong hand in any one suit he will play for that suit regardless of the other players. If he has a well-divided hand, by watching the other players' discards, he will be able to form a fairly good opinion of what they are doing with their hand.
After judging his hand, visualizing the sort of hand that he is to try to fill, he should use his own judgment in drawing and discarding, constantly watching his own hand for opportunities and his opponents' discards for disclosures, and upon the slightest suspicion that one of these opponents is nearing the completion of his hand, should immediately forego any thoughts of a higher hand himself and seek to complete his own hand as quickly as possible.
Summing this up; a player should plan and play to win at all times with as high a hand as possible, then as the wall grows shorter and the probability of one of the opponents completing his hand grows larger, the player should reconsider, and
1. If he has at that stage an exceptionally good hand which will win back for him from the other two players that which he loses to the winner, should go on improving his hand and take the chance of another player winning.
2. If he has just an ordinarily good hand he should stop playing to improve his hand and start to complete it as quickly as possible, i.e., form sequences and mix suits, in order to win before the other players and save himself.
3. If his hand has not improved at all or very little since the beginning of the game and he has small chance of completing his hand in any way before some other player does, his only plan is to hold the tiles which he thinks would help the other players and discard only those which he is sure they will not pung. These tiles can be ascertained by carefully searching the discards in the center of the table and the sets already exposed by the other players. By playing this way he may be able to cause the game to be a draw.
There are a few other points which are taken up in the last four layouts in Part I.
TheMandarins, also calledFlowersandSeasons, are eight in number, two for each of the four winds. They may be eliminated from the set and are not usually used in the play, as they add a large element of chance into the game.
If they are used, each side of the wall is increased by two tiles, making each side a double tiered row of 18 tiles side by side.
Then, if a player draws one of his ownwind mandarins, he exposes it on the table and draws a "loose tile," themandarinof his own wind permitting him to double his score once. If then he draws the othermandarinof his own wind he repeats the above process and may double his total score again. Where "SeasonsandFlowers" are used instead ofmandarinsthe numbers on them, 1, 2, 3 and 4, representEast, South, West and North windsrespectively. The red numbers are the "Seasons" and the green numbers are the "Flowers." They are used exactly as are themandarins, i.e., One's own "Season" will double the value of his hand, aswillhis own "Flower." Both of them will double the value twice.
It will be seen at a glance that the scoring values are divided into three parts. First, the bonus scores which only the winner can use; secondly, the combination scores which all four players can use; finally the doubling honors which all four players may use, so it is that in settling the scores the winner starts at the top with twenty (20) points for "Mah-Jongg" or for winning and goes down the list scoring ten points, if he has no sequence in his hand and so on thru the bonus scores, adding to these whatever scores he obtains from combinations in his hand or on the table and doubling the sum as many times as he has doubling honors.
In the bonus scores for the winning hand only there are six items:
1. "Mah-Jongg" which gives 20 points for winning the hand.
2.No sequence in hand or on table.This is a bonus of 10 points given to a player if he wins without use of sequences.
3.Drawing the winning piece.This is a bonus of 2 points given to the winning player if hedrawsthe tile which completes his hand from the wall. Of coursepungingthe winning tile will forfeit this bonus.
4.Filling the only place to win.This is a bonus of 2 points given to a player who fills the only possible place to win, i.e., winning by matching the pair or drawing the middle tile of a sequence.
5.Winning on a draw from a loose tile.This of course is a bonus of ten points given to the winning player if any of his loose tile draws have been fortunate enough to complete his hand.
6.No other score than "Mah-Jongg" in hand or on table.This is a bonus of ten points given to the winning player having only 20 points for "Mah-Jongg" as his score, and is a hand made up of four sequences and a pair in which there is no score, a sequence having no scoring value whatsoever. Of course even drawing the winning piece will forfeit this bonus as can easily be seen.
In the combination scores exposed sets are those on the table; face up to the right of the player, concealed sets are those which are in his hand at the time of winning. As will be seen by the score card, concealed sets having been made up by the player without the assistance of a pung or chow score twice as much as the same set would if it were on the table. This together with the fact that sets of ones, nines, winds or dragons score twice as much as sets of twos, threes, fours, fives, sixes, sevens and eights should be helpful in memorizing the score which is essential to the careful playing of each hand.
As for the doubling honors, each set or combination doubles the total score once, and if there are fivedoubling honorsin a hand, the total score should be doubled five times—for example: a player goesMah-JonggorMah-Diaohaving 32 points in bonus scores, 18 in combination scores, making his total score 50. Then if he has fivedoubling honorshis final score is 1,600 points, i.e., 50-100-200-400-800-1,600.
Example No. 1Example No. 1.
In this hand the player punged the 2 dot which completed his hand, 20 forMah-Jonggas the only bonus score he has because: 1. He has sequences. 2. He did not draw the winning piece. 3. He did not fill the only place to win. 4. He has other score thanMah-Jongg. 5. He did not win on a loose tile draw. In combination value, he has only two points for the set of three 2 dots, the sets of sequences helping complete the hand, but scoring nothing. There are no doubling honors in the hand so the final score is 22. This is the lowest winning hand that can be scored.
Example No. 2Example No. 2
Winner chowed the 1 character to complete hand. Score is
Example No. 3Example No. 3
Example No. 4Example No. 4
Example No. 5Example No. 5
Example No. 6Example No. 6
Example No. 7Example No. 7
If this hand is held by the East Wind he may double again for having a set of his own wind, making his score 11,520, and being East Wind, he collects double from each player when he wins, making his total 23,040 from each of the other three players or 69,120 in all.
Example No. 8Example No. 8
If player is East Wind, he collects double, or 368 from each player. If any other wind, he collects 368 from East Wind and 184 from the other two players.
Example No. 9Example No. 9
Note: In this hand the player did not even fill the only place to win as a 6 character would have won also.
If player is East Wind, he collects 480 from each of the other three players. If any other wind, he collects 480 from East Wind and 240 from the other two players.
Example No. 10Example No. 10
Example No. 11Example No. 11
This illustration assumes player to be North Wind. This player collects double, or 960, from East Wind and 480 each from South and West Winds.
Example No. 12Example No. 12
Note: Two points for pair of red dragons. Dragons and own wind are only pairs that score, and they are limited to two points.
Example No. 13Example No. 13
PLAYER IS EAST WIND
Example No. 14Example No. 14
PLAYER IS WEST WIND
Collects 2688 from East Wind and 1344 apiece from North and South Winds.
PLAYER IS EAST WIND
Example No. 15Example No. 15
PLAYER IS EAST WIND
Example No. 16Example No. 16
PLAYER IS SOUTH WIND
Example No. 17Example No. 17
Collects double, or 280, from East wind; 140 from North and South respectively.
PLAYER IS NORTH WIND
Example No. 18Example No. 18
Collects double, or 472, from East wind: 236 from West and South winds respectively.
Example No. 19Example No. 19
PLAYER IS WEST WIND
Collects 512 from East wind, 256 from North and South, respectively.
PLAYER IS EAST WIND
Example No. 20Example No. 20
East wind collects this amount from each of the other three players, making a total of 132,096 points that East may win in one hand. This is the highest hand which is probable. There is a hand composed of sets of 3 of a kind, similar to this, which, if drawn on the original draw, will yield more points than this, but it is highly improbable that the hand will ever actually be drawn by any given player.