Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Learn the rules to Chinese Mahjong quickly and concisely - This video has no distractions, just the rules. To learn how to set up this game, check out this video: youtu.be/qzR-XyCLUoE
Use the code TRIPLESCMJ5 for 5% off all Mahjong sets from Yellow Mountain imports. You can find the exact Chinese Mahjong set used in this video at the links below.
Don't own the game? Buy it here:
amazon.com - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-US
amazon.ca - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-CA
amazon.co.uk - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-UK
amazon mx - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-MX
amazon.de - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-DE
amazon.fr - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-FR
amazon.it - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-IT
amazon.es - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-ES
amazon.nl - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-NL
amazon.pl - games.ymimports.com/mahjong-PL
amazon br - https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B002Q8UR3Y
RULES:
This ruleset is based on the Cantonese style, using simplified Chinese Official scoring. There are many regional variations of Mahjong, but this version is one of the most common ways people learn and play worldwide. Before beginning a game, players should all agree on the rules they will be using and if they will be playing for chips or for real money.
The goal in each hand is to make Mahjong and score points based on the value of your winning hand. Over the course of four rounds, players keep track of those payments to determine the overall winner. Each round consists of every player being the dealer once. You earn points by creating a mahjong hand composed of Chows, Pungs, Kongs, and a pair. Everyone starts with an identical bankroll. When playing with chips, assign each different chip a value and give each player 1000 to begin with.
The dealer begins the hand with 14 tiles and starts play by discarding one tile faceup into the center. Then the player to their right takes the next turn. On your turn, you may either claim the last discarded tile if it completes a pung or kong, or, if it was discarded by the player to your left, a chow. Otherwise, you draw a tile from the live wall. A chow can only be made using a discard from the player to your left.
A Chow is 3 consecutive tiles in the same suit. If you want to pick up the tile discarded by the player to your left, say ‘Chow,’ pick it up, then reveal the completed chow from your hand. This is called an exposed Chow, and the tiles remain visible for the remainder of the hand.
A Pung is 3 identical tiles. You are allowed to claim the most recent discarded tile to complete a pung even if it isn’t your turn. To do so, say “pung” before the next player goes, then pick up the discard and reveal the completed Pung from your hand. This is called an exposed Pung, and the tiles remain visible for the remainder of the hand. After you discard a tile, play continues to the player on your right. Some players’ turns may be skipped when a pung is claimed.
A Kong is 4 identical tiles. Kongs work similarly to Pungs, allowing you to claim a discard out of turn. Whenever you do, you must declare “Kong” and reveal the tiles in front of you. If you complete a kong entirely from tiles in your own hand, declare ‘kong’ and place the tiles in front of you as a concealed kong. Concealed Chows and Pungs do not need to be declared. After declaring a Kong, draw 1 tile from the dead wall and end your turn by discarding 1 tile.
After a discard, if no player declares a pung or kong, then the next player to the right goes. If multiple players want to claim the same discard, priority goes first to the player who would make a Mahjong, second to Pung or Kong, and third to Chow. If it is still a tie, then the tile goes to the player nearest in turn order from the discarder.
A winning hand of mahjong is 4 sets of chows, pungs, or kongs, plus 1 pair. Some special winning hands do not follow this structure and can be found in the scoring example section of the rulebook. Players should decide before beginning if they will be playing with any of these hands.
When you draw the winning tile or claim a discard to complete Mahjong, declare ‘Mahjong’ and reveal your hand. The hand is over and points are scored. If no player has declared Mahjong by the time all the tiles in the wall are used, then the hand ends in a draw.
To score, the value of the winning player’s hand is determined by the number of ‘fans’ it earns. Use the score chart in the rulebook to locate the winning hand to determine the number of fans. In many Chinese Official competition-style rules, a winning hand must reach a minimum fan total, commonly 8 fans, to be valid. If you are playing casually, you may ignore this—just agree before you start.
If a mahjong is declared by claiming another player’s discarded tile, then the one who discarded the winning tile is the only one required to pay the winner...
Learn the rules to Chinese Mahjong quickly and concisely - This video has no distractions, just the rules. To learn how to set up this game, check out this video: youtu.be/qzR-XyCLUoE
Use the code TRIPLESCMJ5 for 5% off all Mahjong sets from Yellow Mountain imports. You can find the exact Chinese Mahjong set used in this video at the links below.
Don't own the game? Buy it here:
amazon.com - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-US
amazon.ca - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-CA
amazon.co.uk - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-UK
amazon mx - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-MX
amazon.de - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-DE
amazon.fr - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-FR
amazon.it - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-IT
amazon.es - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-ES
amazon.nl - games.ymimports.com/chinese-mahjong-NL
amazon.pl - games.ymimports.com/mahjong-PL
amazon br - https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B002Q8UR3Y
RULES:
This ruleset is based on the Cantonese style, using simplified Chinese Official scoring. There are many regional variations of Mahjong, but this version is one of the most common ways people learn and play worldwide. Before beginning a game, players should all agree on the rules they will be using and if they will be playing for chips or for real money.
The goal in each hand is to make Mahjong and score points based on the value of your winning hand. Over the course of four rounds, players keep track of those payments to determine the overall winner. Each round consists of every player being the dealer once. You earn points by creating a mahjong hand composed of Chows, Pungs, Kongs, and a pair. Everyone starts with an identical bankroll. When playing with chips, assign each different chip a value and give each player 1000 to begin with.
The dealer begins the hand with 14 tiles and starts play by discarding one tile faceup into the center. Then the player to their right takes the next turn. On your turn, you may either claim the last discarded tile if it completes a pung or kong, or, if it was discarded by the player to your left, a chow. Otherwise, you draw a tile from the live wall. A chow can only be made using a discard from the player to your left.
A Chow is 3 consecutive tiles in the same suit. If you want to pick up the tile discarded by the player to your left, say ‘Chow,’ pick it up, then reveal the completed chow from your hand. This is called an exposed Chow, and the tiles remain visible for the remainder of the hand.
A Pung is 3 identical tiles. You are allowed to claim the most recent discarded tile to complete a pung even if it isn’t your turn. To do so, say “pung” before the next player goes, then pick up the discard and reveal the completed Pung from your hand. This is called an exposed Pung, and the tiles remain visible for the remainder of the hand. After you discard a tile, play continues to the player on your right. Some players’ turns may be skipped when a pung is claimed.
A Kong is 4 identical tiles. Kongs work similarly to Pungs, allowing you to claim a discard out of turn. Whenever you do, you must declare “Kong” and reveal the tiles in front of you. If you complete a kong entirely from tiles in your own hand, declare ‘kong’ and place the tiles in front of you as a concealed kong. Concealed Chows and Pungs do not need to be declared. After declaring a Kong, draw 1 tile from the dead wall and end your turn by discarding 1 tile.
After a discard, if no player declares a pung or kong, then the next player to the right goes. If multiple players want to claim the same discard, priority goes first to the player who would make a Mahjong, second to Pung or Kong, and third to Chow. If it is still a tie, then the tile goes to the player nearest in turn order from the discarder.
A winning hand of mahjong is 4 sets of chows, pungs, or kongs, plus 1 pair. Some special winning hands do not follow this structure and can be found in the scoring example section of the rulebook. Players should decide before beginning if they will be playing with any of these hands.
When you draw the winning tile or claim a discard to complete Mahjong, declare ‘Mahjong’ and reveal your hand. The hand is over and points are scored. If no player has declared Mahjong by the time all the tiles in the wall are used, then the hand ends in a draw.
To score, the value of the winning player’s hand is determined by the number of ‘fans’ it earns. Use the score chart in the rulebook to locate the winning hand to determine the number of fans. In many Chinese Official competition-style rules, a winning hand must reach a minimum fan total, commonly 8 fans, to be valid. If you are playing casually, you may ignore this—just agree before you start.
If a mahjong is declared by claiming another player’s discarded tile, then the one who discarded the winning tile is the only one required to pay the winner...
