Mahjong Scoring Rules: How Points Work
Scoring is where mahjong styles diverge the most. American mahjong uses fixed point values, Hong Kong uses faan multipliers, and riichi combines han and fu. Here is how each system works.
How Does American Mahjong Scoring Work?
American mahjong (mah jongg) uses fixed point values printed on the NMJL card. Each winning hand has a value between 25 and 75 points. Harder hands are worth more.
Payment Rules
- •Win by discard: The discarder pays double the hand value. Other two players pay face value.
- •Self-drawn win: All three opponents pay double the hand value.
- •Jokerless hand: All opponents pay double (does not apply to Singles and Pairs hands).
- •Wall game: No payments when no one wins.
Example: A 30-point hand won by discard. The discarder pays 60 points (double), the other two players pay 30 each. Total collected: 120 points.
How Does Hong Kong Mahjong Scoring Work?
Hong Kong mahjong uses faan (番), point multipliers that stack. Most games require a minimum of 3 faan to declare a winning hand. More faan means exponentially higher payouts.
Common Faan Sources
1 Faan
- • Dragon pung/kong
- • Seat or round wind pung
- • Self-drawn win
- • All Chows
3 Faan
- • All Pungs
- • Half Flush (one suit + honors)
6 Faan
- • Full Flush (one suit only)
Limit
- • Thirteen Orphans
- • Nine Gates
- • All Honors
Payment rules: Win by discard — the discarder pays double, others pay base. Win by self-draw — all three opponents pay double. Dealer (East) involvement doubles payments further.
How Does Riichi Mahjong Scoring Work?
Riichi mahjong has the most complex scoring system. It combines han (hand value from yaku patterns and dora bonus tiles) with fu (minipoints from tile combinations and win conditions).
Point Thresholds
| Level | Han | Non-Dealer Points |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 1 han 30 fu | 1,000 |
| Basic | 2 han 30 fu | 2,000 |
| Basic | 3 han 30 fu | 3,900 |
| Mangan | 5 han | 8,000 |
| Haneman | 6-7 han | 12,000 |
| Baiman | 8-10 han | 16,000 |
| Sanbaiman | 11-12 han | 24,000 |
| Yakuman | 13+ han | 32,000 |
The dealer (East) receives 50% more points than non-dealers. At 5+ han, the han/fu formula is replaced by fixed mangan-level payouts, simplifying calculation for high-value hands.
Scoring Comparison Table
| Feature | American | Hong Kong | Riichi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring unit | Points (25-75) | Faan (番) | Han + Fu |
| Complexity | Simple | Moderate | Complex |
| Minimum to win | Match NMJL card | 3 faan (typical) | 1 yaku |
| Discard penalty | Discarder pays 2x | Discarder pays 2x | Discarder pays all |
| Self-draw bonus | All pay 2x | All pay 2x | Split payment |
| Annual changes | Yes (new card) | No | No |
Common Scoring Mistakes to Avoid
Forgetting the discard penalty
In both American and Hong Kong mahjong, the person who discards the winning tile pays double. This is easy to forget and significantly changes the payout.
Ignoring the minimum faan requirement
In Hong Kong mahjong, completing a hand with fewer than 3 faan means you cannot win. Always count your faan before declaring.
Miscounting jokerless bonuses
In American mahjong, a jokerless hand doubles the payout — but only for standard hands, not Singles and Pairs. This exception catches many players.
Confusing riichi dealer vs non-dealer payouts
In riichi mahjong, the dealer receives and pays 50% more than non-dealers. This asymmetry matters for seat strategy and risk calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More About Each Style
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