Game guides

MCR Mahjong

8-point minimum · 81 patterns

Play Mahjong
A regular winning shape4 + 1

sets + pair

tiles14
The rule to remember8 non-flower points

The rule to remember

Flowers do not unlock the eight-point minimum

Not enough
+

7 + 1 flower

Only 7 non-flower points: cannot declare a win.

Requirement met
+

8 + 1 flower

8 qualifying points; 9 points including the flower.

These diagrams explain one requirement at a time, not a complete winning-hand check.

These guides describe the rules played on mahjchina. Local Mahjong rules vary; check the room settings before you start. Learn to play →

A regular hand, explained

4 sets + 1 pair = 14 tiles

Sequence
Characters
Sequence
Characters
Sequence
Dots
Triplet
Bamboo
Pair
Characters

This illustrates the tile structure only. A complete shape must also satisfy the winning requirements of the chosen game. Kongs count as sets but contain four tiles.

One turn, three decisions

  1. 01

    Draw

    Take a tile from the wall.

  2. 02

    Choose

    Keep useful groups together.

  3. 03
    Chosen discard

    Discard

    Place one tile face up.

A cropped hand illustrates an ordinary draw-and-discard turn. Calls and replacement draws follow their own rules.

Four building blocks

Sequence

Three consecutive numbers, one suit.

Triplet

Three identical tiles.

Kong

Four identical tiles; draw a replacement.

Pair

Two identical tiles.

What MCR means

MCR stands for Mahjong Competition Rules. mahjchina uses the 2006 rules with 81 scoring patterns. A regular winning hand has four sets and a pair, with separate rules for special hands such as Seven Pairs and Thirteen Orphans.

The eight-point minimum

You need at least eight points before adding flower points. Seven points plus one flower is not a qualifying win; eight points plus one flower gives a final nine-point hand. Plan your scoring patterns as well as your tile structure.

Claiming tiles and combining patterns

Chow takes the previous player’s discard; pung and kong can take another player’s discard. A winning claim has priority. Some patterns include or exclude others, so you cannot simply add every pattern you recognize.

An eight-point payment example

In private-room scoring, an eight-point self-draw receives 16 from each of three opponents, for +48. Winning on a discard receives 16 from the discarder and 8 from each other opponent, for +32. Coin games convert the final scores into competitive points and charge a fixed entry fee.

Scoring & calculators →

Play Mahjong Game guides →

Questions about this rule profile

Do flowers count toward the eight-point minimum?

No. The MCR calculator requires at least 8 qualifying points before flower points are added. A complete hand shape and flowers alone do not satisfy that minimum.

Can Four Concealed Pungs combine with Fully Concealed Hand?

Yes, on self-draw. Item 12 in the cited WMO 2006 fan table allows this combination. The 79-point example includes 4 points for Fully Concealed Hand; it does not also add Self-Drawn.

Primary references and their scope →

In-play details

Winning conditions, calls, draws and settlement for this ruleset.

Eight qualifying points; flowers extra

This game uses MCR 2006. At least eight non-flower points are required to win. Seven points plus one flower do not qualify; eight points plus one flower produce nine scoring points.

Regular and special structures

A regular hand has four sets and a pair. Seven Pairs, Seven Shifted Pairs, Thirteen Orphans, Greater/Lesser Honors and Knitted Tiles, and Knitted Straight have separate rules. Never combine fans from different interpretations. Honor tiles do not count as Tile Hog in this ruleset.

Claim priority

Chow claims the previous player’s discard; pung and exposed kong may claim other seats. Win has priority over pung/kong, which have priority over chow. Multiple potential winners are resolved by the nearest seat after the discarder. An added kong may still be robbed.

Fans and exclusions

The 81 fans are evaluated within one legal interpretation, winning-tile placement and identified tile groups, then the highest legal score is selected. Included fans, exclusions and group reuse limit addition. Chicken Hand requires every valid interpretation to have no other non-flower fan; it cannot be chosen simply to reach eight.

Replacement and last-tile events

Direct kong replacement, flower replacement, the last wall tile, the fourth publicly visible copy and robbing an added kong are separate facts. A flower replacement after a kong is not a direct Out with Replacement Tile win.

Payment example

At a final score of 8 points, a self-draw earns 16 from each opponent: +48. On a discard win, the discarder pays 16 and the other two pay 8 each: +32. Flowers add to the scoring total only after qualification. This is a private-room scoring example. Coin games show competitive points and rank changes.

Dealer rotation and review

In friend rooms, the dealer rotates each hand and the round wind advances every four hands; draws count too. Review discards, scoring details and replays. Suggested discards are not guaranteed to avoid an opponent’s winning tile.

Value

The MCR fan catalogue is based on the WMO 2006 reference. The calculator applies mahjchina’s implemented scoring and one-winner payments; it does not reproduce every tournament procedure. Rule choices & sources →

Hand scoring calculator

Choose concealed tiles and melds. The last concealed tile is the winning tile. Patterns are detected using the game’s scoring engine.

Calculated on this device. The scoring engine downloads on first use.

Uses mahjchina’s rules and scores one winner. Other tables may differ. Rule choices & sources →

Concealed tiles, including the win

The last tile is the winning tile. Click a selected tile to remove it.

Chow: choose its lowest tile

Characters
Dots
Bamboo
Honors
Winning context and advanced options
Flowers (identities 1–8)

Calculates one winner. Earlier kong payments, simultaneous winners, draw penalties and competitive points are not included. This is not server authorization to win.

Calculators show rule scores, not competitive points or rank stars.

Rule units, not coins

Regular hands and useful comparisons

Compare a regular self-draw, the same hand missing one tile, and the same complete hand won on a discard. Load any example to inspect or change its settings.

Regular self-draw

Called sets are shown separately. All other settings start at the calculator defaults.

Win method / discarder: Self draw

2p 3p 4p 2s 3s 4s 6m 6m 6m 5p 5p

Called sets

Chow

Total · points: 11

  • Mixed triple chow · 8
  • All simples · 2
  • Self drawn · 1

Player changes (You / 1 / 2 / 3): +57 / -19 / -19 / -19

Load this hand ↑

One tile missing

The regular example with its last tile removed. Add the missing tile before trying to score a complete winning hand.

Win method / discarder: Self draw

2p 3p 4p 2s 3s 4s 6m 6m 6m 5p

Called sets

Chow

Invalid tile count or identity. Check concealed tiles, melds and winning tile.

Load this hand ↑

Same hand, discard win

Only the winning source changes from self-draw to player 1’s discard. The tiles and other conditions stay the same.

Win method / discarder: Discard win · Player 1

2p 3p 4p 2s 3s 4s 6m 6m 6m 5p 5p

Called sets

Chow

Total · points: 10

  • Mixed triple chow · 8
  • All simples · 2

Player changes (You / 1 / 2 / 3): +34 / -18 / -8 / -8

Load this hand ↑

A worked scoring example

This is the same hand and default settings used by Load example. The last tile shown is the winning tile. Load it above and calculate to check the result.

No exposed sets; self-draw; East seat; no flowers or special events. Other special options are off.

1m 1m 1m 2m 2m 2m 3p 3p 3p 4s 4s 4s 5m 5m

Scoring breakdown

79 qualifying points, no flowers. Each opponent pays 8 + 79 = 87; winner receives 261 points.

Payments: winner / players 1, 2, 3
+261 / -87 / -87 / -87

This example uses rule points, not money, coins or a complete match settlement.

Load example ↑

Patterns and scoring table

These are this game’s rules. Exclusions, repeated sets and concealed-hand conditions affect combinations: do not simply add table values. The calculator selects a valid interpretation.

Detected patternsValue · pointsRequirement
Big four winds88A pung or kong of each of the four winds. Not counted again: Big three winds, All pungs, Prevalent wind, Seat wind, Pung of terminals or honors
Big three dragons88A pung or kong of each dragon. Not counted again: Two dragon pungs, Dragon pung
All green88Only 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 bamboo and green dragons.
Nine gates88Concealed 1112345678999 in one suit, plus any tile of that suit; no kong. Not counted again: Full flush, Concealed hand, Pung of terminals or honors
Four kongs88Four kongs and a pair. Not counted again: Single wait
Seven shifted pairs88Seven consecutive pairs in one suit. Not counted again: Full flush, Concealed hand, Single wait
Thirteen orphans881 and 9 of all three suits and all seven honors, plus one duplicate. Not counted again: All types, Concealed hand, Single wait
All terminals64Only 1s and 9s of numbered suits. Not counted again: All pungs, Outside hand, Pung of terminals or honors, No honors
Little four winds64Three wind pungs/kongs and a pair of the fourth wind. Not counted again: Big three winds, Pung of terminals or honors
Little three dragons64Two dragon pungs/kongs and a pair of the third dragon. Not counted again: Dragon pung, Two dragon pungs
All honors64Only winds and dragons. Not counted again: All pungs, Outside hand, Pung of terminals or honors
Four concealed pungs64Four concealed pungs/kongs; a pung completed by ron is not concealed. Not counted again: All pungs, Concealed hand
Pure terminal chows64Two 123 and two 789 chows in one suit, with a pair of 5s. Not counted again: Seven pairs, Full flush, All chows, Pure double chow, Two terminal chows
Quadruple chow48Four identical chows in one suit. Not counted again: Pure shifted pungs, Tile hog, Pure double chow
Four pure shifted pungs48Four pungs/kongs of consecutive ranks in one suit. Not counted again: Pure triple chow, All pungs
Four shifted chows32Four chows in one suit, starts stepping consistently by 1 or 2. Not counted again: Short straight
Three kongs32Three kongs.
All terminals and honors32Only terminals and honors, with both present. Not counted again: All pungs, Pung of terminals or honors
Seven pairs24Seven pairs, with no melds. In this profile, four identical tiles may form two pairs. Not counted again: Concealed hand, Single wait
Greater honors and knitted tiles24All seven honors and seven distinct tiles from a knitted 147/258/369 suit assignment. Not counted again: All types, Concealed hand
All even pungs24Only even-numbered tiles (2, 4, 6, 8), in pungs/kongs and a pair. Not counted again: All pungs, All simples
Full flush24Only one numbered suit, with no honors. Not counted again: No honors
Pure triple chow24Three identical chows in one suit. Not counted again: Pure shifted pungs, Pure double chow
Pure shifted pungs24Three pungs/kongs of consecutive ranks in one suit. Not counted again: Pure triple chow
Upper tiles24Only numbered tiles 7, 8 and 9. Not counted again: No honors
Middle tiles24Only numbered tiles 4, 5 and 6. Not counted again: No honors, All simples
Lower tiles24Only numbered tiles 1, 2 and 3. Not counted again: No honors
Pure straight16123, 456 and 789 chows in the same suit.
Three suited terminal chows16123 and 789 in each of two suits; a pair of 5s in the third. Not counted again: Pure double chow, Two terminal chows, No honors, All chows
Pure shifted chows16Three same-suit chows with starts stepping consistently by 1 or 2.
All fives16Every set and the pair contains a 5. Not counted again: All simples
Triple pung16Same-rank pungs/kongs in all three suits.
Three concealed pungs16Three concealed pungs/kongs; discard-completed pungs do not count.
Lesser honors and knitted tiles12Fourteen distinct honors/numbered tiles from a knitted 147/258/369 assignment. Not counted again: All types, Concealed hand
Knitted straight12147 in one suit, 258 in another, 369 in the third, plus a set and pair.
Upper four12Only numbered tiles 6–9. Not counted again: No honors
Lower four12Only numbered tiles 1–4. Not counted again: No honors
Big three winds12Pungs/kongs of three different winds.
Mixed straight8123, 456 and 789 chows in three different suits.
Reversible tiles8Only dots 1234589, bamboo 245689 and white dragons. Not counted again: One voided suit
Mixed triple chow8The same chow in all three suits.
Mixed shifted pungs8Three pungs/kongs, one per suit, with consecutive ranks.
Chicken hand8A legal win with no other scoring fan; flowers are handled separately.
Last tile draw8Win on the final draw from the live wall. Not counted again: Self drawn
Last tile claim8Win on the discard after the final live-wall draw.
Out with replacement tile8Win directly on the replacement draw after a kong.
Robbing the kong8Win by claiming another player’s added-kong tile. Not counted again: Last tile
Two concealed kongs8Two concealed kongs.
All pungs6Every set is a pung or kong, plus a pair.
Half flush6One numbered suit and honors; both must be present.
Mixed shifted chows6One chow in each suit, with consecutive starting ranks.
All types6All three numbered suits, winds and dragons are present.
Melded hand6Four exposed sets, winning by discard on the pair. Not counted again: Single wait
Two dragon pungs6Pungs/kongs of two dragons.
Outside hand4Every set and the pair contains a terminal or honor.
Fully concealed hand4No exposed sets, winning by self-draw.
Two melded kongs4Two exposed kongs.
Last tile4The other three copies of the win tile are visible; enter public tiles.
Dragon pung2One dragon pung or kong; counted separately for each.
Prevalent wind2A pung or kong of the round wind.
Seat wind2A pung or kong of your seat wind.
Concealed hand2No exposed sets, winning on another player’s discard.
All chows2Four chows with a numbered pair. Not counted again: No honors
Tile hog2Four copies of a numbered tile outside a kong; honors do not qualify here.
Double pung2Same-rank pungs/kongs in two suits.
Two concealed pungs2Two concealed pungs/kongs, excluding discard-completed pungs.
Concealed kong2Four identical tiles declared as a concealed kong.
All simples2Only numbered tiles 2–8; no terminals or honors.
Pure double chow1Two identical chows in the same suit.
Mixed double chow1The same chow in two suits.
Short straight1Two consecutive chows in one suit, such as 123 and 456.
Two terminal chows1123 and 789 chows in the same suit.
Pung of terminals or honors1A terminal or non-value wind pung, subject to exclusions.
Melded kong1An exposed kong claimed from a discard or added to a pung.
One voided suit1Exactly two of the three numbered suits are present.
No honors1No winds or dragons.
Edge wait13 completes 123 or 7 completes 789; MCR also requires a single winning tile type.
Closed wait1Win on the middle tile of a chow; MCR requires a single winning tile type.
Single wait1Complete the pair; MCR requires a single winning tile type.
Self drawn1Draw the winning tile yourself.
Flower tiles1One point per flower, excluded from the eight-point minimum.

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