Chapter 2 of 12
All 21 steps of this chapter, written out on one page. The pictures and activities aren’t included: to see them, open a step in the lesson.
You’ve met the equipment. Next, let’s learn to recognize the tiles you’ll hold, sort and name when you play.
We’ll take one family at a time and look closely at its pictures. Then you’ll practice telling the tiles apart. Each activity can be done again.
Your goal
Learn to recognize and name the numbered tiles, Dragons, Winds, Flowers and Jokers.
What you’ll need
The Chapter 1 introduction. A real set is optional.
The game is played with 152 playing tiles: 108 suit tiles (Bams, Craks and Dots, numbers 1 to 9, 4 of each), 12 Dragons, 16 Winds, 8 Flowers and 8 Jokers. Step 16 adds them up with you.
Your box may also hold blank replacement tiles or extra Jokers. These extras stay out of the playing set.
If you’re sorting a real set, check its tile guide for any piece you don’t recognize before you set any pieces aside. Our White Dragon has a frame; the artwork can look different in other sets.
Use Next to start. To look at something again, use Back or Chapter contents at any time.
A suit is a family of numbered tiles that all share the same kind of design.
There are 3 suits: Bams (bamboo), Craks (characters) and Dots (circles). In each suit, the numbers go from 1 to 9.
5 Bam
5 Crak
5 Dot
Each of these shows the number 5, but they are 3 different tiles. Say the number and the suit together: “5 Bam,” “5 Crak,” “5 Dot.”
Check the design to find the suit, then read or count the number. Next, we’ll look closely at each suit.
Bam is short for bamboo. Tiles 2–9 show as many bamboo stalks as their number. Count all the stalks, even if some are a different color.
1 Bam
2 Bam
3 Bam
4 Bam
5 Bam
6 Bam
7 Bam
8 Bam
9 Bam
On our 1 Bam, a bird takes the place of one stalk. Keep it with the bamboo tiles; it is not a Flower.
There are four copies of each number: four 1 Bams, four 2 Bams and so on up to 9.
9 numbers × 4 copies = 36 Bam tiles.
Craks are said like “cracks” and are also called Characters. On each tile, a large Chinese number sits above the red character that marks the suit.
To help you read them, our examples also have a small number in the corner. Compare it with the large character below it.
1 Crak
2 Crak
3 Crak
4 Crak
5 Crak
6 Crak
7 Crak
8 Crak
9 Crak
5 Crak
Here is the 5 Crak. Both the small 5 and the large black 五 show the number. The red 萬 underneath marks the Crak suit.
You can start without knowing Chinese. Use the number label, and practice will make the shapes familiar.
9 numbers × 4 copies = 36 Crak tiles.
Pick an answer below. If you get it wrong, read the explanation and try again.
Tiles in the Dot suit have round designs. To read the number, count the separate circles. For example, 3 circles make a 3 Dot.
1 Dot
2 Dot
3 Dot
4 Dot
5 Dot
6 Dot
7 Dot
8 Dot
9 Dot
Inside its large round design, the 1 Dot may show several rings. Together they form one emblem, so the tile is still a 1 Dot.
Every number has 4 copies. 9 numbers × 4 copies = 36 Dot tiles.
You’ll see 5 numbered tiles. Pick Bam, Crak or Dot for each one. After you answer, read the explanation and then choose Next question.
There is no timer. Next takes you to the next step of the chapter; it does not mark unfinished practice as complete.
The Dragons’ names are Red, Green and White. They have no numbers from 1 to 9.
Red Dragon
Green Dragon
White Dragon (Soap)
Our Red and Green Dragon tiles show a dragon drawing and an R or G corner label. Our White Dragon shows a rectangular frame.
Many sets draw the Red and Green Dragons as Chinese characters instead, often with no corner letter. Each pair below is one tile drawn 2 ways.
Red Dragon
Left: a red dragon drawing with an R. Right: a red 中: a box with one line straight through it.
Green Dragon
Left: a green dragon drawing with a G. Right: a green 發: a busy character with many strokes.
Don’t mix up the red 中 with a Crak: a Crak has a number character on top of a red 萬, and our Craks have a number in the corner. White Dragons vary too; check your own set’s tile guide.
The White Dragon has a nickname: Soap. Both names refer to the same tile.
Each kind comes in 4 copies: 3 kinds × 4 copies = 12 Dragon tiles.
Remember these 3 links. They help when a pattern on the card asks for Dragons that match a numbered suit.
Red Dragon + Craks
Tap the numbered tile to step through 1–9.
Green Dragon + Bams
Tap the numbered tile to step through 1–9.
White Dragon (Soap) + Dots
Tap the numbered tile to step through 1–9.
A Dragon goes with the whole suit, not with one number in it. For example, Green Dragon goes with every Bam number. This does not mean a Dragon can replace a numbered tile.
Pick an answer below. If you get it wrong, read the explanation and try again.
Step 8 showed each Dragon drawn 2 ways. Now use the features, not the pictures you already know.
1. Select every Red Dragon. Some of these pictures are new.
2. Look at this tile in a different design. Which tile is it?
The Wind tiles take their names from 4 directions: North, East, West and South. On our tiles, look for an N, E, W or S.
North Wind
East Wind
West Wind
South Wind
Some sets show Chinese characters, with a small letter next to them. Go by the direction, even when the artwork is different.
North · East · West · South.
NEWS is a way to remember the 4 names. It doesn’t show where players sit or the order of play.
4 directions × 4 copies = 16 Wind tiles. Winds do not belong to any numbered suit.
Pick an answer below. If you get it wrong, read the explanation and try again.
A Flower tile may show a blossom, a plant or a seasonal picture. Designs can vary among the 8 tiles, and from one set to another.
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
In American Mah Jongg, the 8 Flowers are all interchangeable. A number printed on a Flower is part of its design; it does not put the Flower in a numbered suit.
1 Bam
Flower
In our set, the bird on the left is the 1 Bam and the blossom on the right is a Flower. Put the bird with the Bams.
Flowers are not in a numbered suit. The playing set has 8 Flower tiles.
Pick an answer below. If you get it wrong, read the explanation and try again.
A Joker is a special tile that acts as a substitute. Our Joker has a J inside a diamond. Other sets often print the word JOKER or use another design that stands out.
Joker
Joker
Joker
Joker
Joker
Joker
Joker
Joker
There are 8 Jokers in the playing set. They are not in a numbered suit.
In an allowed group of 3 or more identical tiles, a Joker can take the place of a tile.
5 Dot
5 Dot
Joker
Here, the Joker stands in for a third 5 Dot, so the group counts as three 5 Dots.
A Joker cannot take the place of a single tile, or of one tile in a pair. It also cannot fill a group of 3 tiles that are all different.
For now, concentrate on recognizing the Joker. Chapter 7 teaches all its rules and lets you practice using it legally.
Tap each family to add its tiles. A family counts only once, even if you tap it again.
Sort 10 example tiles. For a numbered tile, pick its suit. For a Dragon, pick the suit it goes with. For a Wind, Flower or Joker, pick No suit.
There is no timer. Next takes you to the next step of the chapter; it does not mark unfinished practice as complete.
To name a numbered tile, say the number first: “3 Bam,” “8 Crak,” “6 Dot.” Say these 3 examples out loud.
3 Bam
8 Crak
6 Dot
Pung rhymes with “lung”: it’s a group of 3 identical tiles. Kong rhymes with “song”: 4 identical tiles.
Charleston (“CHAR-uls-tun”) means trading tiles before ordinary play begins. We’ll practice it in Chapter 5: The Charleston. There’s no need to do it yet.
If a real set has a design you don’t know, ask the host what it is before you play. You can look things up in that set’s tile guide.
Name one tile of each of the 36 types: 27 numbered tiles, 3 Dragons, 4 Winds, a Flower and a Joker, in mixed order. The playing set repeats these, for 152 tiles in all. Pick a name for each picture. This browser saves your answers and your place on this device, so you can leave and come back.
There is no timer. Next takes you to the next step of the chapter; it does not mark unfinished practice as complete.
Answer 7 questions about the tiles. Try to get at least 5 right on your first choice. Each answer comes with an explanation. You can review the questions you missed or take the quiz again.
There is no timer. Next takes you to the next step of the chapter; it does not mark unfinished practice as complete.
You’ve now met all the families that make up the 152-tile playing set. Remember these ideas as you practice:
Bams, Craks and Dots: numbered 1–9, with 4 copies of each tile.
Dragons: Red goes with Craks, Green with Bams and White (Soap) with Dots.
Winds: North, East, West and South.
Flowers: 8 tiles, all interchangeable.
Jokers: 8 special substitutes, with rules that limit their use.
If you have a set, lay its tiles face up. Sort out the 3 numbered suits, then the Dragons, Winds, Flowers and Jokers. Next, line up one suit from 1 to 9 and say each name out loud. Look back at this chapter whenever you need help.
Coming up next: Chapter 3 teaches you to read the card. Use Next to go on to Chapter 3, or Back to look at this chapter again.
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