Loading...
New Year Mahjong
New Year Mahjong is a great way to enjoy the classic game in a different and interesting theme. Mahjong solitaire is one of the most popular single player games out there, so today we’re going to give you a full break down of the rules of the game, how to play and win, as well as tips and strategies and even a bit of the game’s history. It’s a fascinating game with many different stylistic variations. If you’re keen to learn more about Mahjong, then let’s dive into it.
Main bonus 8 tiles
Firstly, one of the things that sets New Year Mahjong apart from other versions of the game is the design of the bonus tiles. We will cover this in more detail shortly, but for example the flower and season tiles are replaced with shoes and masquerade masks, for instance.
How to play Mahjong
Now, let’s look at how to play New Year Mahjong. It’s a simple game but it can be difficult to master, so guidance is important.
Unlocking tile pairs
To unlock tile pairs in New Year Mahjong, you will have to remove tiles from above and to their sides before they become available for play. If a tile is uncovered on its left or its right, and there is nothing above it, then it is available for play.
Choosing tile pairs
An important part of strategy in New Year Mahjong is about which tile pairs you choose. You shouldn’t simply choose any pair that you can play. You should make sure that choosing a certain pair reveals another pair to be played; otherwise you may end up getting stuck.
Bonus tiles
As mentioned, in New Year Mahjong as in typical Mahjong solitaire you have eight bonus tiles in the set. These work a bit differently. Typically, these tiles are split into two categories: flower tiles and season tiles. Flower tiles are usually orchid, plum blossom, chrysanthemum and bamboo. The season tiles are spring, summer, fall and winter. In New Year Mahjong, typically as a purely stylistic choice, these will instead be something related to New Year’s celebrations, as mentioned such as party wear. These tiles can be matched in pairs with any other in their series. You could match orchid with bamboo, or spring with winter. These tiles are important to the game, then, since they are somewhat easier to match than other pairs. In New Year Mahjong, they may be different designs, but their function remains the same.
Mahjong tips
Let’s now turn our attention to important Mahjong tips:
1. Think one step ahead
New Year Mahjong is a game of strategy as much as it is of chance. You must always be thinking at least one step ahead in the game if you wish to get anywhere with playing New Year Mahjong. Don’t just make a move because it is available—make it because it expands your advantage.
2. Memorize the board
As a tile matching game, New Year Mahjong is of course a game of memory. This is something which will get easier as you play more games of New Year Mahjong, but you must try to remember where things are on the board. This will mean that when you reveal a new tile, you will remember where its matching pair is.
3. Unlocking tiles
Carefully examine every move before you make it. Ideally, you want every move to reveal a new tile that you can play, rather than just playing a pair for the sake of playing it. This will give you the best possible chance of clearing the board.
Mahjong Strategies
Overall strategy is just as important in New Year Mahjong as the more specific tips are. let’s look at some important strategies for New Year Mahjong:
1. Delay moves
Firstly, patience is key in New Year Mahjong. It is always tempting, especially at first, to play any move we see become available. But you should always delay moves to when it gives you a strategic advantage to play it.
2. High stacks, long rows
You also want to make sure you are targeting high stacks and long rows. These are where lots of tiles will get trapped, and you want to reveal them to give you more options in New Year Mahjong.
3. Play lots of games
Finally, the most important thing you can do to improve your abilities with New Year Mahjong is to simply play lots of games. The more you play, the more you will understand and learn from your mistakes. In almost anything, we learn a lot more from our failures than we do our successes, and so you’ve got to let yourself make those mistakes!
New Year Mahjong, then, is a new twist on a classic game and one which you will no doubt enjoy playing a great deal. New Year Mahjong is the same classic game that you surely know and love, but with some fantastic and exciting new design features. Armed with our tips and strategies, you’ll be winning games in no time!