The object is to collect a set of fourteen tiles grouped into four melds of three tiles each and a matched pair. The melds can be either three identical tiles, known as a Pung, or a straight of three tiles of one suit marked with consecutive numbers, known as a Chow. Sets of four identical tiles, known as a Kong, can also be used to make up the melds.
Order of play
East (the dealer) begins by discarding a tile, and play goes to East's right (anti-clockwise) so South would draw and discard next, and so on until one player completes his hand and wins. If East somehow starts with four melds and a pair, this is termed a "Hand from Heaven", and East instantly wins the round, scoring the maximum number of points possible (see Special Hands).
The players then try to collect 4 sets and a pair by either drawing a piece from the wall or melding a set using the previous discard.
On a player's turn, he or she will have fourteen tiles, and must choose one tile and discard it face up into the courtyard in the center of the wall. Discards must be declared by the discarder. Eg. "One character"
Players may only take a discard at the time it is discarded, and it must be used at that time. Players may not collect discards for future use. Once play has continued after a discard, that tile may not be drawn.
