Chinese Games

Chinese Games

Mahjong is one of the popular games played in China. Same pieces can also be used in played styled games such as Shanghai Solitaire. Other well-known Chinese leisure games are Pai Gow, Pai gow poker, Go proverb, Xiangqi and other bone domino games. The culture of Chinese leisure also includes ethnic games such as Chinese yo-yo. Some of the other classic Chinese games played on the Internet including Mahjong, are Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) and Go (Weiqi).

Mahjong game emanates from China and involves four players who showcase their skills, strategies and various calculations required to play the game efficiently. In many parts of Asia, Mahjong is often played for gambling purposes. The main aim of the game is to construct complete suits (or melds) in the form of 3s, from either 13 or 16 tiles. Whosoever is able to construct so, wins the game. Today, Mahjong has become a very popular game across Asia and the West. Especially in Japan, people emphasise on gambling and have also introduced Mahjong arcade machines in their video arcades to connect to others via the Internet. In Chinese leisure activities, no doubt Mahjong has carved a niche for itself in the Chinese community that many songs also are themed on Mahjong.

Shanghai Solitaire, a styled game in Chinese leisure, is a game that can be played using a set of Mahjong tiles instead of cards. Since the game was created by Brodie Lockard during 1981 on the PLATO computer, since then it is being named as Mahjongg as it uses the same set of tiles as used in the original Mahjong game. Also known by the names of Shanghai Solitaire, electronic Mahjong, computerised Mahjong, Mahjong Solitaire and Solitaire Mahjong, the object of the game is to match the exposed pairs of similar tiles and remove them off from the board, to let the other tiles play under them. The game gets over after all tiles have been removed from the board.

Another popular and traditional Chinese leisure game of gambling is Pai gow, which is played with a set of Chinese dominoes tiles since the Song Dynasty. This game is basically played in unauthorised casinos in China, while it is openly played in other major casinos across the world, namely, Macau in China, Las Vegas in Nevada, Atlantic City in New Jersey, various cardrooms in California, and in a few casinos in Australia and New Zealand. When played with cards, it is known as Pai gow poker.

Chinese Games for Kids

FangBao game is usually played by two kids aged between 5 to 10 years, where Fang means square and Bao means treasure. Piaji is another traditional Chinese game for kids played in Heilongjang Province of China. The Eagle and the Chicks is an ancient Chinese game which requires atleast five kids to play. It is an easy and perfect outdoor game for kids to enjoy.

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