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MahjongSetGuide
Guide

Chinese mahjong rules, Hong Kong style

There are many Chinese rule sets, and every family has house rules. Hong Kong style is the one most players outside mainland tournaments learn first, and the others are close enough that it is the right place to start.

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Tiles and setup

Hong Kong mahjong uses all 144 tiles: three suits of one to nine, four of each; four winds; three dragons; and eight flowers and seasons. The tiles are shuffled face down and each player builds a wall 18 stacks long and two high. The dealer, East, rolls to choose where the wall is broken.

Each player takes 13 tiles and East takes 14. Any flower or season drawn is placed face up beside you and immediately replaced with a tile from the end of the wall.

A turn

East discards first and play moves counter-clockwise. On your turn you draw one tile and discard one. The goal is a hand of four sets and a pair — 14 tiles in total.

Pung, chow and kong

  • Pung: three identical tiles. You can claim any player’s discard to make one.
  • Chow: three consecutive tiles in one suit. You can only claim a chow from the player on your left, the one who discards just before your turn.
  • Kong: four identical tiles. After declaring a kong you draw a replacement tile from the end of the wall, because a kong uses one more tile than a normal set.
  • If two players want the same discard, a winning claim beats a pung or kong, and a pung or kong beats a chow.

Winning and the minimum score

You win by completing four sets and a pair, either from your own draw or by claiming a discard. Most Hong Kong tables set a minimum value, often three faan, that a hand must reach before it may be declared. A hand of random chows and pungs with no scoring features usually does not qualify, which stops players racing to finish the cheapest hand possible.

Simple faan scoring

Faan are points for features of the hand. Values vary from table to table, so agree a list before you start. Features that score on almost every list:

  • All chows, or all pungs.
  • One suit only, with or without honour tiles.
  • A pung of dragons, or of your seat wind or the round wind.
  • Flowers and seasons that match your seat.
  • Winning on your own draw, or with a fully concealed hand.
  • Limit hands such as thirteen orphans, which score the table maximum.

What changes in other Chinese styles

Taiwanese mahjong deals 16 tiles and builds five sets and a pair. Chinese Official, the tournament ruleset, uses a long fixed list of 81 scoring patterns and a minimum of eight points. Shanghai and Cantonese family rules vary further. All of them play on the same 144-tile set, which is why a Chinese set is the most versatile first purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need racks for Chinese mahjong?

No. Tiles stand on edge in front of you. Racks are an American mahjong accessory, though some players like them for comfort.

Which tile size should I buy for Chinese mahjong?

Size 36 is the usual choice. It is easy to read and four walls fit on a 34-inch table with a mat.

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