Tiles and Groups
The tile set, groups, and large and small tiles.
Matjok is played with 144 tiles. The set consists of 3 number groups, winds, dragons, and flowers.
Numbers
9
Circles
9
Bamboo
9
Winds
4
Dragons
3
Flowers
8
Main groups
| Group | Contents | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 1 through 9, 4 of each tile | 36 |
| Circles | 1 through 9, 4 of each tile | 36 |
| Bamboo | 1 through 9, 4 of each tile | 36 |
| Winds | East, South, West, North, 4 of each tile | 16 |
| Dragons | Red, White, Green, 4 of each tile | 12 |
| Flowers | 2 series of 1 through 4, red and green | 8 |
Total: 144 tiles.
Large and small tiles
| Type | Which tiles belong to it |
|---|---|
| Large tiles | 1 and 9 of numbers, circles, and bamboo, plus all dragons and winds |
| Small tiles | 2 through 8 of numbers, circles, and bamboo |
This distinction becomes important later for points and some special hands.
Flowers
Flowers do belong to the set, but not to the ordinary 14-tile hand. If you draw a flower, you place it open immediately and replace it from the flower or kong wall.
What you should recognize
3ordinary number groups: numbers, circles, bamboo2honor groups: winds and dragons1separate group: flowers
Quick check
- An ordinary winning hand does not use flowers as part of a straight, poeng, kong, or final pair.
- Winds and dragons can form matching sets, but not a straight.
- Large tiles are not the same as high numbers; only
1and9count as large.
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