Topic: I've got your mahjong right here.

[Quemaqua]

Politics just got awesome.

This may be (conceptually) the best thing I've ever watched.

[PyroMenace]

Hahaha, oh man that was amazing.

[iPPi]

Haha nice.

In all seriousness, Mahjong (real Mahjong, not that solitaire shit) is an amazing game which offers a lot of depth and strategy... more so than say Poker, or other card games.

[Quemaqua]

I've been trying to pick it up for a while but haven't really had the time.  It's definitely an interesting game, and really underrated outside of Asia for as deep as it is.

Anyone that digs the game should check out Akagi.

[iPPi]

There are many different variants of the Mahjong game that it can be tough to learn.  The two prevalent versions, at least where I live, are the Hong Kong and Taiwanese styles.  They have the same basic rules, but minor changes to the calculation of points (Fan) results in completely different strategy and play style.

I've played the game online a couple of times (I can't recall the site), but the problem is people are damned slow online, which completely disrupts the flow of the game.  Playing it for real is so much more fun, you just need 3 people to also know how to play. 

[Quemaqua]

I want everybody to learn before the meet so we can play.  I actually bought a nice set, but I'm gonna' take it back.  It's got an extra 6 and is missing an 8, and it's got the western numbers and letters on the tiles which I sort of hate (I thought it didn't have them).  I'm probably just going to order one online somewhere.

[iPPi]

Check out this to learn more about scoring: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Mahjong_scoring_rules

I was actually teaching a couple of friends how to play Mahjong this weekend.  They didn't have too much difficulty picking up on the basics... it's the calculation of Fan that is challenging.

[Quemaqua]

I'd like to learn the riichi variation that most Japanese seem to use for betting.  If I ever take an extended trip over there, I want to make sure I don't get stuck being the kamo for some wiley group of college kids.  Haven't had any time to get back to it lately, though.  Too many other things that are more important.