Virtues and Mahjong

It's good to know that Mahjong has been becoming popular in the net.Some of the game site now includes Mahjong as one of their top games. Well, Poker is Poker whatever your race or gae maybe, it's the universal language of cards.

Myth told us that Mahjong was invited by the very famous Chinese Scholar CONFUCIUS. He likes bird so much that the game was named after a "maque sparrow". If my memory serve me right there are 3 distinct pictures on the tile or should I say color: red, green, white. And it represents benevolence, sincerity and filial piety (whew!). Those are the 3 virtues the great scholar was trying to instill to his follower. To be honest with you, it was my first time to encounter the words "filial piety", as simple as : respect for parents and ancestors.

So everytime you hold one of those mahjong tiles, this is not only a game to be played but a virtue to be lived.

Sweet!

The Tong Song

As i promised, i tried to recall how to play the game "tong-its". If I'm not mistaken the game could host 3 upto 4 players. A player should win twice in the row to get the pot money. Hence, the word "tong-its" or two hits was derived.

Each player would be given 12 cards but the dealer takes 13 cards. The dealer would start the game by throwing a first card. Second player could either " chow" or get the card in order to make 3 succedding cards of the same suit or 3 the same card of a different suit. If not, he can opt to pick from the deck but still need to throw 1 card. And the card starts to hit high. It rotates on the counter clockwise fashion. In order to win, a player should be able to dispose all of his cards if not the least num of cards left.

Whew! Geez.. I still have a lot to learn in cards terminology.

Now, with those things in my mind. I should be able to understand Mahjong better. If and if what my dad said was true.

Two Hits: Lunch and Gambling

I'm always been fascinated by Mahjong because of it's tiles pieces. It looks like an eraser and most of the time, I'm tempted to sink my teeth on it. But I know the fact, that I'll be on the losing end. I always see my neighbors gambing. Cards and sometimes Mahjong. Though our house was always their hideouts for their Mahjong session ( my dad was uber hospitable, the session comes with a free lunch win or lose), I never learned or played it. I don't know, though the tiles fascinates me with its color, texture and graphics, i feel like the game was too boring. Or is it because much older people playing it, more serious, less talk, less fun.

I asked my dad about Mahjong and he was kind enough to answer in a very profound manner. "it's like tong-its (two hits)". And then he turned away, grabbed his coffee and went back to his own world. No more explanation, And I am left there, on my seat, contemplating on those 4 word phrase.

Tomorrow. I'll google. But for now, I'm trying to recall how to play tong-its. I know I'm good at that. Because most of my college lunches were sponsorred by that game.

See, Life isn't bad at all.

My Jong

Mahjong tiles were one of my favorite stuff when I was young. I remember my dad, would always asked me to get and keep the small brown rectangular bag every now and then. And the only time I would be able to touch the real pieces was when they we're too drunk to keep it or may dad needs to rush to the bathroom and there was I cleaning up their mess. From sweeping the cigarette butts to the coffee cups and saving the best for last.. arranging the mahjong tiles.I would try to mimic them by making "halo" (shuffling) the tiles and then trying to put it row, faced up. Those were the good ol' times when mahjong could only be played face to face accompanied with cigars and coffee.

But now, just with a click of button, Mahjong starts to roll.

Many are chosen, but few are called

Over the weekend, I've learned a lot. From holding my horses to keeping my bets at bay. To play with my head rather than my heart. I was able to stay at the table for about an hour and so, until I lost everything in a heartbeat. I thought I was smart enough to play tough but sitl I can't resist a 'call'. See, i got a good hand and it gets better by the minute.

One by one, players start to fold and to my suprise 3 of us were left on the game. As the game, starts to rock, the player starts to raise with all his might. I fought head on. And i lost the battle.

Tsk. I thought I knew better.

Better luck next time.

Weekend Freerolls

TGIF! Finally, no deadlines to catch up, no time to beat, no traffic to endure. Just a plain nights ahead of me. Nothing to worry about but my luck. The week's weather was crazy like hell, raining now and sun later and so was my playing chances.
This time I wouldn't let any other factors affect my play.
Focus is the name of the game.
Till then. I''ll see you @ the tables.
www.kong88.com

The Bicycle

I'm trying to recall if there was any single house I went to, that doesn't have any deck of cards. But it seems like I can't recall any. It's like a basketball court at every street turn.What I remember was that, a pack of cards was an all time favorite "pasalubong" (treat) from abroad. My dad would use the cards to be a filler for the balikbayan boxes.And everytime someone would pay him a visit, he would automatically gave out playing cards.

Simple as it may seems but a Bicycle card is more than enough to make someone smile.

Gambling *cough*!