Chinese Official Mahjong is the Mahjong Competition Rules (MCR) drawn up in 1998, and it's the rule set used at mahjong tournaments around the world. Its personality: fair, precise, almost like chess. There's no dealer bonus and less luck, so skill in building and counting hands matters most. If you like to think, this may be the most rewarding mahjong of all.
On this page
What makes it special
- 8-point minimum: a winning hand needs at least 8 points, and flowers don't count toward those 8.
- 81 fan: scoring elements from 88 points (Big Four Winds, Big Three Dragons) all the way down to 1.
- Non-repeat rule: a smaller fan already implied by a bigger one isn't counted again. Full Flush, for example, doesn't also score No Honors or One Voided Suit.
- No dealer bonus, no dealer repeat: the deal passes on after every hand, and the prevailing wind changes every four hands.
Tiles and hand size
The set has 144 tiles: characters, dots and bamboo from 1 to 9, the four winds, the three dragons and eight flowers. Flowers are laid out when drawn and replaced from the end of the wall. Each is worth 1 point but can't help you reach the 8-point minimum. See how many tiles are in a set and flower tiles.
Everyone holds 13 tiles; the dealer takes a 14th and discards first. Chow only from the player on your left; pung and kong from anyone.
How a hand is won
Usually four sets + a pair, plus special hands such as Seven Pairs, Thirteen Orphans and Honors and Knitted Tiles. Whatever the shape, it must add up to 8 points.
Popular beginner routes are Mixed Straight, Half Flush, All Pungs, Mixed Shifted Chows and All Types.
How scoring works
MCR scores in fan, where each fan is a number of points. Our site follows the rulebook:
| Fan | Points |
|---|---|
| Flower Tiles | 1 each (not toward the minimum) |
| All Pungs, Half Flush, All Types | 6 each |
| Mixed Straight, Chicken Hand | 8 each |
| Full Flush, Seven Pairs | 24 each |
| Big Four Winds, Big Three Dragons, Thirteen Orphans | 88 each |
Payment is distinctive: on a discard win, the discarder pays the points + 8 and the other two pay 8 each; on a self-draw, all three pay the points + 8. For how this compares with other styles, see scoring basics.
Who plays it and where
MCR is a competition rule set, used at tournaments across China and at international events such as the World Mahjong Championship. Most home games use local styles, but if you want to train seriously or play in tournaments, MCR is the one.
Where to learn more and play
Visit Chinese Official Mahjong to play free against three computer opponents. The wait hint shows the points for every wait and flags those under 8, and the results list every fan, including the ones excluded. The site has a beginner how-to-play guide, a table of all 81 fan with tile examples, and pages on the non-repeat rule and scoring.
To compare: like Hong Kong mahjong, you need enough to win, but Hong Kong only asks for 3 fan. Like Japanese Riichi mahjong, it rewards building patterns, but there's no riichi and no dora.
FAQ
Why can't I win with a complete hand?
MCR needs at least 8 points to win, and flowers don't count. Aim for common routes such as Mixed Straight, Half Flush or All Pungs.
What is the non-repeat rule?
A smaller fan already implied by a bigger one isn't counted again. Full Flush doesn't also score No Honors or One Voided Suit, and Big Four Winds doesn't also score the winds or All Pungs.
Is MCR good for beginners?
There are more fan to learn, but the rules are fair and great for building skill. Learn the basic shapes of playing mahjong first, then start with a few common 8-point routes.