Mahjong Tiles - All to Know
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How Many Tiles Come in a Mahjong Set?
Before you dive into your next Mahjong session at your favourite online casinos, sasa, you need to know how many tiles you’re working with. In Kenya, most sets come with 144 tiles, but you’ll also find 136-tile packs if the flower and joker tiles are left out. Some players keep a few blank spares to replace any broken or lost tiles—just in case your game shwari misplaces one.
The Six Types of Mahjong Tiles You’ll Encounter
Understanding these categories will help level up your Mahjong game. From number tiles to jokers, here’s the lowdown on every tile you’ll see when playing Mahjong games.
Numbered (Suited) Tiles
Also called “suited tiles,” these are your 1–9 ranks across three suits: Circles, Bamboo, and Characters. Each rank-suit combo has four identical tiles, for a total of 108 in a full 144-tile set. These are the bread-and-butter tiles for building runs and sets.
- Circles: Symbols look like copper coins (Cash).
- Bamboo: Sticks outline the bamboo suit—except the 1 Bamboo, which often features a bird (sometimes called the sparrow or peacock).
- Characters: Show traditional Chinese characters signifying the numbers.
Red Tiles (Japan’s Wildcards)
In Japanese Mahjong, you’ll spot red versions of some suited tiles—usually the 5s, and occasionally 1s, 3s, 7s, and 9s. They don’t have four copies; instead, they swap in for one of their standard-colour twins and boost your score if you use them. If you’re playing regulated Mahjong online in Kenya (18+ only, per BCLB rules), you can voluntarily drop flower tiles to make room for reds.
Honor Tiles
No ranks here—they’re all about winds and dragons. Honor tiles can only form sets (melds), not runs.
Winds
There are four: East, South, West, North. In some games, who draws the East wind starts the round—so getting your seat right matters.
Dragons
Three dragons land in your set:
- Red Dragon (center character, sometimes marked “C” in English packs)
- Green Dragon (green character or “F” for “fa”)
- White Dragon (blank tile or blue border, nicknamed “tofu” in Japan)
Flower Tiles
Flower tiles aren’t used in melds. When you draw one, say “achana na mimi!” and set it aside, then draw again from the dead wall. They’re mainly for bonus points or quick wins in some variations. Sets usually include two quartets, each numbered 1–4.
- If the flower number matches your seat (1 = East, 2 = South, 3 = West, 4 = North), your score doubles.
- Collect all four of a bouquet to snag extra points—or even an instant win in certain house rules.
Animal Tiles
Less common but a fun twist—animal pairs that tie to classic Chinese tales. Singaporean sets have two pairs; Thai and Malaysian four-player packs have four pairs. Collecting both tiles in a pair pays out immediately. Look out for combos like:
- Cat & Mouse
- Rooster & Centipede
- Caishen & Sycee
- Jiang Ziya & Fish
- Liu Haichan & Jin Chan
- Dragon & Flaming Pearl
Joker Tiles
Jokers are wild, but their rules depend on where you play. Shanghainese Mahjong might give you four; American Mahjong often eight. Jokers can imitate suited or honor tiles—sometimes even restricted to specific ranks:
- Universal joker (any tile)
- Suit joker (only circles, bamboo, or characters)
- Dragon or wind joker
- Flower joker
- Terminal joker (only 1s & 9s)
- 147 joker (only 1, 4, 7)
- 258 joker (only 2, 5, 8)
- 369 joker (only 3, 6, 9)
Getting Set to Play
Learning all this can feel like a lot, mambo, but you’ll pick it up once you jump into a game. Make sure you’re 18+ (as per Kenya’s BCLB regulations), choose a trusted casino that accepts M-Pesa or Airtel Money for deposits, and you’re good to go. Dive into your first round of Mahjong, test your new tile knowledge, and soon you’ll be matching tiles like a pro.
18+ | Play responsibly – begambleaware.org
FAQ
How many tiles are there in a Mahjong set for the Kenyan game?
A standard Mahjong set has 144 tiles. This includes 36 tiles each for the Circle, Bamboo, and Character suits. You'll also find 16 Wind tiles, 12 Dragon tiles, and 8 bonus tiles (4 Flower and 4 Season tiles). Get ready to play!
What's the easiest way to play Mahjong?
The goal in Mahjong is to create winning hands by forming sets and pairs. A pair is simply two identical tiles. A set can be three or four of the same tiles, or a sequence of three consecutive tiles in the same suit (like 1, 2, and 3 of Bamboo). To win, you need four sets and one pair. It's easier than you think to get started!
How many Mahjong tiles does each player start with in a game?
At the beginning of a Mahjong game, all tiles are placed face down. The dealer gets 14 tiles, while the other players receive 13 tiles each.
What does the Soap tile mean in Mahjong?
The "Soap" tile, also known as the White Dragon, is a special tile that can be used as a "zero" when forming certain hands. It's a key tile to understand for more advanced strategies.
What is "Chi" in Mahjong and how do I use it?
"Chi" is a call you can make when the player to your left discards a tile that completes a sequence with two tiles already in your hand. It's the opening move in many Mahjong games, so pay attention!
How do you play Mahjong step by step in Kenya?
First, learn the tiles and their values. Then, understand the different winning hands. Practice forming sets and pairs. Finally, play online for free to master the strategies before betting real money on trusted online casinos in Kenya.
What are the basic rules to play Mahjong online?
The rules are simple: draw and discard tiles, aiming to create four sets and a pair. Understand the "Chi," "Pong," and "Kong" calls to claim discarded tiles. Remember to always check the specific rules of the online casino you're playing at in Kenya.
What is the main goal of Mahjong?
The main goal of Mahjong is to be the first player to create a winning hand consisting of four sets (either three or four of a kind, or a sequence) and one pair (two of a kind).
Is Mahjong easy to learn for Kenyans?
Yes, Mahjong is easy to learn, but tricky to master! Start with the basics of tile recognition and hand formation. With practice, you'll quickly grasp the strategies and nuances of the game, especially when playing online.
