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Beginner's Guides, Information, Tips & Tricks

How to set-up and deal a Mahjong Game

Please read some tips on how to set-up the mahjong tiles and deal a game including photos and short gif’s.

Step 1: Pick a dealer

The dealer (and the table position) is chosen by various means:

Each player throws a dice (or a pair of die) with the highest count taking the dealer position (East), second-highest taking south, third-highest taking west and last taking north. (A simpler version is that everyone takes a seat at the mahjong table. Everyone rolls a pair of dice and the highest becomes east, and people already sitting at the table get their relevant position.)

Or one player may place one tile of each wind face down and shuffle them. Each player randomly select one of these tiles and these tiles dictate their wind position. Each player sits down at their respective position (called the wind position) at the table in positions of an inverted compass: East is dealer, the right of the dealer is South, across is West, and the left is North.

The order of play is traditionally counter-clockwise.

Step 2: Setting up the wall

All 136 tiles (144 if playing with flowers and seasons) are mixed up and placed face down on the table. They will be shuffled randomly, like shuffling a deck of cards.

Animation of a player shuffling mahjong tiles face down on the table

Each players then selects 34 tiles each and arranges it in two tiles high, 17 tiles long. (Note: If you are playing with seasons and flowers, it will be 18 tiles long, therefore a player will take 36 tiles.)

Tiles shuffled face down in a pile beside a row of seventeen tiles being built into the wall

These 4 lines then get joined to make a square called the “wall”.

Completed mahjong wall built and ready at the start of a game

Step 3: Breaking the wall

The dealer (sitting in the east position) throws two dice and adds the two together. Count anti-clockwise counting from 1 (East) -> 2 (South) -> 3 (West) -> 4 (North) -> 5 (East) and so forth.

Diagram of the wall showing the East, South, West and North seats with numbered arrows and a dice roll of three plus five to mark where the wall is broken

The position that it stops (in this example, North), that player throws the two dice and adds the numbers together (in this example 6+5 = 11). Starting at the right hand end of their part of the wall. They count the thrown total along, and when it comes to the last two tiles, break the wall with a gap at this point by pushing the left hand tiles slightly further to the left to make a gap. This is where the tiles will be drawn from.

Breaking the wall: splitting the mahjong wall to begin dealing

Step 4: Dealing the tiles

The person who ‘broke’ the wall then starts dealing. Each player will get 13 tile, besides the ‘East’ player who will have 14, and need to discard a tile in the first play.

The order of the deal will be East (4 tiles), South (4 tiles), West (4 tiles), North (4 tiles), East (4 tiles), South (4 tiles), West (4 tiles), North (4 tiles), East (4 tiles), South (4 tiles), West (4 tiles), North (4 tiles), East (2 tiles), South (1 tile), West (1 tile) and North (1 tile).

There are two ways to deal the final tiles. The ‘jump’ and the ‘double’.

Animation of players building the mahjong wall before play begins
Animation of tiles being dealt two at a time in mahjong

Now that you have dealt the tiles, you are ready to begin the game!

Let’s play mahjong 🀄!

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Mahjong for Team Building: Using the Game to Foster Communication and Collaboration

In the realm of team building activities, Mahjong may not be the first game that comes to mind. However, this ancient Chinese game offers a unique and effective way to promote communication, collaboration, and teamwork among participants. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Mahjong can be used as a powerful tool for team building, bringing individuals together to develop essential skills and strengthen interpersonal relationships.

The Nature of Mahjong

Mahjong is a game of strategy, skill, and social interaction. Players must work together to achieve a common goal while navigating the complexities of the game board. Each player’s success is intertwined with that of their teammates, requiring effective communication and collaboration to achieve victory.

Key Principles of Mahjong Team Building

  1. Communication: Mahjong encourages players to communicate openly and effectively with their teammates. Discussing strategy, sharing information about tile draws, and coordinating moves are essential components of successful gameplay.
  2. Collaboration: Collaboration is at the heart of Mahjong. Players must work together to identify opportunities, plan their moves, and adapt to changing circumstances. By pooling their collective knowledge and resources, teams can overcome challenges and achieve their objectives.
  3. Problem-solving: Mahjong presents players with a series of challenges that require creative problem-solving skills. Teams must analyze the game board, anticipate their opponents’ moves, and devise strategies to achieve victory. This process fosters critical thinking and encourages participants to explore new approaches to problem-solving.
  4. Trust: Trust is an essential element of Mahjong team building. Players must trust their teammates to make sound decisions and support each other throughout the game. By building trust within the team, participants can collaborate more effectively and achieve greater success.

Benefits of Mahjong Team Building

  1. Improved Communication Skills: Mahjong encourages participants to communicate openly and effectively with their teammates, leading to improved communication skills both within the game and in real-life situations.
  2. Enhanced Collaboration: Mahjong fosters collaboration and teamwork, helping participants develop the skills needed to work effectively with others towards a common goal.
  3. Strengthened Relationships: Mahjong provides a fun and engaging way for participants to bond with their teammates, leading to stronger interpersonal relationships and a sense of camaraderie.
  4. Boosted Morale: Engaging in Mahjong team building activities can boost morale and create a positive work environment, leading to increased motivation and productivity among participants.

Mahjong offers a unique and effective way to promote communication, collaboration, and teamwork among participants. By incorporating Mahjong into team building activities, organizations can help their employees develop essential skills, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and foster a culture of collaboration and mutual support. As teams come together to play Mahjong, they not only have fun but also build the foundation for long-term success and growth.

Let’s play mahjong 🀄!

Hosting a Mahjong night? We offer complete Mahjong set rentals and stylish accessories – delivered ready to play.

Wanting Mahjong Merchandise? We offer unique and personalised offerings.

Hosting soon? Rent a complete mahjong setup delivered across Sydney, or browse our original mahjong merchandise.

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