Beginner's Guide to Playing Ponjan and Donjara - Simplified Mahjong

Ponjan (More popularly known by the trademarked name Donjara) is a simplified versions of Mahjong designed to be more accessible, especially for children. These games strip down the complexity of traditional Mahjong while still maintaining the core excitement of collecting sets and strategically using tiles. In this guide, we'll cover the basic rules, setup, gameplay, and scoring for both Ponjan.

Tiles to Play Ponjan or Donjara With

Typically you will play with 81 tiles with characters or animals on them. 

• 18 Red tiles: 9x Two Types of Red Tiles
• 18 Blue tiles: 9x Two Types of Blue Tiles
• 18 Yellow tiles: 9x Two Types of Yellow Tiles
• 16 White tiles: 4x Four Types of White Tiles
• 8 Dragon tiles: 4x of Two Types of Dragons 

You can also use a regular mahjong set and separate the following:

• 18 Characters Tiles: 2 sets of 1-9 Tiles
• 18 Bamboo Tiles: 2 sets of 1-9 Tiles
• 18 Dot Tiles: 2 sets of 1-9 Tiles
• 16 Wind Tiles: All Wind Tiles
• 8 Dragons Tiles: 4x Red Dragons and 4x Green Dragons

Note: White Dragons are often mistaken as Jokers so using Red and Green Dragons reduces confusion!

How to Play Ponjan

Overview

Ponjan is a simplified version of Mahjong where the goal is to collect three sets of three matching tiles. It uses fewer tiles and simpler rules compared to traditional Mahjong, making it easier to learn and play. Players aim to complete their hand by either drawing tiles from the wall or stealing a discarded tile from another player.

Setup

1. Shuffle the tiles: Mix the tiles and form four "walls" of face-down tiles.
2. Dealing: Each player is dealt 8 tiles. The dealer takes an additional tile (making their hand 9 tiles).
3. Begin play: The dealer starts by drawing a tile.

Turn Structure

1. Draw: On each turn, a player draws a tile from the wall, adding it to their hand.
2. Discard: After drawing, the player must discard a tile, placing it face-up in the center of the table.
3. Stealing Tiles: If a player discards a tile that another player can use to complete a set of three matching tiles, the other player can steal the tile. The set made with the stolen tile must be revealed to all players.
4. Completing Hands: If a player has three sets of matching tiles after drawing or stealing, they can declare a win and the game ends.

Jokers

Joker tiles, when included, act as wildcards and can complete any set, making it easier to finish hands.

Game End

• Victory: The game ends when a player completes their hand of 9 tiles (three sets of three matching tiles).  A player wins by completing their hand of three sets (Ponjan) or by completing a special hand combination (Donjara). If they win by drawing a tile, all players must pay points. If they win by stealing a tile, only the player who discarded the tile pays the points.
• Draw: If no player completes their hand and there are no tiles left to draw, the game ends in a draw.

Scoring in Ponjan

When a player completes their hand, their score is calculated based on the hand combinations they achieved. Just add up the points!

The scoring also depends on whether the winning tile was drawn or stolen:

• Drawn Tile: If the player draws the winning tile, all other players receive a score penalty based on the points of the winning hand.
• Stolen Tile: If the player steals the winning tile, the player who discarded the tile receives a score penalty of -1 Point.

Scoring Table for Ponjan

Both Ponjan and Donjara offer simplified, fun alternatives to traditional Mahjong. They keep the core mechanics of collecting sets and strategically discarding tiles but eliminate much of the complexity of the original game. Whether you’re looking for an introduction to Mahjong or a kid-friendly version, Ponjan and Donjara are perfect options. Enjoy the strategic depth of Mahjong with these accessible and entertaining variants!