Learn a little. Try it yourself.
Your first seat at the mahjong table.
Four players. A hand of tiles. One goal: build a winning combination. You do not need to read Chinese or know any Cantonese to begin.
Beginner practice · No minimum score requiredWhat does a winning hand look like?
Start with the simplest pattern: four sets of three tiles, plus one matching pair. Tap each group to see how it works.
3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 = 14 tiles
This example has no kongs. A kong is a set of four identical tiles; you will meet it later.
Draw, check, discard
Usually, you have 13 tiles. Draw one to make 14, check whether you can win, then discard one if you cannot.
The dealer starts with 14 and makes the first discard. Tiles you have already declared face-up still count as part of your hand.
Learn the words as you go
Every key term comes with an English meaning, Chinese writing and Jyutping pronunciation.
In Jyutping, the numbers show Cantonese tones. Tap Listen to hear the term. You do not need to memorise the tone numbers before playing.
What about scoring and special hands?
Many Hong Kong tables require at least three faan (番, faan1) to win. Agree on the rules before playing. This introductory practice has no minimum faan requirement, so you can focus on forming a hand.
Special hands, such as Thirteen Orphans (十三么), follow a different pattern. You can learn those after you are comfortable with four sets and a pair.
02 / Meet the tiles
You do not have to learn 144 different pictures.
There are three numbered suits and seven honour tiles. Each design has four identical copies. Eight optional bonus tiles complete the set.
108 suited tiles + 28 honours + 8 bonus tiles = 144.
Without flowers and seasons, you play with 136. This gallery shows one of each design, with its copy count.
03 / Make a set
Spot a pattern. Complete it.
Learn sequences, triplets and pairs first. Select a tile, then press Submit answer.
Kong · Four identical tiles
A declared kong counts as one set. Draw a replacement tile from the back of the wall, then discard unless you win. Each kong adds one physical tile to the usual 14-tile winning hand.
More about declaring a kong
You may claim a discard to make a kong when you hold the other three matching tiles. If you already have an exposed pung, you may upgrade it using the fourth tile you draw yourself; you cannot claim a discard just to upgrade it.
A concealed kong is also declared and receives a replacement tile. Bonus flowers and seasons are always counted separately.
04 / Try a turn
Your tiles. Your first decision.
This is a guided practice turn. You are South, and the dealer has already discarded. No flowers, kongs or minimum faan are used in this exercise.
Opposite you
On your left
East → You → West → North
On your right
You
Draw one tile to begin.
You have 13 tiles. Tap Draw a tile to see what you pick up.
When can you claim a discard?
You can claim the tile just discarded if it completes an allowed set or a winning hand.
- Chow — 上 (soeng5): only from the player on your left. Use it to complete a sequence in one suit.
- Pung — 碰 (pung3): from any opponent, when you hold two matching tiles.
- Kong — 槓 (gong3): from any opponent, when you hold three matching tiles.
- Win — 食糊 (sik6 wu2): from any opponent if the tile completes an eligible winning hand—even if it completes a sequence.
Priority: win → pung or kong → chow.
After a chow or pung, show the set and discard without drawing. After a kong, draw a replacement first. After a winning claim, reveal your hand; do not discard.
After a set claim, play continues to the claimant’s right. Some players may be skipped. If more than one player can win on a discard, follow the table’s agreed rules.
Flowers, self-draw and the end of a hand
Flowers and seasons: whenever one appears in your starting tiles or is drawn, reveal it, set it aside and replace it from the back of the wall. Repeat if the replacement is another bonus tile. They do not make sets or pairs; their scoring depends on the rules used.
If the playable wall runs out before anyone wins, the hand ends in a draw.
05 / Check your skills
What can you spot now?
Start with pictures, then try a few table situations. Choose an answer and submit when you are ready.
06 / Points & faan
A complete hand is the start. Now count its value.
Hong Kong Mahjong measures a winning hand in faan (番, faan1). Recognised patterns and bonuses add to its score.
These are common Hong Kong scoring values, not a universal payment table. Agree on the minimum faan, allowed bonuses and maximum score before playing. The earlier exercises remain in beginner mode, with no minimum faan.
Common patterns to recognise
| Pattern | Faan | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Hand 雞糊gai1 wu2 | 0 | A complete hand with no scoring patterns or bonuses. It can win only when the agreed rules allow 0-faan hands. |
| All chows 平糊 | 1 | Four sequences and a pair. Our examples use a suited pair; pair restrictions vary. |
| All pungs 對對糊 | 3 | Four triplets or kongs, plus a pair. |
| Mixed one suit 混一色 | 3 | One numbered suit together with honours. |
| Pure one suit 清一色 | 7 | Every tile belongs to the same numbered suit; no honours. |
| Dragon triplet 三元牌 | +1 each | A triplet or kong of Red, Green or White Dragons. |
| Seat wind 門風 | +1 | A triplet or kong of your own seat wind. |
| Round wind 圈風 | +1 | A triplet or kong of the current round wind. |
| Self-draw 自摸 | +1 | You draw the winning tile yourself. |
A pair of dragons or winds does not earn the triplet bonus. A wind triplet can earn both seat-wind and round-wind bonuses when they match. Some patterns combine; special and limit hands need their own rules.
Try scoring a complete hand
Choose an example, then change the winning method. Each picture already contains a complete hand; this is a learning calculator for these examples.
Example assumptions: at least one set is exposed; no flower, concealed-hand or special-win bonuses are counted. No payment conversion is applied. Changing this minimum affects only this scoring example.
Faan and payment are different
First count the hand’s faan. Then use your table’s agreed payout scale to convert that value into chips or money. The base stake, score cap and who pays can differ, so 3 faan does not mean £3 or three chips.
Flowers and additional bonuses
When flowers are in play, common bonuses include no flowers: 1 faan and each flower or season matching your seat: 1 faan. Seat numbers are East 1, South 2, West 3 and North 4. Follow the numbers printed on your tiles.
Some tables award 1 faan for a concealed hand. Flower sets, replacement-tile wins and rare hands have additional rules. Confirm these before adding them, and do not automatically award “no flowers” when the game removes bonus tiles entirely.