Mahjong Academy
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Mahjong Styles

Taiwanese, Japanese, Hong Kong, Sichuan, Chinese Official and American mahjong side by side.

Mahjong Styles

The basics of mahjong are the same everywhere: draw a tile, discard a tile, and build four sets plus a pair. What changes is how many tiles are in the set, how many you hold, and the big one: how a hand is scored.

These six are the most widely played styles, and you can play every one of them free against the computer on our network. Not sure where to start? Pick the one your friends or family play, or head back to the home page and practise the basics first.

Taiwanese Mahjong16-tile hands, scoring flowers, dealer streaks and no minimum to win.
Tiles
144
Hand
16
To win
None
Scored in
Tai

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Riichi MahjongThe mahjong that needs a yaku to win: riichi, dora, red fives, and scoring in han and fu.
Tiles
136
Hand
13
To win
1 yaku
Scored in
Han & fu

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Hong Kong Mahjong13 tiles, flowers, a 3-fan minimum and a 10-fan limit: Cantonese mahjong.
Tiles
144
Hand
13
To win
3 fan
Scored in
Fan

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Sichuan Mahjong108 tiles, swap three, a void suit, and the hand goes on after someone wins.
Tiles
108
Hand
13
To win
None
Scored in
Fan (each doubles)

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Chinese Official MahjongThe tournament rules: 8 points to win, 81 fan, and no double counting.
Tiles
144
Hand
13
To win
8 points
Scored in
Fan (points)

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American Mahjong152 tiles, the Charleston, jokers, and a card of hands to match.
Tiles
152
Hand
13
To win
A hand on the card
Scored in
Points

PlayAbout this style