Mahjong

Behind these beautiful tiles hides a game with a long history. Mahjong comes from China, where it has been played since the nineteenth century. By now it has found a place at tables all over the world. You play with beautifully decorated tiles, and the feel of the game is a little like rummy. If you enjoy sitting together calmly while puzzling away, this is just right for you. The goal is to make the right combinations. You collect runs, triplets and pairs, and you pay close attention to what your fellow players discard. Sometimes you call out to claim a discarded tile, and suddenly the game takes a different turn. The tiles are divided into three suits with numbers from 1 to 9, plus dragons and the four winds. There are 136 tiles in total, and there is a pleasing depth to all the shifting and choosing. Mahjong is played with three or four people and is suitable from age 8. A game can happily take its time, so pull up a chair and bring something to drink. The basic rules are set, but there are all kinds of ways to count points. That keeps the game interesting and lets you discover your own favourite style together.