Mahjong For Dummies?

I really need a dumb down version on how to play. I follow the hints given and still am not grasping what I am trying to do. I talked to the tutor but can’t follow what it’s trying to tell me. The matches seem to go on forever for reasons I don’t understand. Anyone able to explain it in simple terms? Thank you ~ K

I'm in the same boat.

I used to play at home and its slightly different, I guess different regions have different rules but I know how to play this version now so I guess I will try to explain it. It can be a bit overwhelming for new players, in real life too.

So, just like cards you have suits but in this there are 3 instead of 4. These are Character, Dot, and Bamboo. There are also special tiles.
I will abbreviate the suits to C, D, and B.

To get a winning hand you must make 4 sets and a pair.
A set consists of 3 tiles for example:

4C 5C 6C (4 Character, 5 Character, 6 Character)
This is a sequential set.

2B 2B 2B (2 Bamboo, 2 Bamboo, 2 Bamboo)
This is a triplet set.

The honor tiles are North, South, East, West, White, Green, and Red.

To win you need to make 4 sets + a pair but you need to follow some rules on what your final hand can consist of, these are called Yaku:
Tanyao; only number tiles (2B 3B 4B | 5D 6D 7D | 4C 4C 4C | 6C 7C 8C | Any NON Honor pair) * 1 and 9 tiles cannot be used I believe.
All Pon; All must be triplet sets (1B 1B 1B | 5C 5C 5C | 8D 8D 8D | 9D 9D 9D | Any Pair)
Pure Straight; 1 to 9 All the same suit (1D 2D 3D | 4D 5D 6D | 7D 8D 9D | Any other set | Any Pair )
Mixed Triple Chi; 3 of the same sequential sets but in different suits (4C 5C 6C | 4D 5D 6D | 4B 5B 6B | Any other set | Any pair)
Half Flush; Using one suit and using honor tiles (2B 2B 2B | 6B 7B 8B | 9B 9B 9B | Honor Set | Honor Pair) *Im not sure if the Honor set can swapped out for another suit set or if the Honor pair can be swapped out for a suit pair
Full Flush; Only using the same suit sets AND the pair must be the same suit too (2B 2B 2B | 5B 6B 7B | 9B 9B 9B | 3B 4B 5B | 1B 1B)
There are A LOT of other Yaku, like ones that don't even follow the 4 set + 2 pair rule. Like having 7 pairs, or even by only throwing out only honor, 1, and 9 tiles til the draw pile is empty.

Main ways of grabbing other people's tiles:
Pon: This is used to make a triplet set, this can be called any time to complete a same set.
Chi: This is used to make a sequential set, this can ONLY be taken from the player before you.

Any time you take a tile from another player you must show everyone and that set is LOCKED IN, it cannot be undone, you can limit yourself to what you can do at times, even make unwinnable hands.

Those are just the basic rules. Once you get your head around this then you will start to form strategies.

I went to the Saucer last night, and granted it was late, I was tired and maybe a little groggy.
But where IS the Mahjong npc/table/whatever to get started?

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TattersailNightwish

I went to the Saucer last night, and granted it was late, I was tired and maybe a little groggy.
But where IS the Mahjong npc/table/whatever to get started?

Thanks!

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You need to do a "quest" first. Go to the room with the main counter where you can claim the prizes, there should be a woman sitting at a table with a quest-marker in the back of the room (should be shown on your map. It's 4.8/something). She will send you to another woman, she's in the manderville lounge. There are also the playing tables (after you have talked to her).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pepsi_Plunge

You need to do a "quest" first. Go to the room with the main counter where you can claim the prizes, there should be a woman sitting at a table with a quest-marker in the back of the room (should be shown on your map. It's 4.8/something). She will send you to another woman, she's in the manderville lounge. There are also the playing tables (after you have talked to her).

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I found her, and unlocked the game.
Thanks so much!