See a hand. Understand its score.

In Chinese Official Mahjong (MCR), most hands need four sets and a pair. Winning also requires at least eight hand points. Start with these examples, scored by the same calculator as your game.

Tile names

Chicken Hand

8 points · Qualifies

Four sets and a pair, with no other non-flower scoring pattern. This special case earns eight points. A hand worth one to seven points does not qualify as Chicken Hand.

Exposed

Concealed

Win

Concealed

Pair

Win on a discard: 6 bamboo. East seat · East round · no flowers. Other tiles remain concealed unless marked exposed.

How this hand scores

Chicken Hand: 8
Hand points: 8

Meets the eight-point minimum. These are the points for this exact example, including its winning tile and exposed sets.

Mixed Straight & winds

19 points · Qualifies

1–2–3, 4–5–6 and 7–8–9 across three suits make a Mixed Straight. Here, East is both your seat wind and the round wind, and the hand contains all five tile types.

Exposed

Concealed

Win

Pair

Win on a discard: Red dragon. East seat · East round · no flowers. Other tiles remain concealed unless marked exposed.

How this hand scores

Mixed Straight: 8
All Types: 6
Prevalent Wind: 2
Seat Wind: 2
Unique Wait (Single): 1
Hand points: 19

Meets the eight-point minimum. These are the points for this exact example, including its winning tile and exposed sets.

Seven Pairs

24 points · Qualifies

A different winning shape: seven pairs rather than four sets and a pair. All tiles must remain concealed until the win; do not claim a chow, pung or kong.

Pair

Win

Pair

Win on a discard: East wind. East seat · East round · no flowers. Other tiles remain concealed unless marked exposed.

How this hand scores

Seven Pairs: 24
Hand points: 24

Meets the eight-point minimum. These are the points for this exact example, including its winning tile and exposed sets.

Full Flush & Pure Straight

42 points · Qualifies

Every tile belongs to one suit. The 1–9 run also earns Pure Straight. These points combine, while lesser patterns included by them are not counted again.

Exposed

Concealed

Win

Pair

Win on a discard: 5 characters. East seat · East round · no flowers. Other tiles remain concealed unless marked exposed.

How this hand scores

Full Flush: 24
Pure Straight: 16
All Chows: 2
Hand points: 42

Meets the eight-point minimum. These are the points for this exact example, including its winning tile and exposed sets.

Thirteen Orphans

88 points · Qualifies

One of every terminal and honor, plus a second copy of one of them. This special hand must stay concealed until the win.

Win

Concealed

Win on a discard: 1 characters. East seat · East round · no flowers. Other tiles remain concealed unless marked exposed.

How this hand scores

Thirteen Orphans: 88
Hand points: 88

Meets the eight-point minimum. These are the points for this exact example, including its winning tile and exposed sets.

Complete, but below the minimum

4 points · Cannot win

Four chows and a pair complete the shape, but these tiles earn only four points. Flowers cannot bridge the gap, and this is not Chicken Hand because other scoring patterns apply.

Exposed

Concealed

Win

Pair

Win on a discard: 5 dots. East seat · East round · no flowers. Other tiles remain concealed unless marked exposed.

How this hand scores

All Chows: 2
Short Straight: 1
Unique Wait (Single): 1
Hand points: 4

Below the eight-point minimum, even though the shape is complete. These are the points for this exact example, including its winning tile and exposed sets.

These are starter examples, not a fixed card of permitted hands. Many tile combinations can earn the same patterns. Exposed sets, the winning tile and the circumstances of the win can change the total. Explore the scoring patterns.

Try a practice hand