Eight of the 144 tiles in a mahjong set break the matching rule in a helpful way. They are the Flowers and Seasons, and they are the reason even a crowded board usually has a few forgiving pairs. This guide explains what the bonus tiles are, how their matching loophole works, and what it means for your strategy. For the full tile reference, see Mahjong Tiles Meaning.
The Eight Bonus Tiles
The bonus set is two groups of four, each tile unique—there is only one of each on the board:
| Group | The four tiles | Numbered |
|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Plum, Orchid (or Lily), Chrysanthemum, Bamboo-flower | 1–4 |
| Seasons | Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter | 1–4 |
In the traditional table game these tiles were drawn as lucky bonuses worth extra points, which is why they look celebratory. In solitaire they play a different role entirely: they are your emergency exits.
The Matching Loophole
Unlike every other tile, bonus tiles do not need an identical match. Any Flower matches any other Flower, and any Season matches any other Season, regardless of which flower or season is shown. So a Plum can match a Chrysanthemum, and Spring can match Winter. This is the one place where “same picture” is replaced by “same family.”
The Strategy Math
Eight tiles forming four flexible pairs means 5.5% of the board is easier to clear than everything else. More importantly, a Flower matches three possible partners instead of the usual one—so bonus pairs almost never dead-end the way a buried fourth copy of a suit tile can. When the layout gets crowded and you cannot find a suit or honor match, scan for Flowers and Seasons first; they often unlock the rest of the board. See the rules guide for how this fits the matching rule overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Flower match a Season?
No. Flowers only match Flowers, and Seasons only match Seasons. The two groups stay separate.
How many bonus tiles are on the board?
Eight: four Flowers and four Seasons. They make up four pairs in total.
Want to spot them fast? Open the Classic layout and look for the picture tiles among the suits and honors.
How Flowers and Seasons Score
In most scoring systems, flowers and seasons are not part of the winning hand at all—they are pure bonus tiles. When you draw one, you set it aside face-up and draw a replacement tile, and it scores independently of your hand. Modern Chinese rules (MCR) award 1 point per flower or season; older classical systems award 4. If a bonus tile matches your own seat number—East is 1, South 2, West 3, North 4—classical scoring often doubles its value. Eight tiles, no effort, and in a close game they can decide the winner.