If you're interested in the age old Chinese
game of mahjong, then Singapore is one place you can get good old mahjong
sets.
The best thing about mahjong is
that it is a traditional game of strategy and requires complex logic and
thinking skills. If you've never played the game before, you can check the
rules here. Trust me, its an extremely addictive game once you understand
how it works.
So let's get started right away ...
1. Overview
The traditional game of mahjong can be played with a set of
mahjong tiles or with a set of mahjong playing cards. Now, its important to
understand that 'mahjong' here does not refer to those tile matching games you
see so often on the Internet. This 'mahjong' we're talking about here is the
real thing.
Now, most mahjong sets also come complete with a set of
colored chips, as well as bone tiles for scoring purposes. You will also find a
small device for indicating who the dealer is and the 'wind' of the round.
The better mahjong sets out there include racks to hold chips and tiles,
sometimes with one rack segregated as the dealer's rack.
2. Mahjong in
Singapore
Mahjong is played extensively in Singapore. You don't see it in public, because
openly gambling in public is prohibited (unless its a casino, which is coming up
in Singapore in 2010 - but that's another story). What happens is that mahjong
is usually played indoors among friends. Many, many aunties and uncles on the
island play mahjong on weekends and many are addicted to the game. Its quite a
fun and social game, popular among the older generation in Singapore.
3. The
Different Types of Tiles
In case you're not familiar, mahjong tiles are exquisitely made and come in
different types. A full mahjong set usually has 144 tiles. Now, instead of the
spades, diamonds, clubs and hearts used in poker, mahjong makes use of dots, bamboos
and character tiles. There are also flower tiles, wind tiles and dragon tiles to
add strategy to the game. In fact, if you're interested in mahjong, you should
read a 1920 book called 'Introducing
Mahjong to America'.
The way mahjong works is somewhat money-based.
Now, back in ancient China, copper coins used to have a
square hole in the center. People used to pass a rope through the coin holes to
string them together. In mahjong, if you were receive a maximum winning hand
(i.e. a royal flush of sorts), it is equivalent to a full string of coin.
4. Where To
Buy Mahjong Sets
Mahjong sets are quite tough to find in Singapore. The best place to go is
People's Park Complex over in Chinatown. Ask around and there will definitely be
someone who can point you to a store selling them.
You may also try one of the following stores:
Capitol Plastics Co
Blk 335 Smith Street
#01-016 Chinatown Complex
Tel: (65) 6220 8398
Yit Fatt Mahjong Centre 1 Park Rd
#03-K73 People's Park Complex
Tel: (65) 6532 6461
Conclusion
Well, hopefully you now know where to get mahjong
sets in Singapore, and have picked up some idea of what mahjong is all about.
Feel free to drop me a note if you're in town, we can play mahjong is you want
:)
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