Rules and scoring
Mahjong Hands: What a Winning Hand Looks Like
Quick answer
A winning mahjong hand has 14 tiles in most styles. In Chinese mahjong, it is 4 sets plus a pair. In American mahjong, your 14 tiles must match one of the hands on this year's card. The card groups its hands into sections, and a new card comes out each year.
At a glance
- Tiles in a winning hand: 14 in most styles
- Chinese style: 4 sets plus a pair
- American style: match a hand on this year's card
- 2026 card: 9 sections of hands
- Hand values: printed on the card, usually from 25 points
What is a winning hand in mahjong?
A winning hand is a full hand of tiles that fits the rules of your style. In most styles, it has 14 tiles.
You hold 13 tiles during play. Each turn, you draw a tile, then discard, or throw away, one tile. When one more tile completes your hand, you win.
What those 14 tiles must be depends on the style. Chinese styles use one basic shape. American mahjong uses a list of hands on a card.
What does a Chinese winning hand look like?
A Chinese winning hand is 4 sets plus a pair, 14 tiles in all.
In this example, the sets are 1-2-3 bams, three 5 dots, three East winds and 6-7-8 craks. The pair is 2 red dragons.
- Pung: 3 of the same tile.
- Kong: 4 of the same tile.
- Chow: 3 in a row in one suit, like 6-7-8 craks.
- Pair: 2 of the same tile.
In many games, the hand must also score enough points. Most Hong Kong games need at least 3 faan, a kind of point. See more in pung, kong, chow and quint.
What are American mahjong hands?
American mahjong hands are printed on a card from the National Mah Jongg League. Your 14 tiles must match one hand on this year's card exactly.
The card groups its hands into sections. The 2026 card has nine:
- 2026 (year hands)
- 2468
- Any Like Numbers
- Quints
- Consecutive Run
- 13579
- Winds and Dragons
- 369
- Singles and Pairs
Some years add other sections, such as Addition Hands. Year hands use the digits of the year, with the white dragon as zero.
Each line on the card is one hand. The picture shows how to read a line, using a made-up example. It is not a real hand from the card.
- Colors: groups in the same color must be the same suit. Different colors mean different suits.
- Letters: F is a flower and D is a dragon. N, E, W and S are the winds.
- Zero: a 0 is the white dragon.
- X or C: X means exposed, so you may call discards and show groups face up. C means concealed, so you may call only your last tile.
- The number at the end: what the hand is worth.
Learn more in our guide to the mahjong card.
Is there a complete list of mahjong hands?
There is no free complete list of American mahjong hands. The hands are on the card, which is copyrighted and changes every year.
You can buy the card from the National Mah Jongg League. The 2026 card costs about $14, or about $15 in large print. Prices can change.
Chinese styles have no card. Any 4 sets plus a pair can win, if it meets any point minimum your table uses.
Ready to build your first hand?
Our American sets have all the tiles the card calls for, jokers included.
Questions people ask
What is the easiest hand to make in mahjong?
It depends on the tiles you get. In American play, jokers are wild tiles that can fill pungs and kongs, but never pairs or singles. So hands with big groups can be easier to finish. See more tips to win at mahjong.
What are special hands in mahjong?
Some styles name many special hands. Chinese Official rules list 81 scoring patterns, and Wright-Patterson rules have about 70 to 80 special hands.
Can a winning hand have jokers?
In American play, yes, in groups of 3 or more of the same tile. A winning hand with no jokers pays double, except for Singles and Pairs hands.
Is there a special hands reference sheet?
For American play, this year's card is your reference sheet. Our mahjong cheat sheet sums up the rules, but not the hands.