HOW TO PLAY
6. Scoring
You have been warned: scoring mahjong hands according to my family’s house rules is complicated. Here, I have attempted to boil down the most essential and foolproof way to do it.
As a reminder, these are just my family’s house rules based on the classic Chinese-style of play, and over the years I’ve learned that there is an incredibly broad range of specific rules and scoring systems that people play by. So if you want to come up with your own house rules, by all means do so!
If your family’s rules are similar but different in key ways, let me know how - I’d be fascinated to learn.
Calculating the Score
STEP 1: Count base score
NO
+0
1. Did you win the hand?
YES
+30
2. Did you have any SETS when the hand ended?
*Note: Sets of “1s, 9s, winds or dragons” are worth more points because they are harder to complete.
NO
+0
YES
Add points to your score based on types of sets and how they were revealed as shown below
If YES
3. Do you have any PAIRS of value tiles*?
* Value tiles = Dragon tiles OR relevant wind position tiles
NO
+0
YES
+2
4. Did the winner win under an unusual circumstance?
NO
+0
YES
Picked up an eye as the last tile
+2
Picked up the only viable call in a run
(ex: a 3 to complete a run of 1-2-3; OR a 7 to complete a run of 7-8-9; OR a middle tile like a 4 in a run of 3-4-5)
+2
Drew the winning tile from the wall “gee maw” (self-pick up)
+2
STEP 2: Add doubles ("fans")
Once you have counted up your base score, all players are awarded “doubles” for collecting specific types of sets or making specific maneuvers to win. Doubles are also referred to as “fans,” and some households set a certain number of “fans” (listed below) as a minimum requirement to win the hand (for example: a 3-fan hand could mean winning with a hand of all sets, all one suit, and a set of dragons). “Fan” requirements add difficulty and additional strategy to the game. Since my family carefully counts up every point, we don’t play with a minimum “difficulty” requirement — every point counts!
1. Do you have one or more SETS of value tiles*?
* Value tiles = Dragon tiles OR relevant wind position tiles (ie. a set of E in the E round, or a set of S and you’re in the S seat)
NO
+0
YES
2X
Double your score for EACH value set
2. For the winner only—did you:
Win the hand with ALL RUNS or ALL SETS (not including the pair)
Win the hand with all tiles in ONE SUIT + some value tiles
Draw the winning tile “off the back” of the wall
Win the hand with all tiles concealed (no sets or runs laid down before winning the hand)
NO
+0
YES
2X
Double your score (or: +1 Fan) for each scenario
STEP 3: Round up
NO
+0
1. Did you score any points?
YES
Round up
Round up to the nearest multiple of 10. (Ex: 32 rounds up to 40.) Reminder: Chips are counted multiples of ten.
Payout to the Winner
1. Did you win the hand?
NO
Pay the winner
YES
Collect payment from the other 3 players
2. Did you discard the winning tile?
NO
1x
Pay the winner the original rounded score
YES
2x
Pay the winner double the rounded score
3. Did the winner draw the winning tile from the wall?
NO
1x
Other players who did not discard the winning tile pay the winner the rounded score
YES
2x
All other players must pay winner double
4. Did the banker lose the hand?
Winning as the banker can be lucrative and means another turn at being the banker. Whereas losing as the banker could mean paying more when settling up with the other non-winners.
NO
Sit on the bank
If the banker wins, they will remain the banker for the next hand
YES
Pass the bank
The role of banker will rotate to the next player.
Settling Up Amongst Non-Winners
Think of this section as the losers of the hand trying to recoup some of their losses. Some households skip this step entirely (as it can slow down the game), but I suppose my family likes to squeeze every penny and celebrate minor victories in the form of compensation for sets collected throughout the hand (even if it didn’t result in a win).
1. Did you lose the hand?
The winner of a hand never has to pay up, but the other three non-winners settle up amongst themselves based on the points they scored during the hand.
All payouts are settled up using your chips.
NO
Congrats! Sit back, relax
YES
Payout
Non-winners compare scores with each other and recoup the differential.
For example, if Player A scored 20 points from their hand, and Player B scored 10 points, then Player B would pay Player A 10 points.
However, the banker either pays or receives double the differential.
Using the same example, if Player A is the banker, they would receive 20 points from Player B (2x 10 points). If Player B was the banker, they would have to pay 20 points to Player A.
If Player A and Player B both scored 10 points, that is considered “a wash” and no chips are exchanged.
Strategy Tips
GO AFTER DIFFICULT HANDS
A player is rewarded with more points for successfully putting together hands that defy the rules of probability (think of shooting the moon in Hearts). In my family, according to my dad, every point is carefully tabulated because when real money is on the line, everyone wants to gamble as precisely as possible!
GET AT LEAST ONE SET
Some people play defensively by trying to complete at least one set per hand, to ensure a minimum score of 10 points. This helps with not having to payout as much to the other non-winners if they don’t win the hand.
ESTABLISH A LIMIT
It’s customary to limit a maximum payout for any one hand. This is usually 500 points (or 6 doubles/fans). Beyond the limit, points are not counted so as not to bankrupt the other players. (But hey, go for it if your table wants to uncap it.)