Having a good strategy will give you a major leg up in a game of mahjong, but nothing beats having luck on your side.
The tabletop game is rife with taboos, so here are some tips on how to best avoid them. You never know – they could change the outcome of your game completely.
1. Do not let anyone pat you on the back
Do not let anyone pat you on the back while playing, or place a hand on your shoulder.
Keep losing in mahjong? You need to learn some winning strategies
Keep losing in mahjong? You need to learn some winning strategies
For some, a single pat or tap can be a harbinger of bad luck, as it symbolises their luck getting patted away – so avoid sneaking up behind your opponents if you do not wish to offend them.
2. Never discard four West tiles consecutively
Another big mahjong no-no is for the players to discard consecutively all of the West tiles from the wind suit. This is particularly the case for the first, pace-setting round, because the Chinese word for west sounds similar to the word “death”, and because Buddhist beliefs hold that the heavenly realm of rebirth lies in the West.
In the context of mahjong, discarding all four West tiles in a row heralds the death of all four players – which does not sound like it is all fun and games.
3. Avoid discarding a one-dot tile after four discarded West tiles
If all four West tiles have been discarded in a row, the next player can do some damage control – or at least keep things from getting worse – by not discarding a one-dot tile.
The Chinese name for the one-dot tile sounds like the Chinese word for “altogether”, and throwing this tile in only reinforces the misfortune of four people dying.
How do you play mahjong, and win? Basic rules to get a game up and running
How do you play mahjong, and win? Basic rules to get a game up and running
4. No books (or backpacks) allowed
Do not read a book while playing mahjong.
Do not bring one into the vicinity of your game, even if it is hidden away.
In Cantonese and Mandarin, the word “book” is a homophone for “lose”, and is considered bad luck.
The same goes for backpacks, also known as “book bags” in Cantonese and Mandarin – or in this case, “losing bags” – unless, that is, you do not mind losing that other, more rewarding “bag”: victory.
And if you are on a losing streak …
Consider taking a quick toilet break and washing your hands – you could wash the misfortune away.
You could also, after every round, make everyone get up and change seats to ensure no one is stuck in the unlucky spot for the entire game.
Look out for our next mahjong story on February 8, about the different versions of the game.