The Filipino Mahjong Game.

The Filipino mahjong game is played with 144 tiles consisting of four types namely balls, chars, sticks and flowers. Each type has 4 sets of tiles numbered from 1 to 9.

When a game starts, the tiles are shuffled face down and the players arranged them in a stack. Then each player will get 16 tiles consisting of only balls, chars and sticks as the initial hand; the flowers are excluded from play and are set aside face up along with the hand. To prevent manipulation during the tile distribution of tiles, a pair of dice is thrown to determine the sequence of players drawing tiles from the stack. The initial 16 tiles of each player are drawn from the top of the stack, 8 at a time; then the flowers are replaced by drawing from the bottom of the stack. In the computer version of the game, the shuffling and the initial distribution of the tiles to players are done automatically based on the outcome of the simulated throwing of the dice.

When the actual play starts, the players take their turn counter-clockwise, in drawing a tile from the stack and throwing back a selected tile to the "discard" file, face up. Whenever a flower type of tile is picked from the stack, the tile is set aside and another tile is picked from the bottom end of the stack until a non-flower tile is drawn. The object of each player is to collect 5 sets of tiles and a pair. A set is either 3 identical tiles, 4 identical tiles or 3 consecutively numbered tiles of the same type. A pair is 2 identical tiles. Completion of these sets is termed "mahjong". Another way to win is to collect 7 pairs and a set of 3 tiles, which is more difficult to do and pays double the normal rate.

During the regular round of turns, a player may elect to pick the last tile thrown to the discard file instead of picking from the stack, granted that the tile being picked completes a set and must be shown face up; this is termed as a "chow" for a consecutive set and "pong" for a three-of-a-kind set. A player may also pick from the discard file anytime even when out of turn, as long as he or she has a pair of tiles identical to the last discarded tile. This is termed as pre-emptive "pong". This kind of pong play disrupts the regular round of turns and the player immediately to the right resumes play after.

The "kang" play is similar to "pong", except that kang is a completion of a 4-of-a-kind set of tiles. When the fourth tile is picked from the discard, it is called "kang" and must be shown face up. However, when the fourth tile is picked from the stack, the opposing players do not have to know this and the player declares "secret" and separates the 4 tiles face down. After a kang or secret declaration, the player has to pick another tile from the bottom end of the stack; otherwise he will be short 1 tile and cannot make mahjong. Another variation of kang is when a player draws a tile from the stack (i.e. bunot) and it is the fourth tile identical to tiles of a previously played pong; this is called "sagasa" and is played the same as a kang.

The FlipMahjong computer game.

• If the game table is not fully visible in your browser screen, click "FULL SCREEN MODE" in the top left corner of the display.
• If you have sound, turn up the volume; the game announces each tile thrown and moves such as pong, chow, etc.
• The human player is named "South"; the other players who are played by the computer are "East", "North" and "West".
• The green circle moves around to indicate which player turn is it.
• When it is the south player turn, buttons representing the possible pick moves are enabled. There are 4 choice buttons: Bunot, Chow, Pong and Kang.
• To discard a tile after the pick move, move the mouse pointer over the chosen tile; when the tile changes color, click the mouse to throw the tile.
• When the "Sort" Checkbox is checked, the computer automatically sorts the tiles in order after a tile is discarded.
• When the "Sort" Checkbox is not checked, the automatic sorting is not done; the player may manually re-arrange the tiles by dragging (Click-and-hold the tile while moving) the tile in position. Care must be taken not to inadvertently click and throw the tile by mistake. The dragging actions are only allowed after the pick button is pressed and before a tile is discarded.
• The computer automatically keeps score of the games. A normal mahjong win pays $1.00, 7 pairs pays $2, escalera (1 to 9 consecutive tiles of one type) pays $2. A declared kang or secret pays $0.25. When the dice thrown at the beginning of the game show the same number, all payouts are double.
• At the end of each game, the "Show All" button will display all tiles face up to reveal the secret tiles or audit the results.
• The "Reset" button starts a new game.
• To quit playing, close your web browser by clicking X in the upper right corner of your screen; if you are in full screen mode, press "ESC" button first.

Seven Pairs:

• The automated players do not intentionally play for 7 pairs.
• When playing 7 pairs, you cannot declare kang or secret; if you do, you have to draw an extra tile and cannot win 7 pairs after that. Instead, you can play "pong" and hide the fourth tile in your hand. The four of a kind tile in your hand represent 2 pairs.

Joker Play:

• The Joker option must be selected before the start of each game. The checkbox is ignored once the game has started.
• The Joker game starts by randomly selecting the "wild" tile for the game. The selected joker is placed in the first position of the discard file and shaded differently from the regular tiles.
• The 3 tiles in play that are identical to the joker are wild and may represent any other tile. Joker games are normally quicker than the regular games.

Playing the game in an iPad

• This is a Flash game that will not run in a Safari browser which is the default browser in iPads.
• To play the game in an iPad, use the Puffin Browser that is available for download from the Apple Store.

New Filipino Mahjong Solitaire game available on Apple Store

• Stand-alone game does not require internet connection.
• PLays on iPhone models 5 and up and new iPad models.
• New screen design to fit iPhone screens.
• Search Filipino Mahjong on the App Store

PLAY FILIPINO MAHJONG