Mahjong is said to be one of the most addictive games out there. Mahjong combines strategy with luck, and many manga comics feature this game as well as software companies catering to the craze with online casino mahjong games.
The game has been played in Japan for over 100 years. Sadly, the game had been steadily losing steam over the years as people lost interest in it. However, recently things took a turn for the best in 2019, and mahjong parlors began mushrooming across Japan.
History Behind Mahjong
The first mention of “mahjong” occurred around 1670 by British traveler John Middleton who observed the Japanese playing an old Chinese gambling game. In 1881, a German missionary studying the game in Tokyo called it “Mai-kuhng.”
In 1892, a Japanese manga artist named Shouhei Ozawa wrote” Tetsuko-chan’s Mahjong School.” This led to the increased popularity of mahjong in Japan. In 1900, Shanghai businessman Eiichi Otake opened his first parlor outside China at Harajuku. It was known as “Otake’s International Club.”
Mahjong remains one of Japan’s most popular past times, and mahjong games in online casinos are still thriving, with more people playing now than ever before. Lately more and more players have been looking for amex casinos to play in Japan, and casino brands that provide mahjong games add this payment method to their lists.
Few games may be as addictive as mahjong, whose players range from university students to salarymen and tend to go at it all night, often for money. Part of Mah Jog’s popularity is due to it somewhat being like a bridge – it combines strategy and luck.
How is mahjong played?
The game is played with 136 tiles, usually made of bone or ivory, and features four flower symbols. The tiles also have numbers from one to nine (except for the two “0” s).
To play online mahjong, players must collect matching sets of these tiles by drawing them randomly in a process known as “drawing.”
If a player cannot find any more matches, they can use an optional rule that allows them to draw three additional pairs if they had less than five pairs before the draw-three phase started. Whoever completes all their hands first wins.
What makes the game so addictive?
As earlier stated, the game combines both strategy and luck; hence, it can be addictive. Players with good memories can use their knowledge about the tiles that have currently been played to create more powerful hands. This increases the emotional thrill when they finally win.
Mahjong game strategies
Mahjong is a game of chance, but there are specific strategies players can use to increase their chances. When playing mahjong online, the first thing you should do is decide what type of hand you want and make sure that your tiles match the requirements.
It is recommended that players study the tiles that have currently been played to create more powerful hands. This increases the emotional thrill when you finally win.
Rules and regulations
Like any game, mahjong has its own set of rules and regulations. There are over 80 rules to the game. This includes:
- All four corner cards can be placed without a pair. Otherwise known as “pung” or “chow.”
- When only three tiles are left, they must all be drawn from the wall.
- There is not a limit to how many chows can be played or discarded.
- A player can draw up to four tiles at once and place them in their hand. But if they have less than two choices remaining after drawing, they may discard any number of matching sets without placing them back on the table.
- When playing mahjong in online casinos, players should remember that there will always be other online players with better hands online, so it’s important to play aggressively.
- To win within mahjong rules, players must meld all their tiles by pairing them with identical items.
If you are looking for a game that will test your skills and provide an adrenaline rush, mahjong is a great option. You can play it on the computer, or with friends in person. The rules vary depending on which version of mahjong you decide to try – but no matter what type of mahjong you choose there is always plenty of fun to be had!