Tiles, Bones and Cards: Mahjong, Dominoes and Beyond
Tile games such as mahjong and dominoes have long social traditions. Explore their history, how they are played and why they remain popular.
Cards and dice get most of the attention in discussions of traditional games, but tiles have their own long and lively history. Mahjong and dominoes, in particular, are played in homes, clubs and community centres around the world, often as much for conversation as for competition. This article looks at what is generally known about these games and why they have lasted, without any focus on wagering.
Dominoes: simple pieces, many games
A domino is a small rectangular tile divided into two halves, each marked with a number of dots, from blank up to a maximum value. A common set, often called double-six, has 28 tiles. Early dominoes are associated with China, where tile games appeared many centuries ago, and a version of the game reached Europe by the eighteenth century, with Italy and France often mentioned in this context. The exact route is debated, as is often the case with game history.
What makes dominoes appealing is how flexible the pieces are. The best-known versions are matching games, where players take turns to add a tile whose end matches one already on the table. There are also scoring games, blocking games and games of counting, and in some places children use the tiles simply to build long chains and watch them topple.
Mahjong: a game of sets and patterns
Mahjong is played with a set of decorated tiles, usually 136 or more, depending on the regional version and the inclusion of extra pieces. Most historians place the emergence of the modern game in China in the nineteenth century, drawing on older card and tile games. In the early twentieth century, it spread to Japan, Europe and North America, where it became fashionable and gave rise to several distinct rule sets.
The basic idea is to collect sets of tiles by drawing and discarding in turn, aiming to complete a winning hand of particular combinations. The details differ widely:
- Chinese variants often include a rich scoring system for different patterns.
- Japanese riichi mahjong has its own rules and vocabulary, and a strong following.
- American mahjong uses a card of approved hands that changes from year to year.
Because rules vary so much, anyone sitting down to play with new people should check which version they are using first.
The social heart of tile games
Much of the appeal of tile games lies in the table itself. The clatter of tiles, the shared rituals of shuffling and building walls, the friendly banter and the chance to spend a long afternoon with family or friends all matter as much as the result. In many communities, weekly mahjong or domino gatherings are a source of friendship and routine, particularly for older people. This social side is a good reminder that games are, at their best, a form of company.
How tile games connect to cards
Tiles and cards are close relatives. Historians often point out that some of the earliest playing cards in Asia may have grown out of similar traditions, and the suits and ranks of many tile games echo those used in card games. If this interests you, A Short History of Playing Cards: From Asia to the Card Table follows the story from its start.
Chance and skill
Tile games mix luck and decision-making. The draw of tiles is random, but the choices you make about what to keep and what to discard matter a great deal, and good players tend to win more often over time. Even so, a single session can swing either way, which is part of what makes the game feel lively.
A note about money
In some places tile games are played for stakes, and in others this is restricted or illegal, and laws vary widely. If you play for money, only do so if you are of legal age, keep it to an amount you would happily spend on any evening's entertainment and never chase losses. Why Gambling Rules Differ From One Place to Another explains how much the rules can vary.
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles are in a standard domino set?
A double-six set contains 28 tiles. Larger sets, such as double-nine, contain more.
Is mahjong like a card game?
In many ways, yes. Players draw and discard to build combinations, much as in rummy-type card games, but the pieces are tiles.
Do I need to learn complicated rules to start?
Not at all. Simple versions of both games can be learned in an evening, and local clubs often welcome beginners.