Mahjong is a centuries-old Chinese tile-based game that is becoming increasingly popular in Gambia. The game pits players against each other to try to complete their hand before their opponents do, and the tiles can be arranged to form different patterns. Mahjong can also be played with special rules or regulations that add complexity and challenge.
In Gambia, the most common way to play Mahjong is with the Hong Kong variant, which is played with 145 tiles. Players draw and discard tiles to complete winning patterns, while at the same time trying to reduce their hand by discarding unwanted tiles, while also keeping in mind the other players’ hands. The player with the most points is declared the winner.
Another variation, known as Chinese Official or Old Hong Kong, can also be encountered in certain gambling halls. This version is based on International Mahjong rule sets, and the tiles are represented through a set of characters and symbols.
The basics remain the same, with the aim of the game being to complete a set of four sets of three and one pair of tiles. All of the tiles must be within the winning pattern and no other tiles outside of the pattern can be used to complete it. The first player to complete the pattern and declare “Mahjong” is the winner.
The game is played in rounds, and each round consists of four walls of tiles, with each wall consisting of 18 stacks of three tiles each. Players draw one tile from the wall each turn and then discard one. They then need to build correct sets and the round is won by the first player to complete a legal hand.
In addition to the two main variants of the game, which are Hong Kong and Chinese Official, Gambia also offers several other variations of Mahjong. Examples include Japanese Mahjong, Taiwanese Mahjong, Singapore Mahjong, as well as others.
The rules for each variant may differ slightly, however, a common format for all variants is a 16 wall game with players able to draw and discard a total of 13 tiles. Additionally, the number of strategies a player may employ can also vary by variant.
Mahjong has been popular in Gambia for centuries and continues to be an important part of the culture. The game has several popular variants such as Hong Kong and Chinese Official, as well as many other variants. The rules of the game remain the same, with the goal of completing a winning hand before the opponents and the first player to do so declared the winner. Mahjong remains a popular and entertaining activity enjoyed by people of all ages in Gambia.