Mahjong Etiquette
Here are some guidelines you should observe when taking part in mahjong games. People play mahjong for many different reasons; some want to compete on an international level, while others do it just to hang out with friends or as an excuse to leave the house at all. For everyone to enjoy the game you should pick a level of formality that matches the ambitions of the group.
Tournaments are of course more formal than social games and require a stricter adherence to protocol. Many tournament participants are very passionate about mahjong, put a lot of time and money (for travel expenses, etc) into their hobby and expect a high degree of professionalism in return. On the other hand, these people also need to remember that it is just a game.
In one of the groups I used to play with people would frequently disrupt the game by flipping each others tiles over, stealing counter sticks and causing all kinds of mischief. This was all in good spirit though and there was little harm in it as long as everyone was having fun - if you know people on a personal level you can taunt them all you want. It's not all set in stone.
Most of this is common sense and a lot of this stuff should go without saying. 98% of mahjong players I have met have been nice people. Let's keep it that way.
- Respect other players.
Appreciate people participating in the game; they are putting just as much time as you into it. Greet people at the table and thank them for playing afterwards. Apologize for inconveniences you cause others.
- Don't be an asshole.
Don't heckle inexperienced players or laugh at their mistakes; we've all been there. There is no need to brag about your superior intelligence, so be humble about your wins (see this guy after winning the World Series of Mahjong).
- Help other players improve.
Related to the above: don't slap newcomers in the face with obscure rules they had no way of knowing. If you want to invoke some lesser-known aspect of play at least take the time to explain it properly. This will make people more motivated to keep playing, in the long run securing a stable group and better competition for yourself.
- Learn the rules.
In a social game you can of course ask as many questions as you need to learn the game, but in tournament play you are expected to know what regulations are in place. Even if people are willing to teach you they cannot always do so since giving a lengthy explanation takes time from the game and could be considered passing information (i.e. cheating). Asking for quick clarifications is acceptable ("Do the winds rotate after a draw?"). This should not discourage you from participating in games and tournaments, but do your best to keep up with what's going on.
- Don't argue over rules.
It's better to let tiny mistakes slip, unless they were obviously made in bad faith (and if they were, why are you even playing with these people?). Being overly anal about the rules (and trying to leverage the mistakes of others to your own advantage) just puts you in a bad light.
- Focus on the game.
Joking and chatting briefly at the table is ok, but most players prefer silence so they can concentrate. Focus on your own game and ignore what is going on at other tables; these do not concern you. Inexperienced players may be struggling just to keep up with your pace so it's somewhat rude not giving them your best effort in return.
- Be transparent.
Place melded sets and discarded tiles so that all players can see them. Don't sort a drawn tile into your hand until you have decided to keep it (this is important for scoring). When paying other players with scoring sticks, place them on the table so everyone can see what is being exchanged (don't pass them from hand to hand or just throw them at the player). Arrange winning hands in a clear and logical way so that beginners can tell what is being scored.
- Don't give up.
The game isn't over until the last tile is on the table. Even if you are far ahead or behind and the outcome is already decided for you, the other players may still be closely tied and struggling to secure a position. Don't display disinterest or discard tiles haphazardly.
Finally, some practicalities:
- Do not touch other players tiles.
It is entirely up to them if they want to disclose what tiles they had; in tournament play this is discouraged (tenpai status in riichi games is of course an exception). If you're dying to know you can say "May I ask what your wait was?", but don't expect everyone to accomodate your request. Also, never touch other players scoring trays.
- Shield yourself from information.
If you need to leave the table during a hand, take care not to look at the other players tiles as you pass them by.
- Maintain some personal hygiene.
Remember that everyone has to touch the same tiles. Discretely scratching your nose is ok, but don't chew loudly on sweets while digging around your mouth with your fingers before touching the tiles (yes, this actually happened. I had to wash the tiles afterwards).
- Respect other games.
If you are at a tournament, take care not to disturb games in progress. One exception is if you score a yakuman or equivalent; these are sometimes announced to the room and draw a round of applause. If your table finishes before the alloted time you should stay silent or leave the room. Do not pass information. Note: in MCR this applies even after the final "hu" has been declared; the winner still needs to count their own points! Only after the hand has been scored the game is over.
- Help each other out.
If one player is busy calculating scores, making tea, in the bathroom, etc, you should help build their side of the wall so the game can continue as soon as possible. In informal games you can even start early by breaking the wall and dealing the tiles (without looking at them before everyone is ready). However, if someone is conveniently missing every time you need to build the wall you can subtly let them know you are on to them by leaving their side unbuilt.