The Great Mahjong Book : History, Lore, and Play

The First Time 9 Introduction: Game of One Hundred Wonders 11 Chapter 1: Unpacking Your Mahjong Set 13 Tiles 14 Dice 18 Counting Sticks 18 Mahjong Racks 21 Ming Box 22 Buying a Mahjong Set 23 Chapter 2: The Basic Rules of Mahjong 29 Winds 29 Sticks 30 Seating Arrangements 30 Building the Wall 31 Distinguishing East 32 Breaking the Wall 32 Dealing the Tiles 33 Goal of the Game 34 Standard Sets for Hands 34 Drawing and Discarding Tiles 37 Extra Tile 37 Waiting Hand 38 Priority 38 Draw 39 End of a Round 39 End of the Game 39 Limit 39 Special Hands 39 Playing with Bonus Tiles 40 Counting, Doubling, and Settling Scores 40 Chapter 3: Old China 51 Seating Arrangements 53 Scoring Sticks 55 Building the Wall 55 Breaking the Wall 55 Doubling Points 56 Limit 57 Special Hands 57 Chapter 4: America 63 All-American 64 Maj 83 Military Mahjong 93 Chapter 5: Japan 97 Traditional Mahjong 99 Riichi 109 Chapter 6: China Today, Including the Chinese Official International Rules, and Other Asian Variants 127 Hong Kong 129 Mahjong with Sixteen Tiles 145 Mahjong with Two Suits 148 Chinese Official International Rules 149 Chapter 7: Great Britain 159 The Court Mahjongs, Too 160 Mahjong Silk Stockings 160 Mahjong Holes 161 Playing Rules 161 Settling Points 164 Tournaments 167 Chapter 8: Holland 169 Playing Rules 174 Settling Points 175 Doubles for All Players 176 Doubles for the Winner 177 Special Hands 177 House Rules 180 Chapter 9: France 183 Playing Rules 184 Settling Points 186 Special Hands 186 Chapter 10: Germany 197 Playing Rules 198 Special Hands 201 Chapter 11: Italy 205 Playing Rules 205 Seating Arrangements 205 Bonus Tiles 205 Announcing a Waiting Hand 206 Counting 206 Doubles for All 206 Doubles for the Winner 206 Special Hands 207 Chapter 12: Never Say Never 209 Five Players 209 Three Players 211 Two Players 212 One Player 213 Killing Time 213 Cards 214 Appendix A: Quick Mahjong Reference 215 Appendix B: Handy Doubling Table for Basic Mahjong 216 Acknowledgments 217 Index 218