Mahjong is considered a semi-strategic game that requires skills, strategy, and calculation, where you definitely won't get bored. To understand the game, it is useful to get acquainted with the rules of the traditional Mahjong game.So, this game, created and popularized in China, is played with 144 tiles, on which different letters, flowers, plants, seasons, symbols, dragons, and other mythical creatures are depicted. In the article, you will also find the rules, gameplay, and bonus meanings of the Mahjong 88 slot game.
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The traditional Mahjong card set consists of:
- 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn, spring) cards, which are numbered from 1 to 4. These cards give extra points in the Mahjong game. Of course, if you manage to draw them. Interestingly, to play the traditional game, you need to be at least somewhat familiar with Chinese characters, as without knowing them, the game can become very confusing.
- 4 colorful flower cards, which are numbered from 1 to 4. These cards depict orchids, plum blossoms, bamboo, chrysanthemums – traditional Chinese flowers and plants. The flower images may vary in different regions. They are used optionally – you can play with or without them. If they are used in the game, they can give extra points if successfully arranged.
- 12 dragon cards – 4 green dragon cards with a green dragon in front; red dragon cards with a red dragon; 4 white dragon cards, which are usually blank. Some also have cards with the letter “P,” which means purity, innocence.
- 16 wind cards – 4 cards for each type of wind – east, west, north, and south.
- 36 circle-shaped cards with numbers from 1 to 9. Each number has 4 identical cards.
- 36 cards with Chinese characters, which also represent numbers from 1 to 9. Each character has 4 identical cards.
- 36 cards depicting bamboo. There are 4 sets of 9 cards each. The illustration on these cards shows the number of bamboo. Only the first card is slightly different – it usually depicts a bird, and there is no bamboo image at all. The 1, 5, 7, and 9 cards depict both types of bamboo – green and red. Other cards depict only green bamboo.
Players initially arrange all the face-up tiles according to certain patterns and then try to arrange the card sets.
The 3 main card sets are:
- “Pung” – a set of 3 identical cards with a symbol: e.g., 3 x green dragons.
- 3 identical cards with numbers, e.g., 3 x number 2.
- “Kong” – a set of 4 identical cards, e.g., 4 x number 7 from bamboo.
The main goal of the game is to collect such cards that you can shout “Mahjong” and leave the game. Later, when playing in other parts of the world, the game rules became very simple – players, finding two identical tiles, would turn them over and set them aside. Initially, it was played by four players, later, when the game moved online, it could be played by two, and now – even by one! For more about Mahjong rules, read below.
Mahjong 88 Slot machine
Like many other popular table games, traditional Mahjong has taken on new forms and become accessible to game enthusiasts of all kinds. A particularly unique variant of the game is created for casino and gambling lovers – the Mahjong 88 Slot machine is one of the most popular online games today.
What are the features of this game? First of all, in the Mahjong 88 slot machine, bets start from 0.10 coins and go up to 100 coins per spin. So, both risk-taking gambling enthusiasts and complete beginners just getting acquainted with slot machines can try the game. The game's return is also noteworthy, reaching as much as 96.62%. An interesting fact is that the biggest win from Mahjong 88 is 250,000 pounds sterling!
This slot machine has a few more advantages. For example, if your game round is interrupted, all game information and bets will be saved until you reopen the game.
The game's graphics and colors are undoubtedly very captivating. The change of seasons, along with the change of symbols, shades, and the entire game environment, takes the game to a new level. It is worth mentioning that unlike other online slot machines, the musical track in this one is completely different. The sound of a flowing stream, the rustling of the wind, piano melodies, and nature sounds do not create the usual noise of games but, on the contrary, are very calming and allow you to relax, so you will play without too much tension and distraction.
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Mahjong 88 Slot gameplay and season bonus
The game consists of 64 (8×8) tiles with various illustrations. Each time you press the spin button, the tiles are arranged differently, so the chances of winning are different each time. Winning tiles are also replaced with new ones. This adds extra value to the game, making it unpredictable, exciting, and full of new gambling colors.
When you press the spin button and at least 4 tiles match, depending on their value, your money basket also increases by the corresponding amount. 12 or more matching tiles promise the most valuable winnings. The game continues until no new winning combinations can be created.
The gameplay is like a year – each part consists of 4 seasons – spring, summer, autumn, and winter. As the seasons change, so do the winning opportunities – starting from the awakening and slightly less promising spring and ending with the harsh but rich winter. Interestingly, the seasons can change at any time – from the 25th to the 99th spin, and for each season change, you earn a bonus specific to that season. Each season has its own characteristics, special wild symbols, and lucky bonuses.
- Spring. Up to 12 wild symbols appear, randomly distributed on the game board.
- Summer. Up to 5 wild symbols appear. They can destroy adjacent symbols.
- Autumn. Up to 11 wild symbols appear. They can destroy symbols on the edges of the game board.
- Winter. Up to 4 wild symbols appear. They can leave the same tiles with which winning combinations were made.
Of course, it is important to mention that not all wild symbols will bring only benefits – some of them can explode and destroy the winning tiles.
As in many other slot machines, you can also place bets in this one. Bets are selected by pressing the betting buttons at the bottom of the game. Click the plus and minus buttons to change the bet by just one step.
Mahjong 88 Lucky Symbols
Mahjong 88 has the following main lucky symbols:
- Tiles with circles (the number of circles on the tile also varies) are the least valuable.
- Tiles with lines are of medium value.
- The most valuable tile symbol is the flower. Especially lucky are the purple ones. Collecting 12 or more can win you up to 500 times your bet.
- Jade symbol – another bonus, similar to the “wild” symbol in traditional slot machines. Jade replaces tile symbols with beneficial ones or rearranges tile positions to bring you the greatest benefit.
- “Spawn” tile changes some symbols into those that are the least present. In other words, it “multiplies” the number of certain symbols.
- “The Tongue” symbol changes two adjacent symbols into one type.
- “Hop” symbol can transform into another and destroy adjacent symbols.
- “Croak” symbol scatters across the entire game board.
- Hidden tiles are empty symbols that, when the opportunity arises, will be revealed and match the adjacent symbols.
Special Bonuses
Fortune Frog. If you collect a sufficient number of repeating lucky tiles, a special bonus symbol – the frog – is activated. When the frog jumps onto the game board, the tiles change, providing new bonuses, and the winning amount can increase up to 5000 times! Additionally, every time your tile combination is successful and promises a significant amount, the frog croaks in joy at your success!
Another great bonus is the “Super Charge” function, which increases your winnings by 5 times. This bonus is activated when the “Fortune Frog” meter is recharged with 88 or more winning symbols, and then all victories achieved during the game are multiplied by 5. Remember, the more tile symbols match, the greater your winnings!
Both of these bonuses – “Fortune Frog” and “Super Charge” – can only be used once per game round.
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Mahjong Game Rules
The main goal of the game is to collect such cards that you can shout “Mahjong” and leave the game.
1. Preparation
Card Sets
Mahjong players initially arrange all the face-up tiles according to certain patterns and then try to form card sets. The 4 main card sets are:
- “Pung” – a set of 3 identical cards with a symbol: e.g., 3 x green dragons or 3 identical cards with numbers, e.g., 3 x number 2.
- “Kong” – a set of 4 identical cards, e.g., 4 x number 7 from bamboo.
- “Chow” – 3 cards with numbers in sequence, e.g., 2, 3, 4 or 4, 5, 6.
- “Eye” – a set of 2 identical cards.
Once you have collected one of each of these sets, Mahjong is declared.
Seating
First, place one card with wind directions on the table. Then each player draws one card and sits in the following order counterclockwise – north, west, south, and east. The player sitting in the east position starts the game. The seating position changes after each player's win in a clockwise direction. Later, the main seating position becomes south, then west, and finally north.
 Building the Walls
The main player, sitting in the east position, shuffles the cards and deals 36 to each player. In other versions, all players shuffle the tiles and randomly deal the required number of cards. Once the cards are received, each player arranges them in a row of two face-down cards on top of each other. This way, the cards are arranged into 18 columns. The order of card arrangement is also not simple – all cards are arranged from left to right in front of each player. This way, a proper square of cards is formed (4 players – 4 walls), symbolizing the Great Wall of China.
Breaking the Walls
Again, the main player sitting in the east position rolls the dice to decide which player will start breaking the wall. There are versions where the game is played with 3 or 4 dice, but in this case, it is played with 2 Chinese dice. For example, if the numbers 1+2 (total 3) are rolled – counting starts from the thrower (he will be 1), then counterclockwise, the player to his right will be 2, and the one to his right will be 3. Then this player rolls the dice again and adds them up, for example, 3+6, which totals 9. Then the cards of his wall are counted clockwise – from right to left. The two cards on which the count stops are removed from the game. The top removed card is placed on top of the pair of cards in front of it, and the bottom card is placed on another pair of cards two moves counterclockwise. This action is performed by all players.
Dealing the Cards
After breaking the wall, the card dealing begins. The game leader rolls the dice again. The number rolled, for example, is 12. So he takes the twelfth pair of his cards for himself. The next player counts to 12 again until he reaches another pair of cards and takes them for himself. This continues in a circle until each player has 12 cards in their hands. The player sitting in the east position takes an additional pair of cards, and the other players are dealt one more card each. Thus, in the end, the east player has 14 cards, and all other players have 13. In different regions, cards are dealt in other, even more varied ways.
2. The Game
The game is again started by the player in the east position. He takes one card from his wall and places it face-up in the middle of the wall square. This player also chooses another unnecessary card from his hand and places it in the middle of the square. This is where the real Mahjong game begins.
- If at least one player has two or three identical cards in their hand that match the ones discarded on the table, they can start forming special Mahjong card sets. They can take the card from the table and, depending on the combinations formed, shout “Pung,” “Kong,” or “Chow.” These cards are revealed on the table. If unexpectedly, they can form a Mahjong from their cards, they show all the winning cards and thus end the game.
- When a “Kong” is formed, the player shows all the successful cards on the table and immediately takes one card from their card row.
- Interestingly, a “Pung” can be turned into a “Kong” at any time, but only if the player draws the required card from their wall.
- Important! All cards that have already been discarded into the middle of the walls and do not form any combination are worthless, except for the last one discarded. This means that only with it can the player continue to form successful combinations.
3. End
- If all the player's wall tiles are drawn, a draw is declared, and no player receives points. All Mahjong tiles are shuffled, and the game starts again with the same player as at the beginning.
- When a player is only one tile away from a winning Mahjong, they can (but are not required to) inform the other players that they have only one tile left, thus warning the other players to be more cautious and take appropriate actions.
- The player who draws the winning tile and can complete a Mahjong with it reveals all their tiles and shouts the name of the game.
- It also happens that two players face an unequal battle – one has a tile that can form a “Pung” or “Kong”, while the other can complete a Mahjong. Priority is given to the player with the more favorable Mahjong combination.
- It can also happen that two players simultaneously have successful tiles to complete a Mahjong when a useful tile is just discarded on the table. In this case, the dispute is won by the player who is closer to the player (counting from the right) who discarded the favorable tile.
Mahjong is won only when at least one of the following successful sequences is arranged:
Sequence 1. 4 “Pung” and East Wind “Eye”. “Clean Hand” – a highly successful Mahjong is considered to be the sequence collected using only bamboo numbers.
Sequence 2. A highly valuable sequence – “Pure Hand” – is considered to be the one collected only from circles. It consists of “Pungs”, “Chongs”, and “Eye”.
Later, playing in other parts of the world, the game rules became very simple – players who found two identical tiles would turn them over and set them aside. Initially, it was played by four players, later, when the game moved online, it could be played by two, and now – even by one!
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Other Mahjong variants
The Mahjong 88 online slot is not the only way to enjoy this classic game. Mahjong Exchange from “Microgaming”, it is said, is even closer to the original! Played on a traditional green board with arranged tiles and a multitude of betting options. What do you need to do? Just choose one of the face-down tiles, place your desired bets on the symbols you think will match, and turn over the tiles. Matching tiles will bring you luck!
Another game with 25 paylines, “Mahjong King”, is for true gambling professionals. A multitude of bonuses, wild symbols, free spins, and special rules will impress even the most discerning player.
Mahjong Solitaire is for everyone who loves games that require attention. This game is not a gambling game, so it can be played by players of all ages. Everyone knows traditional solitaire games – in them, cards must be arranged into designated stacks according to certain rules. Mahjong Solitaire is a Solitaire game with colorful tiles. The goal of the game is very simple – find two identical tiles and remove them from the game screen. To achieve this goal, you just need to click on the same tile once. There are also several variants of the Mahjong solitaire game, and the most popular ones are Shanghai Solitaire and Shisen-Sho Solitaire.
Mahjong history
The traditional Mahjong board game was created during the Qing (Qing) dynasty in Ancient China and spread worldwide from the early 20th century. The traditional Mahjong game and its regional variants were and are widely played throughout East and Southeast Asia, and due to its similarity to the Western card game Rummy, Mahjong has also become very popular in Western countries.
In East Asian countries, especially China, Mahjong has become a leisure activity that has become as common as, for example, having tea with a friend in our times. This board game is played in family homes, among friends at parties, or even to entertain business clients. Moreover, over time, Mahjong has conquered all areas of life, becoming a cultural phenomenon.
Mahjong slot – an unparalleled and unique combination of a traditional, quite old-fashioned, and completely modern game, allowing you to experience the true joy of online slot machines. With this slot machine, you can play without problems and interruptions on any of your smart devices – phone, computer, or tablet. You just need to have internet and a few coins to reach even greater amounts. Of course, if you don't want to risk your money but just want to feel the thrill of gambling, you can also try the free versions of this game.
