Mahjong FAQ · Learn at the table
A practical answer from Omaha Mahjong Club’s Chinese Mahjong learning library.
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Chinese Mahjong
Going mahjong means declaring a winning hand. When a player draws or claims a tile that completes their hand and meets the minimum fan requirement, they announce "mahjong" (or "hu" in Mandarin) to signal their win. The hand is then laid face-up on the table for all players to verify the fan count and calculate payments. Declaring a false win carries penalties, so players must be certain before announcing.
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Mahjong FAQ
Good Mahjong deserves good refreshments. Every class includes access to our self-serve station: - Chinese tea - Light snacks, such as pretzels and candy - Bringing your own snacks and beverages (of any kind) are welcomed
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At the start of a game, seats are typically assigned randomly by rolling dice or drawing tiles. Each seat corresponds to a wind: East, South, West, and North, which determines each player's seat wind tile bonus for that round. East seat is the dealer for the first hand. After each hand, seats and wind assignments rotate, though the exact rotation method varies by ruleset. The game typically consists of at least one full East round and one South round.
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