Scoring in Mahjong

Mahjong might seem a bit daunting at first, especially when it comes to scoring. There's quite a bit of information to keep in mind, which is why many players aren't too sure about how to tally up points. However, understanding a few key elements is all you need to master scoring, even if you're only playing one specific variation.

If you're looking for a clear guide on how to score in Mahjong, you've landed in the right spot. We'll break down everything you need to know about Mahjong scoring, so let's dive right in.

What Goes Into Mahjong Scoring?

Scoring in Mahjong typically relies on several factors. These can include specific mahjong tile melds (combinations of tiles) or other hand formations, how the hand was played throughout the game, and the presence of unique, special sets. When multiple scoring criteria overlap, generally only the one with the higher score or stricter requirements counts. For example, a complex meld like 'all the dragons' would score higher than a simpler meld of just one dragon.

The points earned from these combinations are then converted into scores, often using a specific scoring system or 'code'. In many social Mahjong settings, especially in Singapore, these scores are immediately translated into monetary payments exchanged between players during the game, functioning as a form of friendly wager. So, when playing Mahjong, the scoring directly impacts the payouts.

It's important to distinguish between 'points' and 'score'. While points are earned based on game elements, the score reflects the actual value used for settling payments. Players might use chips or tokens to keep track of these before the final payout.

Often, especially in casual games, the winner takes all, with the losers' scores being adjusted downwards to cover the winner's gain. However, there are several common ways payments can be settled among players. These include:

• If a player wins by calling Mahjong on a discard, the player who made that discard pays double.
• If a player wins with a valid self-drawn hand (not from a discard), every losing player pays double.
• In some variations, if a player wins from a discarded tile that completes a very high-scoring hand (a 'risk' hand), the player who made the discard might pay for all other losing players.

Your Guide to Mahjong Scoring Rules

Chinese Mahjong Scoring in Singapore

The general rules for scoring in Mahjong can vary, but here's a breakdown of common practices:

• Based on the presence of specific melds, pairings, and bonus tiles, each player adds up the fundamental points for his hand.
• Each player doubles his basic points one or more times based on ownership of specific uncommon melds or combinations of melds. The winner adds additional basic points for gaining mahjong and maybe for finishing his hand in several unique ways.
• Depending on his hand's formation of uncommon patterns, such as those made completely of honor tiles, or being finished uniquely, such as stealing an exposed kong, the winner doubles his basic points once or more.
• Each of the three losers pays the winner his entire points.
• The losers split the difference into points among themselves.
• In his dealings, East makes duplicate payments or receipts.
• There are many Special Limit hands that, if acquired, provide the possessor with the most points assigned to his hand.

American Scoring

In the American version, players utilize a card with a point value for each hand that specifies a narrow number of hands as the only legitimate winning hands. Two main Mahjong regulatory organizations in the United States, the National Mahjong League and the American Mahjong Association, employ this method, with new cards that specify the legal winning hands being produced every year. Each card often includes scoring requirements that make mention the year the scorecards are published.

Shanghai Scoring

The Shanghai variant's scoring system is complex, with a wide range of requirements and exaggerated ratings for more uncommon hands like the thirteen terminals. There is typically a minimum point value in the Shanghai variation due to the inflated point values.

Singaporean Scoring

While using a different set of tiles, Singaporean scoring is comparable to the Chinese scoring method. Here, regular payment variations apply. But, there are those in which the dealer is also required to pay and receive twice.

Hong Kong Scoring

Due to the limited number of factors employed in the conventional Hong Kong grading method, the score is frequently poor. The point translation function is a piecewise function, and the general scoring modifiers are in effect.

Scoreless hands are awarded a fixed sum, and each point doubles the score. Players sometimes play with the extra constraint that a winning hand must be of some point value, often ranging between one and five points, with three being the most frequent. This is because zero-point hands are common.

Japanese Scoring

Each player starts with a score. This amount is often between 25,000 and 30,000. It may be an agreed-upon initial value. In current tile settings, this is often represented by a row of bars with the following four denominations: 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, and 100. The bars resemble long Chinese dominoes. If not, all that is represented online are the point totals.

Limits in Mahjong Scoring

A score limit is imposed by some variants. The usual point translation function, which assigns a constant score to points up to the first restriction, works in many situations where there are limitations. Once further limitations are achieved, the score rises.

A scoring restriction may serve as more of a gambling motivation. If the scoring limitations were six and nine points, a hand with seven or eight points would be valued the same as one with six points, which may encourage players to aim for nine-point hands.

High-risk discards

As the size of the wall shrinks, several versions may additionally apply fines for discards that are deemed to be high-risk. The players who made the high-risk discards are responsible for covering the winner's points if a player wins or goes out self-drawn after making a high-risk discard. A discard is deemed dangerous if there are enough open melds to show that, before it was claimed, it would very certainly have allowed for the completion of a limited hand.

Conclusion

Some complications occur when players are trying to play different mahjong variations at once. So, it’s better to stick with one variety and master it first.

In this guide, different rules for different variations are discussed so that players can choose the one they prefer. We have discussed Chinese, American, Japanese, Shanghai, Singaporean, and Hong Kong Scoring. Hope that it will be enough for an enjoyable experience.