Bad luck in mahjong? 4 game taboos to avoid, from shoulder tapping to book reading, and a way to improve your luck

Do not pat a mahjong player on the back, or bring a book to a game that is being played – you might get accused of bringing bad luck to the table

Mahjong is a game rife with superstition, and many players will do their utmost to keep lady luck on their side; here are four things to avoid if you want to win

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Dos and don’t in mahjong? There are plenty of the former but even more of the latter – we take a look at four taboos to be aware of when playing, and a way to reverse your luck. Photo: Shutterstock

Audrey Chan

Published: 4:15pm, 7 Feb 2024Updated: 12:07pm, 8 Feb 2024

Having a good strategy will give you a major leg up in a game of mahjong, but nothing beats having luck on your side.

The tabletop game is rife with taboos, so here are some tips on how to best avoid them. You never know – they could change the outcome of your game completely.

1. Do not let anyone pat you on the back

Do not let anyone pat you on the back while playing, or place a hand on your shoulder.

For some, a single pat or tap can be a harbinger of bad luck, as it symbolises their luck getting patted away – so avoid sneaking up behind your opponents if you do not wish to offend them.

Some sneaky players might attempt a subtle back-pat before a game, so stay on your guard.

For some mahjong players, a pat or tap can be a harbinger of bad luck, as it symbolises their luck getting patted away. Photo: Shutterstock

2. Never discard four West tiles consecutively

Another big mahjong no-no is for the players to discard consecutively all of the West tiles from the wind suit. This is particularly the case for the first, pace-setting round, because the Chinese word for west sounds similar to the word “death”, and because Buddhist beliefs hold that the heavenly realm of rebirth lies in the West.