Latest posts
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What Is a Mahjong Table?
The short answer: a mahjong table is a square table built for the game. It has a felt top that stops tiles from sliding and small pull-out trays on all four sides where players drop discards. Automatic versions shuffle and arrange the tiles for you: press one button and four walls rise. A regular dining…
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How Does an Automatic Mahjong Table Work?
The short answer: an automatic mahjong table is a two-layer machine. Used tiles drop through the center into a shuffling chamber, ride inner tracks to the edges, and get stacked face down into four channels. Press one button and four complete walls rise, ready to play. Prices run from a few hundred to several thousand…
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How Big Is a Mahjong Mat?
The short answer: most square mahjong mats measure 34 to 36 inches per side (about 86 to 91 cm). That fits four full walls with room to spare. Travel mats fold into a small square and run smaller. Most mats print wall lines on the felt so you know exactly where to build. Every mat…
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What Are Season Tiles in Mahjong?
The short answer: season tiles are four extra tiles, one for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. They join the four flowers (plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum) to make the flower tiles: eight extras in a standard set. Draw one and you place it face up beside you and draw a replacement. Scoring varies by ruleset. You…
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How to Clean Mahjong Tiles
The short answer: wipe tiles with a slightly damp soft cloth and a tiny drop of mild dish soap if needed. Clean one tile at a time, dry it right away, and let everything air dry fully. Never soak the tiles. Resin and plastic tiles handle this easily. Old bone and bamboo sets need gentle,…
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What Are Mahjong Racks, Pushers and Holders?
The short answer: a rack is a small stand that holds your tiles upright so only you can see them, and it is standard gear in American mahjong. A pusher is a flat tool for pushing tiles into a tight wall. A holder is a clip that keeps your NMJL card open and readable at…
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What Are Mahjong Tiles Made Of?
The short answer: Most new sets are made of resin or plastic – cheap, tough, and easy to print on. Traditional sets glue a bamboo back to a bone or bakelite face. Premium tiles use acrylic or ceramic, while old antiques can be ivory, rare and expensive today. Material changes weight, grip, and sound. Pick…
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What Size Are Mahjong Tiles?
The short answer: Standard tiles run about 1.0 to 1.1 inches long by 0.8 to 0.9 inches wide, and 0.5 to 0.6 inches thick – roughly the 25 to 28mm range. Big American-brand sets run closer to 34mm. Bigger tiles grip better but eat table space fast. Tile size is the first thing you notice…
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What Do Mahjong Tiles Look Like?
The short answer: Mahjong tiles are small white blocks with a colored face: dots for circles, green sticks for bamboo, and Chinese numerals over red panels for characters. Winds and dragons use single symbols. The back is plain, usually green or blue, so nobody can read your hand from behind. First time facing a full…
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What Are Blank Mahjong Tiles For?
The short answer: Blank tiles are spare replacements for when a tile chips, fades, or goes missing. Some players also mark them as custom tiles for house rules. Blanks stay out of standard play – a full game uses exactly 144 tiles – and they are not the same as the white dragon. Open a…