Same tiles. Different possibilities.

Which game
is your game?

Mahjong has many rule traditions. Choose yours before looking up a hand, a payment or a strategy. These five books describe the rules used in Hé Fēn.

Traditional tai scoring

The club house sheet

Faan & doubled points

Yaku, dora & riichi

The 81-fan MCR system

Looking for American mahjong?

Start with your annual card.

Our introduction explains the approach and points you to the National Mah Jongg League’s original guidance. It does not reproduce the card.

Find the right reference

Hand counts below describe ordinary hands before and at a win; kongs and bonus tiles need separate accounting. Special winning patterns also exist.

Hé Fēn references and the American overview
Ruleset	Hand structure	Scoring approach	Know before you play
Taiwanese Classic →	16 in hand · 17 to win	Tai + a base stake	Choose this for traditional Taiwanese tai scoring. Table variations are listed in the guide.
Taiwanese Club →	16 in hand · 17 to win	Club points + a changing floor	Choose this if your table follows the Hé Fēn club sheet. Its minimums and payments differ from Classic.
Hong Kong →	13 in hand · 14 to win	Faan converted to points	This is our New Style ruleset. Check the guide’s minimum and scoring table against your local rules.
Japanese Riichi →	13 in hand · 14 to win	Yaku, han and fu	A hand needs a yaku to win; dora alone do not qualify it. Special winning shapes also exist.
Chinese Official →	13 in hand · 14 to win	81 scoring patterns	The eight-point minimum changes the value of speed. Read which bonuses count toward qualification.
American · overview →	Match the current card’s pattern	Card-defined hands	Identify the card publisher and year. Use your own original card and its applicable rules.

Hand structure: 16 in hand · 17 to win
Scoring approach: Tai + a base stake
Know before you play: Choose this for traditional Taiwanese tai scoring. Table variations are listed in the guide.

Hand structure: 16 in hand · 17 to win
Scoring approach: Club points + a changing floor
Know before you play: Choose this if your table follows the Hé Fēn club sheet. Its minimums and payments differ from Classic.

Hand structure: 13 in hand · 14 to win
Scoring approach: Faan converted to points
Know before you play: This is our New Style ruleset. Check the guide’s minimum and scoring table against your local rules.

Hand structure: 13 in hand · 14 to win
Scoring approach: Yaku, han and fu
Know before you play: A hand needs a yaku to win; dora alone do not qualify it. Special winning shapes also exist.

Hand structure: 13 in hand · 14 to win
Scoring approach: 81 scoring patterns
Know before you play: The eight-point minimum changes the value of speed. Read which bonuses count toward qualification.

Hand structure: Match the current card’s pattern
Scoring approach: Card-defined hands
Know before you play: Identify the card publisher and year. Use your own original card and its applicable rules.

Official competition editions and house tables can differ from the app. Check the reference directory →