The short answer: Chinese Mahjong is the classic four-player game with 144 tiles and no jokers in standard play. Each player starts with 13 tiles and builds four sets and a pair. Chow from the left player, pung from anyone, kong four of a kind.
Chinese Mahjong is a family, not one rulebook. Sichuan, Cantonese, Shanghai — same skeleton, different scoring. New tables only add small tweaks.
What tiles does a Chinese Mahjong set use?
- 108 suit tiles — bamboo, characters, and dots
- 16 winds and 12 dragons
- 8 flowers and seasons — 144 tiles, no jokers
How does a hand work?
- Deal 13 tiles — the dealer starts with 14
- Draw a tile, then discard one
- Chow, pung, or kong from discards
- Win with four sets and a pair
Scoring is the wild card — most regions use base points plus fan multipliers, so ask before you sit down. Our rules page covers the shared core, and the what is mahjong overview maps the major families.
Related Questions
Do Chinese Mahjong rules use jokers?
Classic rules do not. Some casual games add wild tiles as a house rule, but the standard game is 144 tiles with nothing wild. If a table deals jokers, that is local custom.
How many tiles does each player start with?
Thirteen. The dealer gets fourteen and discards first. You win with fourteen tiles in hand — four sets and a pair — in almost every Chinese variant.
What is the difference between chow, pung, and kong?
Chow is a run of three, only from the left player. Pung is three of a kind from anyone. Kong is four of a kind, which earns a replacement draw and bonus points.
What do flower tiles do?
They sit aside for bonus points and a replacement draw. They never form sets — small gifts, not part of your hand.