Comparison: mahjong & other table games

 Do you play poker? Do you play chess? There are many table games in world. What games play on table, for example Poker, chess and mahjong, are called a table game. These games have some common feature in their rules or game style. I will compare to mahjong with other popular table games. It is useful for you to understand a mahjong’s interest.

 Table games are divided two areas; one area is luck game, another is strategy game. Both of game styles are popular among table game players. Some people love luck games (monopoly, old maid, etc). Other people love strategy games (chess, checkers, etc).

 Luck games have few strategic factors. Players can win by their luck. Luck games don’t need players to use their head, so beginners or children can joy games. Rock-paper-scissors is also luck game. This game can play among adults and children. But, luck games have usually little strategic factors. For example, on the Rock-paper-scissors, someone say “My brother always shoots a rock, so I’ll shoot a paper. Tee hee hee!” This is strategy.

 Strategy games have “no” luck factors. Two or more players have same equal terms and choices. On chess, two players have same sixteen pieces. Both players move a piece on his turn, and his turn changes every a turn. It has no random factors. Strategy games have good points and bad points. Strategy games players can develop his playing skill by learn strategy. Nobody can win old maid safely, as a result of it is a luck game. There isn’t a method to win on old maid. But, chess isn’t same. We can learn a method to win on chess. We can get a winning method on some books or the Internet.

 Is mahjong strategic or luckily? Mahjong players are troubled long time by this question, as mahjong has an aspect of strategy game and luck game.

 Mahjong has a luckily factor. In mahjong, a player hand is composed by thirteen tiles. Coming a player’s turn, a player draws a tile from center of a table, and put it in player’s hand. Next, a player has to trash one of the fourteen tiles to center of a table. Until a player draws a tile, he can’t see what the tile is. Only trashed tiles are turned up, but other tiles are turned down or not exposed by other players. We have to draw unexposed tiles every our turn. It’s very random!

 Then, is mahjong luck game? When mahjong players are asked such a thing, they will make them face red and say “NO!!! ”. Mahjong is very strategic game. Mahjong players must make player’s hands and take points from other players efficiently. Strategy is very needed to win a game. I’m going to write about this strategy after some weeks. Anyway, strategy is very important.

 So, is mahjong strategy game? When mahjong players are asked such a thing, they will make them face red and say “NO!!! NEVER!!! ”. If player draws bad tiles while the game, the player will lose. He might be very smart and strategic, but lack for luck. In other words, mahjong is strategy luck game.