The short answer: Singapore mahjong is a 4-player game played with the standard 144 tiles, and many sets add animal tiles (cat, dog, rooster, rat). Drawing one can earn bonus points or a tile swap, depending on the table. You still win with four melds and a pair. House rules vary a lot.
Singapore mahjong doesn’t come with one official rulebook. It grew out of Chinese and Hong Kong play, so every table tweaks things a little. Learn the common core and you’ll be fine at most tables you sit at.
What makes Singapore mahjong different?
- Animal tiles: cat, dog, rooster, and rat appear in many sets. Draw one and your table decides the reward, usually points or a tile swap.
- The wall is standard: suits, winds, dragons, flowers, and seasons.
- Scoring follows Hong Kong style, with points or fan for patterns like all pungs and mixed sequences.
- House rules vary, so agree on scoring before the first hand.
How does a hand play out?
- Shuffle, build the wall, and take 13 tiles each. The dealer starts with 14 and discards first.
- Draw one tile on your turn, then discard one to stay at 13.
- Call peng for a triplet or chi for a sequence when someone discards what you need. Kong when you hold four of a tile.
- Finish with four melds plus a pair and call mahjong.
Every variant shares the same skeleton, so start there. The wall, the melds, and the win are on our mahjong rules page, and how to play mahjong builds you up from zero.
Related Questions
How many animal tiles are in Singapore mahjong?
Usually four: cat, dog, rooster, and rat. Some sets add more or leave them out. Check your tiles first, because house rules vary.
Is Singapore mahjong the same as Hong Kong mahjong?
Not quite. Both descend from Chinese play with the same wall and melds, but Singapore tables add animal tiles and their own scoring quirks.
Where can I practice mahjong fast?
Most online games run Chinese or riichi rules rather than Singapore. For quick solo practice, try our free turtle mahjong game.