World-Class Mahjong with World Champion Mai Hatsune

A note on the English language version of “World-Class Mahjong with World Champion Mai Hatsune,” an international tournament rules strategy book by Mai Hatsune and Takunori Kajimoto.

This book was first published in Japanese in June, 2005. Thanks to a translation of the text by Ryan Morris, planning and presenting by Kyoichiro Noguchi(Chief director oj Mahjong Museum), the concepts and strategies devised by these pro players have become accessible to the international mahjong community. When the authors wrote the original text, they assumed that readers would be familiar with the Japanese form of the game, and thus contained several references to that style as a form of comparison. In order to avoid complicating the text, and to make it more accessible to an international audience, such references have been removed or rewritten as deemed appropriate.

Mai Hatsune
born in 1978. Winner of 2002 Wolrd Mahjong Championship. One of Most famous Mahjong Player in Japan.

Takunori Kajimoto
born in 1971. Winner of the 2nd Noguchi-Kyoichiro award. Commentator of the Mahjong specialty TV program.

Comment of Kyoichiro Noguchi,
is Chief director oj Mahjong Museum

Mahjong Museum, is the only in the World, completed the English translation version of "World-Class Mahjong with World Champion Mai Hatsune,". We will open it to the public free of charge on web for more of those who love playing Mahjong. It wishes for the Mahjong boom to roll and to happen all over the world because it sees this page.

contents

Section 2:The Basic Combinations and Concepts of International Tournament Rules

2-01The Origin of International Tournament Rules
2-02First, look for Mixed Triple Chow
2-03Three Chows, Three Colors
2-04More on Mixed Shifted Chows
2-05Meld a Prime Chow to build Mixed Straight
2-06Make an early decision on All Types
2-07Why does Pure Straight score more points than Mixed Triple Chow?
2-08Pure Straight...or perhaps Pure Shifted Chows?
2-09Master the 6 point combinations: Half Flush and All Pungs
Section 3:The Importance of Keeping your Hand Concealed Proper Timing for Melding

3-01Not all melds help your hand
3-02Power combo: Concealed Hand + All Chows + All Simples
3-03Master the Fully Concealed Hand
3-04Notes on combining hands
3-05Fully Concealed Hand + All Chows combo
3-06The Crossroads: Concealed vs. Melded
3-07Misguided melding
Section 4:Melding Early with Incomplete Hands

4-01Three tiles away from Upper Four or Lower Four? No problem!
4-02The Power of Upper Tiles and Lower Tiles
4-03Meld pungs early to build a Triple Pung
4-04Reversible Tiles and All Even
4-05Chicken Hand is not for chickens
4-06Got three pairs of terminals? Consider All Terminals and Honors
4-07Weapon of last resort: Melded Hand
4-08Last Tile
4-09Never underestimate a Tile Hog
4-10More to the game than prime chows
Section 5:Unique Combinations, Unique Strategies

5-01You have nothing? Search for Knitted Tiles and Honors
5-02A Knitted Straight needs just 5 more tiles
5-03Seven Pairs, or All Pungs?
5-04Gather in the Middle
5-05The unusual thing about Three Concealed Pungs
5-06Spotting a Hidden Mixed Shifted Pungs
5-07Don’t forget Three-Suited Terminal Chows
5-08When to go for gold
Section 6:At the Table

6-01Time to throw in your hand
6-02Reading a player’s hand
6-03Need to pick your last tile to win? No problem!
6-04Master the 64 and 88 point combinations
6-05Engineering a come-from-behind win
Section 7:Way to master of International Mahjong Rule

FAQFrequently asked question of International Mahjong Rule
Discard Quiz 1Introductory Questions Discard Quiz for beginner