Compare five Mahjong rulesets
How do Mahjong rules differ?
The five rulesets taught here share drawing, discarding and forming hands. Taiwan normally uses 16 tiles between turns; the other four use 13. Winning requirements and scoring differ, so agree on a ruleset before playing.
These guides describe the rules played on mahjchina. Local Mahjong rules vary; check the room settings before you start.
| Ruleset | Regular winning shape | Requirement to remember | Scoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong → | 4 sets + 1 pair 14 tiles | 3 fan minimum | Fan Open calculator → |
| MCR → | 4 sets + 1 pair 14 tiles | 8 non-flower points | Points Open calculator → |
| Sichuan → | 4 sets + 1 pair 14 tiles | Clear the missing suit | Fan Open calculator → |
| Taiwan → | 5 sets + 1 pair 17 tiles | 5 sets + 1 pair | Tai Open calculator → |
| Riichi → | 4 sets + 1 pair 14 tiles | At least one yaku | Han, fu and limit hands Open calculator → |
Counts describe a regular complete hand, before extra kong tiles and exposed flowers. Special hands can use a different shape. Meeting the requirement shown is not a full legality check.
Which Mahjong should I learn first?
Start with tile families and ordinary turns, then choose one ruleset your friends use or that interests you. Learn its winning condition before memorizing the scoring table. There is no need to learn all five at once.
Learn your first hand →