In most variations, each player begins by receiving 13 tiles. The game is played with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols, although many regional variations may omit some tiles or add unique ones. To distinguish it from mahjong solitaire, it is sometimes referred to as mahjong rummy. Similar to the Western card game rummy, mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and luck. The game has also been adapted into a widespread online entertainment. The game and its regional variants are widely played throughout East and Southeast Asia and have also become popular in Western countries. It is played by four players (with some three-player variations found in parts of China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia). Mahjong or mah-jongg ( English pronunciation: / m ɑː ˈ dʒ ɒ ŋ/ mah- JONG) is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. 'Mahjong' in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
