Chinese Mahjong
The original form of mahjong from China, with different rules, no jokers, and no NMJL card. Many regional variants exist.
Definition
Chinese Mahjong is the original form of the tile game, originating in China during the mid-to-late 19th century. Unlike American Mahjong, Chinese Mahjong does not use Joker tiles, does not have a Charleston, and does not follow the NMJL card. Instead, winning is based on traditional hand patterns (melds of pungs, kongs, chows, and a pair) with regional scoring variations. Many regional variants exist, including Cantonese, Sichuan, and Competition (MCR) styles.
How It Works in Gameplay
Players draw and discard tiles similarly to American Mahjong, but the rules for winning differ. Chows (runs of three consecutive tiles in the same suit) are allowed — a feature absent in American Mahjong. There are no Jokers, so every group must be composed of natural tiles. Scoring systems vary widely by region: some use a fan-based system where specific patterns add multipliers, while others assign fixed values to certain hand types. Games are typically played over multiple rounds (an "East" round or a full wind rotation).
Example
In a Cantonese-style game, you form a hand with a chow of 2-3-4 Bamboo, a pung of East Wind, a kong of 8 Circles, a chow of 5-6-7 Characters, and a pair of Red Dragons. This combination of melds and a pair is a valid winning hand — no card required.
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