📜

Mastering the Table

A comprehensive beginner-to-intermediate guide to Hong Kong Mahjong and our scoring engine.

00. The Fundamentals

Mahjong is played with 144 tiles. Understanding the "deck" is your first step. There are three main suits and two types of "Honor" tiles:

🀐 Bamboos (1-9) 🀙 Dots (1-9) 🀇 Characters (1-9) 🀀 Winds (E, S, W, N) 🀄 Dragons (G, R, W)
Tile Count
144 Total
4 of each tile type exists in the wall.

01. The Winning Hand

To win (go "Hu"), you must complete a hand of 14 tiles. This is almost always composed of 4 sets and 1 pair (the "Eyes").

🍜 The Chow (Run)

Three consecutive tiles of the same suit.
Example: 🀐 🀑 🀒 (Bamboo 1, 2, 3). Note: Dragons and Winds cannot form Chows.

🍲 The Pung (Triplet)

Three identical tiles. Can be suits or honors.
Example: 🀅 🀅 🀅 (Green Dragons).

🍱 The Kong (Quad)

Four identical tiles. Functions as a set of 3 but allows you to draw an extra card from the back of the wall.

02. The Flow of Play

Draw & Discard

Players take turns drawing one tile from the wall and discarding one from their hand. You want to discard tiles that don't help your sets while keeping those that do.

Pro Tip: Watch what others discard! If someone discards many Dots, they likely aren't going for a Dot-based flush.
Claiming Discards (Stealing)
  • Chi (Chow): Claim the previous player's discard to complete a sequence.
  • Pon (Pung): Claim any player's discard to complete a triplet. Priorities: Pon > Chi.
  • Kan (Kong): Claim a discard to complete a quad (set of four), allowing an extra draw.

03. Earning Hand Value (Fan)

Hand value in Mahjong is measured in Fan (points/doubles). Your total Fan is the sum of your hand's basic patterns plus extra bonuses.

🧩
Core Hand Patterns

Large value rewards for specific hand structures like All Pungs (+3 Fan) or Full Flush (+7 Fan). These represent the main "build" of your hand.

🌬️
Seat & Round Winds

Possessing a triplet of the Round Wind or your own Seat Wind awards +1 Fan each. If your seat wind matches the round wind, its triplet is worth +2 Fan!

🐉
Dragon Bonuses

Any triplet of Green, Red, or White dragons is an automatic +1 Fan. These are highly versatile because they aren't tied to seat positions.

✨
Special Conditions

Our engine also checks for Clean Hands (No Flowers) for +1 Fan, Self-Draw, and legendary patterns like Thirteen Orphans.

04. The Scoring Ladder (Fan to Points)

Mahjong points grow exponentially. We use the "Half-Spicy" (Ban Lat) progression, which is the most common competitive standard in Hong Kong.

Fan Count Points (Base) Difficulty Tier
1 - 2 Fan 2 - 4 Pts Beginner
3 - 4 Fan 8 - 16 Pts Intermediate
5 - 6 Fan 24 - 32 Pts Advanced
7 - 9 Fan 48 - 96 Pts Expert
10 - 13 Fan 128 - 384 Pts LIMIT (MAX)

*Points represent the unit multiplier. The total points awarded depend on whether the win was via Discard or Self-Draw.

05. Ruleset Variations

Our engine supports three distinct versions of Mahjong. Select your ruleset when creating a new game.

HK Old Style
HKOS

Hong Kong Old Style. The balanced standard. 1 Fan minimum, 13 Fan limit. Uses the 2-1-1 payout system.

Cantonese
Let's Mahjong

Modern Cantonese. High intensity. 3 Fan minimum. High rewards for triplets and Discarder Pays All logic.

New Chapter
Perlman Chan

Professional/New Chapter. Includes rare legendary hands and high limits for experienced players.

06. Pattern Reference Guide

Detailed reference for all supported hand patterns across each chapter.

Eighteen Arhats
HK Old Style
+13 Fan
The definitive achievement of possessing four full sets of four-of-a-kind (Kongs).
All Green (Imperial Jade)
HK Old Style
+13 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of Green tiles (Bamboo 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or Green Dragons).
All Flowers
HK Old Style
+13 Fan
Awarded for the collection of specific sequences or all eight Flower and Season tiles.
Seven Stars
HK Old Style
+13 Fan
The ultimate honor victory: seven distinct pairs composed of all seven Winds and Dragons.
Two Numbers
HK Old Style
+13 Fan
A hand composed entirely of tiles from only two specific numbers across any suits.
Thirteen Orphans (Legendary)
HK Old Style
+13 Fan
One of every Terminal (1&9s) and every Wind/Dragon (13 unique tiles) plus any 14th duplicate.
Nine Gates (Heavenly)
HK Old Style
+13 Fan
Requires exactly three 1s, three 9s, and one each of tiles 2-8 of a single suit. Plus any 14th tile of that suit.
Great Four Winds
HK Old Style
+13 Fan
Four full triplets or quads composed of all four Wind types (E, S, W, N).
Blessing of Heaven/Earth
HK Old Style
+10 Fan
A legendary victory occurring on the very first draw (Heaven) or first discard (Earth/Man).
All Honors
HK Old Style
+10 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of Honor tiles (Winds and Dragons). No suit tiles allowed.
All Terminals
HK Old Style
+10 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of 1s and 9s. No suit tiles from 2-8 and no honors allowed.
Jade/Ruby/Pearl Dragon
HK Old Style
+10 Fan
A legendary victory matching a specific Dragon triplet with a Pure Flush of its Suit (Bamboo/Green, Character/Red, or Dot/White).
Little Four Winds
HK Old Style
+10 Fan
Three triplets/quads (Pongs/Kongs) of Winds and a pair of the fourth Wind type.
Big Seven Pairs
HK Old Style
+9 Fan
Seven pairs with specific high-value combinations.
Big Three Dragons
HK Old Style
+8 Fan
Full triplets/quads of all three Dragons (Green, Red, White).
4 Concealed Pungs
HK Old Style
+8 Fan
Four triplets all DRAWN directly from the wall (none from discards), plus a winning pair.
Full Flush
HK Old Style
+7 Fan
Every tile in the hand belongs to exactly one suit. No honors.
Little Three Dragons
HK Old Style
+5 Fan
Two triplets/quads of Dragons and a pair of the third Dragon.
Seven Pairs (Legendary)
HK Old Style
+4 Fan
Seven distinct pairs of any suits or honors.
All Pungs
HK Old Style
+3 Fan
Hand consists entirely of Pungs or Kongs (Pongs) and a single pair.
Half Flush
HK Old Style
+3 Fan
A hand using tiles from only one suit plus any number of Honor tiles (Winds and Dragons).
Mixed One Number
HK Old Style
+3 Fan
A hand containing only one specific number (e.g. all 1s) and any Honor tiles.
All Simples
HK Old Style
+3 Fan
A clean victory consisting exclusively of only one suit. No honors allowed.
Full Flower/Season Set
HK Old Style
+2 Fan
Awarded for gathering all four Flower tiles (1-4) OR all four Season tiles (1-4).
Two Numbered Pungs
HK Old Style
+2 Fan
A hand composed entirely of tiles from only two specific numbers across any suits.
Dragon Pong
HK Old Style
+1 Fan
Awarded for any triplet or quad of Green, Red, or White Dragon tiles.
Chow Hand
HK Old Style
+1 Fan
A hand composed entirely of Chows (sequences) and a suit-based pair.
Terminal Pung
HK Old Style
+1 Fan
Awarded for any triplet (Pung) or quad (Kong) of 1s or 9s.
All Chows
HK Old Style
+1 Fan
Hand consists entirely of suits in sequential order (Chows) and a pair.
Seat/Round Wind
HK Old Style
+1 Fan
Awarded for possessing a triplet of your Seat Wind or the Prevailing Wind of the round.
Kong Reward
HK Old Style
+1 Fan
Awarded for every individual Kong (Quad) set present in your winning hand.
Eighteen Arhats
Cantonese
+18 Fan
The definitive achievement of possessing four full sets of four-of-a-kind (Kongs).
All Green (Imperial Jade)
Cantonese
+13 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of Green tiles (Bamboo 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or Green Dragons).
All Flowers
Cantonese
+13 Fan
Awarded for the collection of specific sequences or all eight Flower and Season tiles.
Seven Stars
Cantonese
+13 Fan
The ultimate honor victory: seven distinct pairs composed of all seven Winds and Dragons.
Two Numbers
Cantonese
+13 Fan
A hand composed entirely of tiles from only two specific numbers across any suits.
Thirteen Orphans (Legendary)
Cantonese
+13 Fan
One of every Terminal (1&9s) and every Wind/Dragon (13 unique tiles) plus any 14th duplicate.
Nine Gates (Heavenly)
Cantonese
+13 Fan
Requires exactly three 1s, three 9s, and one each of tiles 2-8 of a single suit. Plus any 14th tile of that suit.
Great Four Winds
Cantonese
+13 Fan
Four full triplets or quads composed of all four Wind types (E, S, W, N).
All Honors
Cantonese
+10 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of Honor tiles (Winds and Dragons). No suit tiles allowed.
Jade/Ruby/Pearl Dragon
Cantonese
+10 Fan
A legendary victory matching a specific Dragon triplet with a Pure Flush of its Suit (Bamboo/Green, Character/Red, or Dot/White).
All Terminals
Cantonese
+10 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of 1s and 9s. No suit tiles from 2-8 and no honors allowed.
Blessing of Heaven/Earth
Cantonese
+10 Fan
A legendary victory occurring on the very first draw (Heaven) or first discard (Earth/Man).
Little Four Winds
Cantonese
+10 Fan
Three triplets/quads (Pongs/Kongs) of Winds and a pair of the fourth Wind type.
8 Flowers
Cantonese
+8 Fan
Awarded for the collection of specific sequences or all eight Flower and Season tiles.
Big Three Dragons
Cantonese
+8 Fan
Full triplets/quads of all three Dragons (Green, Red, White).
4 Concealed Pungs
Cantonese
+8 Fan
Four triplets all DRAWN directly from the wall (none from discards), plus a winning pair.
Full Flush
Cantonese
+7 Fan
Every tile in the hand belongs to exactly one suit. No honors.
Big Seven Pairs
Cantonese
+7 Fan
Seven pairs with specific high-value combinations.
Little Three Dragons
Cantonese
+5 Fan
Two triplets/quads of Dragons and a pair of the third Dragon.
Seven Pairs (Legendary)
Cantonese
+4 Fan
Seven distinct pairs of any suits or honors.
All Pungs
Cantonese
+3 Fan
Hand consists entirely of Pungs or Kongs (Pongs) and a single pair.
Half Flush
Cantonese
+3 Fan
A hand using tiles from only one suit plus any number of Honor tiles (Winds and Dragons).
Mixed One Number
Cantonese
+3 Fan
A hand containing only one specific number (e.g. all 1s) and any Honor tiles.
All Simples
Cantonese
+3 Fan
A clean victory consisting exclusively of only one suit. No honors allowed.
Two Numbered Pungs
Cantonese
+2 Fan
A hand composed entirely of tiles from only two specific numbers across any suits.
All Chows
Cantonese
+1 Fan
Hand consists entirely of suits in sequential order (Chows) and a pair.
Chow Hand
Cantonese
+1 Fan
A hand composed entirely of Chows (sequences) and a suit-based pair.
Dragon Pong
Cantonese
+1 Fan
Awarded for any triplet or quad of Green, Red, or White Dragon tiles.
Seat/Round Wind
Cantonese
+1 Fan
Awarded for possessing a triplet of your Seat Wind or the Prevailing Wind of the round.
Terminal Pung
Cantonese
+1 Fan
Awarded for any triplet (Pung) or quad (Kong) of 1s or 9s.
Kong Reward
Cantonese
+1 Fan
Awarded for every individual Kong (Quad) set present in your winning hand.
All Green (Imperial Jade)
New Chapter
+13 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of Green tiles (Bamboo 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or Green Dragons).
Seven Stars
New Chapter
+13 Fan
The ultimate honor victory: seven distinct pairs composed of all seven Winds and Dragons.
Two Numbers
New Chapter
+13 Fan
A hand composed entirely of tiles from only two specific numbers across any suits.
All Flowers
New Chapter
+13 Fan
Awarded for the collection of specific sequences or all eight Flower and Season tiles.
Eighteen Arhats
New Chapter
+13 Fan
The definitive achievement of possessing four full sets of four-of-a-kind (Kongs).
Thirteen Orphans (Legendary)
New Chapter
+13 Fan
One of every Terminal (1&9s) and every Wind/Dragon (13 unique tiles) plus any 14th duplicate.
Nine Gates (Heavenly)
New Chapter
+13 Fan
Requires exactly three 1s, three 9s, and one each of tiles 2-8 of a single suit. Plus any 14th tile of that suit.
Great Four Winds
New Chapter
+13 Fan
Four full triplets or quads composed of all four Wind types (E, S, W, N).
Little Four Winds
New Chapter
+10 Fan
Three triplets/quads (Pongs/Kongs) of Winds and a pair of the fourth Wind type.
All Terminals
New Chapter
+10 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of 1s and 9s. No suit tiles from 2-8 and no honors allowed.
All Honors
New Chapter
+10 Fan
A hand composed exclusively of Honor tiles (Winds and Dragons). No suit tiles allowed.
Blessing of Heaven/Earth
New Chapter
+10 Fan
A legendary victory occurring on the very first draw (Heaven) or first discard (Earth/Man).
Jade/Ruby/Pearl Dragon
New Chapter
+10 Fan
A legendary victory matching a specific Dragon triplet with a Pure Flush of its Suit (Bamboo/Green, Character/Red, or Dot/White).
Big Three Dragons
New Chapter
+8 Fan
Full triplets/quads of all three Dragons (Green, Red, White).
4 Concealed Pungs
New Chapter
+8 Fan
Four triplets all DRAWN directly from the wall (none from discards), plus a winning pair.
Full Flush
New Chapter
+7 Fan
Every tile in the hand belongs to exactly one suit. No honors.
Little Three Dragons
New Chapter
+5 Fan
Two triplets/quads of Dragons and a pair of the third Dragon.
Seven Pairs (Legendary)
New Chapter
+4 Fan
Seven distinct pairs of any suits or honors.
Half Flush
New Chapter
+3 Fan
A hand using tiles from only one suit plus any number of Honor tiles (Winds and Dragons).
All Simples
New Chapter
+3 Fan
A clean victory consisting exclusively of only one suit. No honors allowed.
Mixed One Number
New Chapter
+3 Fan
A hand containing only one specific number (e.g. all 1s) and any Honor tiles.
All Pungs
New Chapter
+3 Fan
Hand consists entirely of Pungs or Kongs (Pongs) and a single pair.
Two Numbered Pungs
New Chapter
+2 Fan
A hand composed entirely of tiles from only two specific numbers across any suits.
Full Flower/Season Set
New Chapter
+2 Fan
Awarded for gathering all four Flower tiles (1-4) OR all four Season tiles (1-4).
Chow Hand
New Chapter
+1 Fan
A hand composed entirely of Chows (sequences) and a suit-based pair.
Terminal Pung
New Chapter
+1 Fan
Awarded for any triplet (Pung) or quad (Kong) of 1s or 9s.
All Chows
New Chapter
+1 Fan
Hand consists entirely of suits in sequential order (Chows) and a pair.
Dragon Pong
New Chapter
+1 Fan
Awarded for any triplet or quad of Green, Red, or White Dragon tiles.
Seat/Round Wind
New Chapter
+1 Fan
Awarded for possessing a triplet of your Seat Wind or the Prevailing Wind of the round.
Kong Reward
New Chapter
+1 Fan
Awarded for every individual Kong (Quad) set present in your winning hand.

07. Flowers & Seasons

Flowers and Seasons are "bonus" tiles. When you draw one, you reveal it and draw an immediate replacement. They don't count toward your 14 winning tiles but add value if they match your seat:

No. Flower Season Wind
1 Plum Spring East
2 Lily / Orchid Summer South
3 Chrysanthemum Autumn West
4 Bamboo Winter North

Note: If you win with Zero flowers/seasons, our system awards you a +1 Fan "Clean Hand" bonus.

08. The Economy of Mahjong

💰 EAST PAYS DOUBLE
The Power of East (Dealer)

The Dealer role is pivotal. If East wins, everyone pays them double. However, if East loses, they must pay double to the winner. This creates high-stakes swings in point totals.

Self-Draw (Zi Mo) vs Discard

If you win by Self-Draw, every other player pays you. If you win off someone's Discard, only that person pays you in full (others pay nothing or half depending on the ruleset).

💡
Our Calculation Method

The engine automatically calculates the Half-Spicy progression based on your total Fan and determines final point transactions between players instantly.

Ready to take your seat?

The scorer handles the mathematics and complex patterns. You focus on the strategy.

Our engine is based on the Hong Kong Mahjong ruleset. For a deeper dive into the methodology, refer to the standardized rules on MahjongTime.com.

Enter Game Dashboard Return to Main Site