A comprehensive beginner's guide to the game
Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and calculation played with 144 tiles. The goal is to build a complete hand of 14 tiles arranged in specific patterns.
Standard Mahjong is played with 4 players seated at a square table. Each player represents a wind direction: East, South, West, or North.
Be the first to complete a legal winning hand (Mahjong) by collecting 14 tiles in specific combinations: 4 sets + 1 pair.
Players take turns drawing and discarding tiles. You may claim discarded tiles to complete sets. The round ends when someone wins or the wall is exhausted.
The 144 tiles are divided into suits, honors, and bonus tiles. Learning to recognize them is your first step.
Three suits with tiles numbered 1-9, four copies of each.
Represented by circular dots. 1 Circles has one large dot, 2 Circles has two dots, continuing to 9 Circles.
Depicted as bamboo sticks. Note: 1 Bamboo traditionally shows a bird, not a stick.
Features Chinese characters representing the numbers. These represent units of 10,000.
Four copies each of East, South, West, and North winds. These are special tiles used in specific sets.
Four copies each of three dragon types: Red Dragon, Green Dragon, and White Dragon (blank or frame).
4 Flowers (Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo) and 4 Seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter). These are revealed immediately when drawn and replaced with a tile from the dead wall.
Terminals: 1s and 9s of each suit (simples are 2-8)
Honors: All winds and dragons
These distinctions matter for certain winning hands and scoring.
Learn the fundamental flow of a Mahjong game from setup to winning.
Turn order: East → South → West → North (counter-clockwise)
Three identical tiles
Example: Three 5 Circles
Can be claimed from any player's discard
Four identical tiles
Example: Four Red Dragons
Can be concealed or claimed. Draw replacement tile after declaring.
Three consecutive tiles of the same suit
Example: 3-4-5 Bamboo
Can only be claimed from the player before you (to your right)
Two identical tiles
Example: Two West winds
Every winning hand needs exactly one pair
A complete winning hand consists of:
You can win by drawing the winning tile yourself (self-drawn) or by claiming another player's discard.
Declare "Mahjong!" when you complete your hand, reveal your tiles, and collect points.
When a tile is discarded, claims are prioritized:
If multiple players want the discard, the highest priority wins. If tied, the player closest in turn order wins.
Hong Kong Mahjong uses a point-based scoring system. Here are the fundamentals.
A legal winning hand with no special features scores a minimum amount (typically 1-3 fan depending on house rules).
+3 fan
All four sets are Pongs (no Chows)
+1 fan
All four sets are Chows (no Pongs)
+3 fan
All suited tiles from one suit, plus winds/dragons
+7 fan
All tiles from a single suit, no honors
+10 fan (limit hand)
Only wind and dragon tiles
+1 fan
You drew your winning tile (not claimed)
+1 fan each
Pong of your seat wind or round wind
+1 fan
Pong of any dragon tile
Hong Kong Mahjong typically uses a "fan" system where each fan doubles the base score:
Most clubs set a maximum (limit hand) at 10+ fan. House rules vary, so always clarify scoring before playing.
In traditional scoring:
Keep suits separated and arranged numerically. This helps you spot potential sets and sequences quickly.
Keep tiles that can form multiple combinations. Middle tiles (3-7) are more flexible than terminals.
Pay attention to what others discard. If someone discards multiple of one suit, they're likely going for a different suit.
Claiming tiles reveals your strategy and limits flexibility. Only call when it significantly advances your hand.
When defensive, discard tiles others have already discarded—they're less likely to complete someone's set.
If your hand isn't progressing and others seem close to winning, play defensively by discarding safe tiles.
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