Board games like chess improve logical thinking and help to prevent cognitive decline in older age. If you need a break from chess or want to play with more than one friend, Mahjong might be the right pick.
Mahjong (麻雀) is a classic Chinese tile-based table game for up to four players. It first appeared in the 19th century in the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. Then, the game was marketed by Westerners as an exotic table game placed in ancient China. The game tested the wits and memory of players, with aspects of socialization and fun.
While the origins of the Mahjong free online game might be misread by Westerners, the game’s ability to engage the brain and improve memory seems to hold up. In this post, you will learn about the five effects of Mahjong on our brain and how you can improve your brain health with this tile game.
1. Mahjong and Long-Term Memory Improvement
The average human has a long-term memory of about 2.5 petabytes. Mahjong makes players remember numbers and follow complex rules like melds and callings like a “chow.”
There are 144 rectangular-shaped tiles in Mahjong. Three regular suits, two honor suits, and one optional in Mahjong are:
- Characters.
- Bamboos.
- Stones.
- Dragons.
- Winds.
- Flowers (optional).
Characters, bamboo, and stone suits each have four copies of a tile with the equivalent of one to nine numbers. It takes good memory and dozens of hours of gameplay to master Mahjong.
Those who constantly engage their memory in remembering numbers have better long-term memory. Mahjong is a great way to learn a new, fun, complex game, form new neuron links, and strengthen old ones. More neural networks mean better long-term memory.
2. The Role of Mahjong in Strengthening Concentration
The goal of Mahjong is to be the first to complete the game with 14-tile Mahjong hands. Since every player turn-by-turn draws a tile and discards one, your focus should always be on the board so as not to miss a tile you might need. Long terms of focus strengthen concentration, and those with the sharpest reaction and concentration usually win.
A Mahjong game can take up to four hours to complete. There are four rounds in Mahjong:
- East
- South
- West
- North
Each round might take up to 15 minutes for each player. Those prolonged levels of concentration ensure that you also have improved concentration endurance at work or school.
3. How Mahjong Improves Attention and Focus
The average human short-term memory is about 30 seconds. With Mahjong being a fun, strategy game, it can help you improve your attention span and focus without too much hustle.
One move usually takes less than 10 seconds, during which players play on for their 13 tiles and discard one. After the first player discards their tile, other players have about five seconds to respond with the “Pong” word to say that they want that card. That five-second time, players should:
- Process multiple patterns like winning combinations of tiles they want to achieve.
- Identify matches on the board or draw with their tiles in hand.
- Make quick decisions.
Those factors train your focus and improve your short-term memory. With all the instant gratification available online like Instagram Reels and TikToks that decrease our attention span, Mahjong will help you make a break from destructive behavior and engage you with laser-focus strategizing.
4. The Problem-Solving Benefits of Playing Mahjong
To win in Mahjong, you have to form a winning hand of four sets of in-sequence numbers and a pair of numbers. You can only achieve this in two ways:
- By drawing the missing tile and getting lucky.
- By strategizing and taking the discarded tile from other players.
Both ways are possible. However, Mahjong has an almost infinite number of possibilities. You will have better chances at winning if you employ tactics and a strategy in your gameplay.
By strategizing in Mahjong, you not only increase your chances of winning but also improve your problem-solving skills. You might think that you received a bad hand at first. However, you will see how opportunities add up as the game progresses.
Other players will discard tiles that you might need, or you will draw a well-need tile. By paying attention to detail, you will see how the puzzle starts to form, and the solution presents itself. Those who realize this vision first — win.
5. Mahjong Helps You Think Faster and Smarter
Since every player gets limited time to react in Mahjong, everyone must act before other players. You have to keep focus on your needs first. It means you might be able to concentrate better without destruction. You will also see your opponents as not your opposition, but opportunities to get what you need.
Mahjong improves players’ reaction times as they need to be faster than others. Unlike in games like Hearts, where you respond to other people’s moves and trick them, every player worries more about their tile needs in Mahjong.
With each new game, you will improve your skills at recognizing patterns. You also will become more flexible and work easier with what you’ve got. Mahjong teaches you to strategize and look for solutions rather than depend on luck.
Train Your Brain – Try a Mahjong Game Today!
Mahjong is a strategy board game that offers so much more than a fun time with friends. It provides you with a mental workout that improves your cognitive skills. If you want to try something new and challenging — try Mahjong. It will help you improve your memory, focus, and attention span in a fun, exciting way.
