3 player reach mahjong rules...?

[Kalyori]

Hi,

I'm wanting to try 3 player Reach Mahjong, and I'm wondering if there's a good resource for the rules?

Cheers

[or2az]

There are some threads in this forum that refer to 3-player mahjong in which you can find links to more information. They may not come up in a search because the words are too common so you may have not found them. You can, of course, just play regular 4-player rules, with an empty seat.
Good luck.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=53386
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=53104
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52781
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52603
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52033
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52077
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50447
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=49347
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=48809

[Kalyori]

There are some threads in this forum that refer to 3-player mahjong in which you can find links to more information. They may not come up in a search because the words are too common so you may have not found them. You can, of course, just play regular 4-player rules, with an empty seat.
Good luck.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=53386
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=53104
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52781
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52603
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52033
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52077
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=50447
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=49347
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=48809

Thanks a lot, I've just read through them now! And yeah, I tried searching but that didn't work hahaha.

When you say regular 4 player rules with an empty seat -- do you mean I don't deal north's hand at all? So a full wall but 3 players?
I've been playing two hands which is OK but it's much faster if i can focus on just one hand.

[or2az]

When you say regular 4 player rules with an empty seat -- do you mean I don't deal north's hand at all? So a full wall but 3 players?

Sure, why not? It gives each player a possible 6 extra turns to try for that elusive yakuman.
And as far as I know, in the words of Tom Sloper,
There are no mahjong police coming to arrest you for doing it that way.
Have Fun!
Note: The empty seat doesn't necessarily have to be north. It changes as the seats rotate.

If you need "official" stuff, check out sloperama.com
FAQ 13C. Q: "I play Japanese Riichi mah-jongg, and need to know the rules for 3 players."
Remove the suit of Craks, except the 1s, 5s, and 9s. There is no North player (deal only to the other three). Deal always passes to the winner. It's always the East round.
You can read about another way to play 3-player at http://www.japanese-mahjong.com/3pmjintro.html.

This site seems to be more detailed.
The tiles that are used in the three player game are:
1-9 of Dots (Pinzu) = 9 x 4 tiles = 36 tiles.
1-9 of Bamboos (Souzu) = 9 x 4 tiles = 36 tiles.
1 & 9 only of Characters (Manzu) = 2 x 4 tiles = 8 tiles.
4 Winds (Ton, Nan, Sha, Pei) = 4 x 4 tiles = 16 tiles.
3 Dragons (Haku, Hatsu, Chun) = 3 x 4 tiles = 12 tiles.
Total = 108 tiles
Note: There are no 5-cracks mentioned here

As Scott Miller states in his book, There are many variants for three players, in part because three-player is in itself a modification of standard four-player rules.

[Kalyori]

Oh I see! Thanks a lot! I'll try the 4-player variation with one less player. Also will check out that site and probably try the 3-player version a few times.

[Kalyori]

Note: The empty seat doesn't necessarily have to be north. It changes as the seats rotate.

Been playing like you suggested (4 player rules with 3 players) and it's fun -- and quite quick which is nice.

However, regarding your quote, what do I do when the 4th (non-existent) player is East?
Normally East is dealt 14 tiles. Would that mean South is dealt 14 tiles in this case? Or should the non-existent player never be East?

[or2az]

Technically, no one is really dealt 14 tiles. The player who goes 1st, normally East, starts the game by picking the first tile from the wall and then discarding one. This is exactly the same as him getting 14 tiles to begin with.
Therefore, if East is the vacant seat, then South would be the one to start the game, and would be the one "getting" 14 tiles.
You could not let the non-existent player be East but that would mess up the "seat rotation" and the mahjong police will certainly be knocking on your door.

[Barticle]

mj-pol.jpg (41.28 KiB) Viewed 24502 times

[Ignatius]

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (film)'s vegan police.

Came to my mind when I saw that mahjong police game cover.

[Referee]

The vegan police! I thought about that when I read the message about Mahjong police! Great minds think alike!

[Kalyori]

Hahahaha mahjong police... I better watch out.

Technically, no one is really dealt 14 tiles. The player who goes 1st, normally East, starts the game by picking the first tile from the wall and then discarding one. This is exactly the same as him getting 14 tiles to begin with.
Therefore, if East is the vacant seat, then South would be the one to start the game, and would be the one "getting" 14 tiles.
You could not let the non-existent player be East but that would mess up the "seat rotation" and the mahjong police will certainly be knocking on your door.

If that's the case then would South not get to draw first two times each round? When he's south and when he's East?

[or2az]

If that's the case then would South not get to draw first two times each round? When he's south and when he's East?

Somebody has to do it. These are the sacrifices that one must make in any game for 4 players when sitting at a table where there are only 3.
Has to do with mathematics.
4 rounds to be started divided by only 3 players there, uh-oh!

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Mahjong Violation!, send a squad down under to Australia..........immediately!

[Kalyori]

Ah yeah, fair enough.

Hahahaha thanks for the help!